UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

Careers Service
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Careers Information Policy

1. Introduction

The Information Centre provides careers-related information to the users of the Careers Service at the University of Glasgow.

The service provided aims to provide relevant, current, appropriate and accurate information in a variety of formats to allow all users to access, where possible, the information. A full list of the groups of people and organisations entitled to use our services may be found in the Careers Service Statements of Service available at the Information Desk, at Reception and via the Careers Service web site.


Users are entitled:

  • To have access to all information resources available in the Information Centre
  • To have access to relevant, accurate, reliable and current information in a variety of formats
  • To be assisted by information staff
  • To be referred, where appropriate, to an external source/provider of information


2. The Information Centre

The Information Centre aims to provide material on occupations, employers both local, and UK wide, internship opportunities, further study options, overseas opportunities, labour market information and information targeted at the needs of particular groups of students and graduates.

Specifically, the Information Centre will provide:

  • A range of paper-based, audio-visual and electronic information resources covering a comprehensive range of occupations that recruit graduates
  • Contact details and information for major and local graduate recruiters available electronically
  • Information on postgraduate courses in UK Higher Education institutions
  • Information on all postgraduate courses offered by Institutions in Scotland. Undergraduate course information available on line
  • Information on relevant professional bodies and organisations contained in occupational files
  • Information on funding further studies
  • Information on voluntary work opportunities
  • Information on vacation and part time vacancies
  • Information on internship opportunities. Information on the Club 21 Business Partnership Programme open to current Glasgow full time undergraduate students is available from Reception.
  • Information on psychometric tests and other selection methods such as curriculum vitae and interview procedures
  • Information on work and study abroad
  • A range of local and national newspapers carrying job vacancies. The Herald and Guardian available in hard copy and others available on line
  • A range of journals and magazines carrying vacancies for graduates
  • Vacancy lists for final year students and graduates
  • Information specifically aimed at groups that are often disadvantaged in the labour market
  • Statistical information about the destination of previous graduates from the University of Glasgow and in the UK "What do graduates do"
  • A collection of reference books, DVDs and videos on various subjects related to careers planning
  • Information available for specific groups of users including International Students, Postgraduate Students and Contract Research Staff

The current opening hours are 9.00am-4.45pm Monday & Wednesday - Friday, closed on Tuesdays until noon, though this may vary during vacation periods. The Information Centre services are available to undergraduate and postgraduate students, graduates of the University of Glasgow and other UK Graduates and all University of Glasgow staff.

3. Maintenance of the Information Centre

To ensure that the Information Centre is accurate, appropriate, reliable and up-to-date, there will be systematic updating of materials against the following standards:

  • The reference collection of paper-based, audio-visual and electronic information and directories will be reviewed and updated on an on-going basis. Items more than 2 years old containing still current or important information will be kept and marked accordingly
  • In-house produced materials available in the Information Centre will be reviewed and updated at least annually
    Stand-alone Careers Guidance Packages and CD ROM databases will be updated approximately once a year or in line with licensing agreements with providers
  • Information needs not met immediately will be recorded via an Information Desk log and an appropriate response will be provided within 3 working days.
  • Filing of new material in reference files is carried out on an ongoing basis and old editions of material will be removed on an on-going basis.
  • All information is date stamped on receipt, with the date marked on the front cover. Reference Only material will be clearly marked.
  • Take away literature will be clearly sign posted
  • The Careers Service website is regularly updated to ensure that the information provided is both current and relevant.

4. Delivery of Information

To ensure that information is delivered to users of the Careers Service in an appropriate and effective manner:

  • Information staff are available to assist users during normal working hours. However, there may be times where cover is reduced due to staff shortage (e.g. for training, annual leave etc).
  • Staff training programmes will encourage continuing professional development of staff skills where possible, information will be made available via the Careers Service web site
  • Clear sign-posting and notices will be used to explain access to, and use of, the different materials held in the Information Centre
  • Clear sign-posting and notices will be used to explain access to, and use of, the resources available on the Careers Service open access computers
  • Efforts will be made to locate material in other University collections, local libraries or on the World Wide Web for information materials not held by the Careers Service wherever possible.

5. Equal Opportunities and Legal Considerations

As far as possible, all information held within the Careers Information Centre is sent by or requested from reputable sources such as graduate recruiters, professional bodies, established careers information publishers and our own professional organisation, Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS).

Every care is taken to ensure that no material will be held that could be construed as unfairly or unlawfully discriminatory. All reasonable steps are taken to ensure that the range of materials provided, as a whole, is free from bias.

To ensure that information is delivered in accordance with equal opportunities and other relevant ethical and legislative requirements, the following actions are taken:

  • As far as possible, information will be neutral in approach. A general warning about the limitations of information found via the Internet or produced by special interest groups will be displayed in collections of employer literature, occupation material and other areas of the Information Centre, where appropriate
  • Information that presents images or text that discriminates against certain groups and contravenes equality of opportunity legislation will not knowingly be kept within the Information Centre.
  • Organisation of material and shelving will be designed in line with the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (SENDA) 2001, where possible. However if users are unable to access any material in the collection for any reason, Information Assistants will endeavour to assist
  • Disabled access to the Information Centre is via the lane at the back of University Gardens
  • Information staff will have systems in place to make arrangements for material produced in-house to be made available in alternative formats on request, such as large print
  • Membership of the "Employers' Forum on Disability" will be clearly marked on relevant information
  • Clear notices will inform staff and clients of the relevant Copyright Acts governing use of the photocopying facilities.

6. Handling of vacancies

All vacancies are handled in accordance with the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS) code of practise.

Graduate vacancies appear on our web site. Vacancies will be removed after one month or after the closing date, whichever is first. We will only advertise recruitment agency vacancies if their client is named.

Part time, industrial placements and vacation vacancies are publicised via our website.

Please note that we do not as a Service vet vacancies. However if users have a problem with a vacancy advertised via the Careers Service, they should inform us.

7. Lending policy

The Careers Service does not normally lend out books, CDs or videos from the Information Centre.

However on production of a relevant special needs form, it may be possible to borrow an item for a maximum of three days in order to use special needs equipment or software in the University Library. A £5 deposit will be made for this service, refundable when the item is returned in good condition.

8. Your feedback

Feedback about the Information Centre is sought to ensure that the information provided is appropriate, relevant and meets the needs of our users.

Feedback is collected from monthly evaluation questionnaires.

The feedback received is reviewed regularly and used to make improvements to our service.