Geography Graduate Career Profiles Geography at the University of Worcester
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GEOGRAPHY GRADUATE CAREER PROFILES GEOGRAPHY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WORCESTER . research-active but teaching focussed (so we spend more time supporting our students) . generous contact time, typically 12–16 hours per week . emphasis on specialist and transferable skills, helping our students develop knowledge and skills relevant to further study and employment . assessment mostly by coursework, which reflects the practical, hands-on approach of our courses . fieldwork included in almost every module . study abroad option in your second year . international year abroad option in your third year . accredited by the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF WORCESTER . Sustainability Institution of the Year – Winner – 2019 Green Gown Awards . University of the Year – Finalist – 2020 Times Higher Education Awards and UK Social Mobility Awards . Top 3 in the UK for Quality Education – 2019 and 2020 Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings . Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community – Winner – 2019 Times Higher Education Awards . Top 10 for Student Experience – Times Good University Guide 2021 . Top 10 for Sustained Employment – Longitudinal 2 Educational| Geography Graduate Outcomes Career Profiles survey (2017 and 2020) University of Worcester Geography degree programmes are not all the same, and the nature of the course that you choose may influence employment options following graduation. WELCOME In addition to being a fascinating and enjoyable subject to study at University, Geography also offers a wide range of exciting career opportunities. However, Geography degree programmes are not all the same, and the nature of the course that you choose may influence employment options following graduation. At Worcester, our priority is teaching and the student experience. Generous contact time, plenty of fieldwork opportunities, and excellent access to up-to-date equipment allows us to offer our students a remarkably strong practical programme. This helps our students develop knowledge and skills – specialist and transferable – relevant to a wide range of occupations and further study. This emphasis on skills development is reflected in our approach to assessment, which is mostly based around coursework activities. Depending on which modules you select, over 90 per cent of your assessment at Worcester could be in the form of coursework. We believe that coursework is the most effective way for you to demonstrate your knowledge and skills. This approach to teaching and assessment provides our students with the foundations to be successful in the workplace, as you will see from reading the graduate profiles in this booklet. The profiles illustrate just some of the pathways followed by our Geography graduates. We hope you find this collection of career profiles helpful. Dr Cheryl Jones Head of Geography Geography Graduate Career Profiles | 1 Name: Abi Armstrong or service improvements in a number of key Degree: BSc Physical Geography and areas, including health, environmental services, Sports Studies sport and leisure, and housing. V4 Services Job Title: Environment Officer works with local authorities, NHS trusts, police Employer: Environment Agency services and other public sector organisations. As a business analyst, I work across a variety of ince November 2015 I have been training projects, on a number of sites, within a range as an Environment Officer in the busy of sectors. My role within each project can SEssex Office. This job was described by vary greatly, depending on the needs of our David Bellamy as “the James Bond of the clients. This makes my workload varied, but environment.” My role includes regulating also means managing multiple projects and waste sites to ensure they are compliant with deadlines. environmental legislation, responding to pollution incidents and promoting pollution One of the great things about the Geography Abi Armstrong prevention best practice. I am on a call out rota course at the University of Worcester is that to attend pollution incidents around the clock. it provides a great deal of variety, not only It is a role that can really help protect our local in the teaching and learning, but also in the environment. ways in which you are assessed. Much of the learning is practical and field based, a great My degree has provided me with an stepping stone for a career working on multiple in-depth understanding of geographical and client sites, and much of the assessment is environmental concepts which have been based around report writing, data analysis and invaluable for my job. For example, when delivering presentations, all of which are key dealing with environmental pollution incidents aspects of my day-to-day role. I thoroughly it is important to consider the proximity to enjoyed my three years studying Geography at river drainage systems and map the path the University of Worcester and have gone on polluting material could take whilst considering to use many of the skills and knowledge in my the influence of geomorphological features. As day-to-day working life. The course is a great well as this, transferable skills such as written platform for preparing for the world of work, and spoken communication, organisation, and the challenges it poses. Mark Badams working to deadlines, research skills and problem solving skills have proved essential Name: Joe Baker Much of the learning is when dealing with situations such as breaches Degree: BSc Geography practical and field based, a of legislation and identifying a plan of action to Job Title: Water Management Officer great stepping stone for a achieve the best outcome possible. Employer: North Worcestershire Water career working on multiple Management client sites, and much of the I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the University assessment is based around of Worcester and feel that it has provided me e assess the flood risk and water report writing, data analysis with a fantastic range of skills and knowledge quality of new developments in and delivering presentations, to assist me with pursuing a career. The Wplanning applications, and carry all of which are key aspects residential field trips are great fun and I out regular inspections of watercourses to of my day-to-day role. have made lifelong friends as a result of the ensure they are properly maintained. Any experience. alterations to a watercourse requires consent, Mark Badams and we look through the consents to see if Name: Mark Badams they can be approved. We work with partner Degree: BSc Geography organisations and bring in funding to carry Job Title: Business Analyst out major flood alleviation schemes as well as Employer: V4 Services Ltd enforcing the Flood and Water Management Act (2010) and the Land Drainage Act (1991) to have been working as a Business Analyst ensure proper drainage and reduce flood risk. with V4 Services since January 2014. V4 My degree at Worcester provided me with a IServices is a consultancy firm specialising in breadth of knowledge, particularly around the supporting public sector bodies in delivering river science area, which has been invaluable to transformational change, financial savings my career so far. The background knowledge 2 | Geography Graduate Career Profiles University of Worcester can be applied to the practical side of the job, Name: Janay Bromley which allows me to generate solutions for Degree: BSc Physical Geography problems, complaints and queries we receive. Job Title: Graduate Engineer Employer: Jacobs Engineering Ltd The fieldwork in my course has been very helpful for my background knowledge because n my current role I am working on behalf of it translates the theory to the practical side, Severn Trent Water as a Solutions Engineer which is relevant to work. I can relate those Iin their Waste Water Infrastructure Team. I experiences to watercourses I am dealing currently help design solutions for sewerage with day-to-day to try to improve things on a networks across the Severn Trent Catchment. limited budget. This includes helping to design new sewers and new pumping stations and design solutions to We are currently working with University staff solve sewer flooding. and students on a number of projects. Not only does this provide students with valuable, I have found that the knowledge and Matt Bolshaw real-world experience but it is also really experienced gained from my degree course helpful to us. In particular, the specialist, up-to- at Worcester has helped immensely! I have date equipment that the students can access been able to draw upon knowledge from and use makes a real difference to our work. hydrology, geology, engineering geology, fluvial geomorphology, and fieldwork experience. Name: Matt Bolshaw There are many cases in my day-to-day role Degree: BSc Geography where the surrounding environment has an Job Title: Graduate Transport Planner impact on the designs I develop, and having Employer: Peter Brett Associates LLP studied a lot of these in my degree I can factor this into my work. For example, understanding y current role as a Transport Planner the way river systems work and react in times involves advising clients on the of storms / flooding; understanding the impact Mtransport issues involved in their of climate change on the way in which cities / planning applications. Projects can range from towns function and draw upon their resources the redevelopment of a distribution warehouse and how the resources will be affected in the to a new residential estate, and it is my job future; and understanding the geology for Janay Bromley to predict what impact this will have on the construction and stability purposes. existing transport network. This can include The diverse knowledge assessing the capacity of existing junctions, I really enjoyed all of my time at Worcester that a geography degree designing new access strategies or creating and every part of my degree, but the parts that provides is so valuable and travel plans for employees or residents of the stick in my mind are the experience gained when you have such a great new site.