This module will use a business start-up case study approach which will involve students preparing for all elements of recruitment and selection procedures, initially focusing on work placement experience and then graduate job opportunities. Students will gain knowledge and understanding of aspects of different types of organisations in which professional work occurs. The module will also focus on the different professional accountancy bodies' ethics and codes of conduct.
Students will be able to choose from university, faculty, school and external events to further their own personal career development.
Content includes:

Career Development:
- Career Planning
- Recruitment processes, skills and issues
- Business start-up knowledge and skills
- Entrepreneurship

Organisational context of professional work:
- Management structure and teams
- Types of organisations
- Financial context
- Human Resource Management Issues
- Quality and Quality Assurance
- Project Management

Professional Issues:
- Professional Bodies, Ethics and Codes of Conduct
- Legal Issues relevant to accounting professionals
- The need for Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
- Globalisation Issues and the Accounting Professional

Reflection on personal development - needs and directions (Personal Development Planning).
This module offers the opportunity to build on the knowledge the student has acquired so far in pursuing the Staffordshire Graduate Employability Attributes at Level 4.

Cottrell, S (2013) The Study Skills Handbook, 3rd edition, Palgrave, ISBN 9780230573055
Sumner, R (2012) How to use your degree to secure a job: Kaplan's Guide to Core Skills and Employability, Kaplan, ISBN 9780857324863
Van Emden, J. and Becker, L. (2010) Presentation Skills for Students, Palgrave, Basingstoke, ISBN 0230243045
BPP CIMA E1 Enterprise Management Study Text (2011 syllabus)

Module study guide
The University Library and Learning Resources - books and academic journals
The module VLE
Electronic data bases
Learning support materials
Internet
Personal Development Portfolio

A portfolio of evidence weighted at 75% testing learning outcomes 1, 2, and 4 to include presentation and group-work and a personal development plan.

A personal reflection journal on work-related experience weighted at 25% testing learning outcome 3.

The two elements of the assessment ensure the attainment of work-related experience.

The portfolio provides the opportunity for students to critically evaluate their progress in acquiring the Staffordshire Graduate Attributes

The learning strategy for this module is based around students committing a total of 150 hours of activities towards achieving the learning outcomes. These will be split between 39 hours of direct contact with a tutor and 111 hours of directed, guided and self-study, together with preparation for and completion of the assessment tasks. Learning support material will be provided for the module.
The module will draw upon a mixture of activities including lectures, web-based activities, case study analysis, relevant videos and in-class discussions, individual and group problem solving and self-directed learning.