UNIVERSITY NEWS LAST UPDATED : 21 DECEMBER 2017
A key element in your time at the School of Jewellery spent ensuring you are ready for the industry upon graduation. Every course at the School recently spent a week devoted to employability, with a range of activities taking place from hands-on workshops to networking in London. These activities give you an insight into the industry and give depth to your CV.
The week is run in conjunction with Graduate+, an awards programme which records a range of activities and events in addition to your degree. In today’s competitive market, many employers are looking for skills and experience beyond your degree qualification. Graduate+ will enable you to provide evidence of your ability to develop valuable skills outside the classroom.
HND Jewellery and Silversmithing student activities included portfolio preparation days, practical exercises in developing ideas for competition entry, practical drawing and rendering and, most importantly, an industry expert in presentation drawings for customers or competitions. In the middle of the week students held a medals day with a speaker from the British Art Medals Society and a talk about political medals followed by a lunch (sponsored by the British Art Medals Society) and an afternoon workshop making medals from wax for casting.
Students from BA (Hons) Jewellery and Silversmithing – Design for Industry (DFI) started the week with a trip to London to visit 3D print company Digits to Widgets. This visit included a tour by Johnathan Rowley and alumna Becky Wilkes showing the students how 3D printing is impacting on other industries and some inspirational products that can be produced with the technology. Students got to try on headwear by design company Electrobloom and see the 3D printers in action.
Later that week a recent DFI graduate Sophie Lomax came back to talk to students about her career progression in the industry. The talk started with Sophie’s experience of securing an internship with Debeers, developing product for Stephen Webster, designing for Graff and now, what’s it is like being head of design at 77Diamonds London and being celebrated as Young Designer of the Year. The students were inspired to see how quickly Sophie’s career had progressed and the determination she has to succeed.
Sophie said afterwards:
“To be able to have support from industry experts (the tutors) in preparation for career or business plans, is invaluable. For anyone that wants a course that nurtures and supports the students, during the time they study, and beyond, I could not recommend the School of Jewellery, and the DFI course in particular, more highly enough.”
BA (Hons) Horology students visited the London Science Museum to see the Clockmakers Exhibition. There they were met by the Chair of the Antiquarian Horological Society and part of the Committee responsible for the Worshipful Clockmakers Collection that makes up the exhibition. He gave the students a bespoke guided tour. The group then went to the British Museum to view their collection and stayed for the Annual Dingwall Beloe Lecture on Musical Clocks c1300 -1600 in the evening with associated networking event.
Students from BSc (Hons) Gemmology and Jewellery Studies undertook a course trip to London including visits to the Natural History Museum and the V&A. The trips had tasks attached which counted towards the Graduate+ scheme.
Employability week is a yearly activity. If you’re a graduate, or company, who would like to be involved in the future please email.