The Independent - Student RSS Feed

Social work: How to make a difference in a child's life

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

In the aftermath of the revelations about Baby P's death, one group of people took the brunt of public scorn: the social workers who had, tragically, decided not to remove the baby from his violent and dysfunctional family. In the months that followed, it became clear that morale in the profession had taken a hit, with many councils finding it difficult to fill vacancies in the vital areas of child protection. Since then, however, a more measured view has acquired currency, one that recognises the unique importance of the job, and the need to do more to recruit high-quality people into the work. That need is embodied in a campaign to tempt a new wave of people into the profession.

The Careers Adviser: Why can't my boyfriend improve on his 2:2 degree result? And I would like a job, but I don't have experience of work in Britain

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Q. My boyfriend has a 2:2 BSc in computer science, but insists on redoing his third year, although his university says it cannot allow him to do so. Is there a way he can apply to retake it elsewhere? Or is there a rule that you can't redo a third year?

Catch21 Productions presents: Uni-Q

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:41:46 GMT

Created by a group of University of Hull politics graduates as a way to engage young people in politics, Uni-Q is the first programme of its kind to tour universities and colleges across the UK.

The RAF is recruiting - and offers training to high-flying candidates in a wide range of field

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:01 GMT

For most of us, heading into a war zone might be a good enough reason to avoid a career; for Laura Hodson, it was an incentive."Going to Afghanistan was one of the main reasons I wanted to be in the RAF in the first place," says the 30-year-old RAF Reserves flight lieutenant and A&E nurse.

My Way: Marc Ellis, animation artist at Walt Disney Studios

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Win the ultimate university survival kit

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:29:57 GMT

The start of the new academic year is upon us and hundreds of thousands of students are moving into their new private rented accommodation. Most student digs are not exactly luxurious – they're often damp, leaking and have the seemingly obligatory ageing gas cooker and pile of dirty dishes. And it appears students never change – most of them are more concerned about where their next pint is coming from than how safe their new surroundings are.

WIN a Panasonic NA-16VX1 Washing Machine!

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:37:16 GMT

You may have already switched your lightbulbs to energy efficient ones, you’re great at recycling, and you religiously turn off the television rather than leaving it on stand-by. But the chances are you haven’t given a second thought to your kitchen appliances – even though they account for a big chunk of your household CO2 emissions.

WIN a Brother printer, Filofax organiser and Parker Urban penset!

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:51:03 GMT

At last you’ve waved goodbye to the temp job that was grinding you down all summer. It’s the new term, and whether you’re a fresher, or you’re gearing up for your final year, no doubt you’ve been desperate to get back on campus. Before you know it your head’s back in the books, and if you’re to make the best of your year, you’ll need to be equipped for every eventuality.

WIN a Brother printer, Fiolofax organiser and Parker Urban penset!

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:51:03 GMT

Queen of the high street: Mary Portas is hoping to help independents with her new retail masterclasses

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:00:01 GMT

She's best known for the BBC2 TV show Mary, Queen Of Shops, where she's revived flagging retail businesses, but Mary Portas wasn't always set for a career on the high street. In her youth, she had ambitions of being an actress and even gained a place at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Anne Seaman: 'Retail will be instrumental in bringing us out of recession and reducing unemployment'

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:00:01 GMT

The recent Government paper 'Jobs for the Future' has highlighted that retail, the largest private sector employer in the UK, will be instrumental in limiting unemployment and lifting the country out of recession. This comes shortly after a poll by Skillsmart Retail revealed that 57 per cent of Conservative MPs felt that the Government did not value the retail sector highly enough.

Sitting pretty: The idea that sent Cath Kidson from one shop to a global chain

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Today, Cath Kidston's iconic floral prints and affordable household items, that lend more than a nod to the trend for vintage chic, appear in must-have lists and households across the world. Her empire spans 28 shops and concessions in the UK, two shops in the Republic of Ireland and five in Japan. The brand has beaten the odds in the economic downturn with profits rising in the past year from £2.9m to £4.6m. And with sales now reaching £31.3m, she clearly has a head for retail. These figures belie the brand's humble beginnings in a small shop in London's Holland Park.

Visual merchandising: 'When a new range is doing well, it is a personal achievement'

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:00:01 GMT

We all know the power that a well-designed shop window can hold over us; in one glance, you can be transported into a different world. Behind the glass, the season's "must-buy" products come alive through a visual story that compels you to enter the store and part with your cash.

New graduate survey reveals enduring appeal of the retail giants

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:00:01 GMT

The transition from life as a student to the world of work has a marked effect on how people see their ideal employment environment, and on which organisations they regard as their dream employers.

Leading physicist to replace Stephen Hawking in university role

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:27:59 GMT

One of the world's leading theoretical physicists was today preparing to replace one of the world's best-known scientists in one of the world's most famous academic jobs, Cambridge University said.

The ten best study gadgets

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:00:04 GMT

Chosen by James McIrvine

Postcode lottery still determines degree achievement

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:08:03 GMT

A “postcode lottery” still determines whether a youngster is likely to get a university degree or not, according to a report out today.

Martine Storey: 'If your CV is sparse, you need to work on what you have to offer'

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:00:01 GMT

The tough economic climate is causing many university students to consider embarking on further study as a way of improving their job prospects. In a survey we are conducting of our own students, we have found so far that 46 per cent say that the recession has made them more likely to think about postgraduate study.

Can Royal Holloway's new masters degree raise history from the dead?

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Question: "What do you say to a history graduate?" Answer: "A Big Mac and fries, please." In their franker moments, history dons will admit there is more than a grain of truth in the joke. The subject has long been more popular among students than employers. But Royal Holloway, University of London thinks it has an antidote: a Masters degree in public history, which has just started its first year.

Postgrad Lives: 'I love pursuing knowledge for its own sake'

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Ben Knowles, 25, has just begun studying for a one-year MA in modern British history at The University of Manchester, with a special interest in using film archives as a source of research.

Screenwriting masters: How to write for a soap

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Can you teach someone to write a good script? Or are good writers simply born with talent? The popularity of screenwriting courses and their rising numbers would suggest a lot of people are hoping it's a skill that can be taught.

Martin Storey: 'If your CV is sparse, you need to work on what you have to offer'

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:00:01 GMT

The touch economic climate is causing many university students to consider embarking on further study as a way of improving their job prospects. In a survey we are conducting of our own students, we have found so far that 46 per cent say that the recession has made them more likely to think about postgraduate study.

Postgrad Queries: How do I get into fashion? Where can I study mobile phones?

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:00:01 GMT

For Queen and country: Fluent speakers of foreign languages are in hot demand in the civil and secret services

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Britons have always been famously bad at languages, yet a command of a foreign tongue has long been valued by the British government. Several hundred years ago, London was keen to recruit Turkish speakers in order to keep tabs on the burgeoning Ottoman Empire. These days, Farsi or Chechen speakers might be more in demand, but the principle remains the same. Linguists are essential to the smooth working of many government departments and agencies, and are particularly valued in the covert world of the intelligence services.

Degrees on the menu: Meet the students signing up for free courses

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:00:01 GMT

For anyone graduating into a gloomy jobs market, saddled with debt, it is an enticing prospect: sign up for postgraduate study, postpone the need to get a job and it won't cost a thing. Certainly, when the University of Gloucestershire offered Clare Cubberley a free one-year taught Masters in international business law, which usually costs £3,995, she felt it was too good to miss. She hopes it will help her stand out when she later tries to get a job in the law. And there is another consideration: "I don't think you should turn down an opportunity when it's free."