Archived news
15 July 2016: A big Q-Step forward for our 2016 graduates
Twenty-one students from the Department of Government, Department of Sociology and Essex Business School graduated this week with enhanced quantitative skills as part of our commitment to the Q-Step programme.
Within their degrees, students took specific modules that taught applied quantitative methods to carry out statistical analysis, gather, present and interpret data and use statistical software, all skills that are in high demand by employers.
On completion, the students received the qualifier ‘(Applied Quantitative Methods)’ (AQM) at the end of their degree title, which appears on their transcript and degree certificate, giving evidence to employers that they are trained in enhanced quantitative skills.
These skills will help our students to go on and have successful careers in a number of areas including government, business, data analysis, evaluation, impact assessment and research.
AQM graduate James Potter.
James Potter, a BA Politics and AQM graduate, said: “I think for me, AQM is important because it allows you to start a different conversation with employers, a conversation about politics as an exciting, forward-thinking and data driven degree, rather than one that can be perceived as somewhat inward looking and irrelevant to the modern job market. As a student competing to get a job at a top agency, AQM has helped me stand out from other applicants; I would strongly recommend the pathway to other students.”
James has now secured a job as a Marketing Executive for customer acquisition company, MVF Global.
With the funding we received through the Q-Step programme, some students were also able to go on paid summer work placements with organisations whose work involves quantitative analysis. Angella Denman, a BA Criminology and Social Psychology student did her placement with SAGE Publishing. She said: “Being part of the Q-Step programme at the University of Essex has enabled me to develop my data-analytic skills in many ways."
"I had first-hand experience of managing and analysing raw data from a large scale online survey as part of my Q-Step funded work placement with SAGE Publishing. The placement has given me practical experience in statistical analysis and report writing, which are all-important for my final year project and my future career prospects. The team at SAGE has been very supportive and friendly; a truly fantastic opportunity!”
About Q-Step
Q-Step is a £19.5 million programme funded by the Nuffield Foundation, ESRC and HEFCE, designed to promote a step-change in quantitative undergraduate social science in the UK over a five-year period from 2013.
We are one of three universities in the UK to receive Q-Step Affiliate status, meaning our students can develop their quantitative skills by taking a specialised degree pathway or receiving a student bursary to go on a quantitative work placement.