Staff celebrate career success stories

Staff at the Universities of St Andrews, Dundee and Abertay Dundee celebrated the success of a career- building course last week (Friday 25 March 2005).

Launched in January 2003, the innovative two-year programme has helped over 20 staff develop their knowledge, skills and management capabilities. In some cases, through building participants’ confidence and skills, the Career Bridges course has directly contributed to furthering their career paths.

A reception marked the successful completion of the modular course. Senior managers from the three universities attended, together with the project team – Sandy Wilkie (St Andrews), Terry Vickers (Dundee) and Jacqui Stewart (Abertay). Some of the participants gave short talks and certificates were presented.

Participant Susan Rothwell-Smith believes the course played a key role in her promotion from Pensions Officer to Planning Officer at the University of Dundee.

Susan said, “The course came to light at a time when I was stuck in a rut in Pensions. It was a specialist job with few opportunities to progress. The course was very useful in giving me the confidence to apply for other jobs. It also gives staff the chance to share experiences and good practice and learn more about the complexities of their own university, and the others involved. Specifically, it helped me understand personality types, letting me identify my own personality and that of others, and how to get the best out of people and situations. My personality profile indicated that, if I wanted something, I should go for it – so that’s exactly what I did!”

Other participants included a Student Recruitment Manager, Senior Information Specialist, Building Manager, Head Secretary, Business Development Manager and Technician.

Sandy Wilkie, Staff Development Manager at St Andrews said, “We are really pleased to see this exciting collaborative Career Bridges initiative reach a successful conclusion. Most of the participants have achieved individual growth across the programme and have started to apply their new skills and confidence in their existing roles or on new projects at work. A small number of Career Bridges participants have gained promotion, additional responsibilities or even new jobs during the programme – this has been an unexpected but beneficial outcome.”

The success of the pilot will lead to a second programme being launched in 2005, this time by the Universities of Dundee, St Andrews and Stirling.

ENDS

Issued by Beattie Media On behalf of the University of St Andrews For more information, please contact Claire Grainger, Press Officer – 01334 462530, 07730 415 015 or [email protected]; Ref: press releases/careerbridge2005 View the latest University news at http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk