Subject interest group case study: criminology in the professions

Abstract

In 2009 Jill Jameson; Kate Strudwick; Sue Bond- Taylor (Senior lecturers in Criminology at the University of Lincoln) worked with Mandy Jones, Head of Opportunities at Lincoln University, to develop a curriculum based level two employability module entitled ‘Criminology in the Professions’ for Criminology and Criminology and forensic Investigation students. The module ran in Semester B of the academic year (January to May 2010). The main aim was to explore the issue of employability through introducing a dedicated module into the curriculum rather than this being a separate skills module. The learning outcomes included: • Exploring professional opportunities, recruitment and selection methods related to criminological study and understanding how methodological and academic skills can support this exploration; • Enabling an understanding of how a theoretical, political and practical reflection is useful in personal professional development and enabling the students to work independently, and in a group situation, to develop knowledge and techniques that can be applied to future recruitment opportunities. • Enabling students to reflect critically upon their own research skills and academic development. The overriding aim of the module was to adopt an academic approach to teaching skills and employability and careers planning within the curriculum