module specification

This module will orientate you to Higher Educations and early employability planning. This module will introduce you to how the university works and how you can adapt and be successful in your studies by mastering key academic skills & employability skills; the module is designed to provide you with guidance to building core academic and professionals skills.

Running alongside the module requirements & in collaboration with the Gateway to Success a business school resource, we will set you on your way in career development and skill enhancement.  The resource will support you in the tools, insights, and support needed to achieve your professional goal and build evidence of personal development and employability skills. Additionally students earn points for completing activities across learning and careers areas. Achieving the required points by graduation signals strong engagement and commitment to professional growth, which is formally recognised on the degree transcript.

You will be equipped with the knowledge to quickly navigate the university systems and locate information essential to your learning; the module does this by introducing and delivering an overview of the university literacy, opportunities and challenges. The module will also support you in developing digital literacy and effective communication, recognising the importance of these skills in academic and professional contexts. Key study techniques and skills to be covered will stretch from preparation for class, to time management, teamwork, academic reading and writing, research, the use of Artificial Intelligence and reflective thinking, to encourage and help you for your academic ability and professional career development. This will not only equip you with a solid foundation of the skills you need to progress to the subsequent levels of your study and ultimately to finish your course successfully, but it will also equip you with the soft and transferable skills  you need to excel in your career progression, beyond the university.

The module aims to:
- Provide information and guide you on where to find study and module information.
- Provide you with a sound understanding of what is required to succeed when studying at the university.
- Development a range of academic, professional, and personal skills that will contribute to university learning, life-long learning and employability.
- Support your adoption of techniques and skills to help to improve your performance at the university.
- Use digital tools to effectively support learning and professional collaboration.
You will find, reflect on and further develop the following aspects:
- Management skills.
- Team work and presentation skills.
- Learning skills & styles
- Academic reading and critical thinking.
- Research skills and research methods.
- Academic writing and academic integrity.
- Use of Artificial Intelligence.
- Employability planning & development – The degree specialism & the Graduate labour market. Graduate employability skills, transferable skills, Skills development & planning. Developing a live CV to record the skills that you have developed through your course, work experience and in your extra-curricular activities.

N/A

Academic Skills
University literacy (e.g., university policy literacy, university system navigation, accessing academic resources).

Management skills (e.g. time management, emotional intelligence, stress and self-management).
Teamwork and Presentation skills
Learning Skills (e.g., class preparation, note making and reflection).
Academic reading and critical thinking
Research skills and research methods (e.g., where to find reliable data and sources; research methods and approaches, e.g., secondary/primary research, qualitative/quantitative research
Academic writing and academic integrity (e.g. from personal writing to academic writing, Harvard referencing, use of AI)
Employability planning & development
– Making career choices & the realistic understanding of graduate opportunities & the current labour market within chosen specialism
Graduate skills awareness & transferable skills -
An understanding of the importance of skills & the skills employers requires of a graduate in chosen specialism
Employability skills audit – Attributes & competencies including those gained from the degree
Identifying & planning how employability skill gaps can be developed in a given targeted time scale.
The development of a live CV

Delivery will consist of 3-hour weekly blocks, using a combination of 2 - hours of lecture-based teaching together with one-hour seminars comprising of skills-based activities. Occasionally, the 2 - hours class contact time will be used for workshops and the remaining hour will be devoted to drop-in surgeries and/or “on-line” surgery time. Videos and online case studies will frequently be used to stimulate discussion in seminars. In the main, lectures will be both tutor and student-led to include a problem-based approach. The routine of weekly reflection will be encouraged and checked informally in class. Students are expected to begin the adoption of an increasing degree of independent learning. Weblearn will be used for the dissemination of learning materials, for assessment briefs, and for regular updates by the tutor.

LO1: Navigate the university systems and identify where to obtain academic resources.
LO2: Competently apply a wide range of academic skills, including time management, research, teamwork, presentation, academic reading and writing.
LO3 Correctly follow the university policies including proper use of Artificial Intelligence for academic purpose.
LO4. Understand the role of early career planning and the practical application of the development of competencies for successful graduate employability.
 

Library Reading List link
https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/592896D8-9C67-EE9F-4F93-067C03DDFF0C.html?lang=en-GB&login=1

Core Texts:
Cottrell S. (2024) The study skills handbook 6th edition London: Bloomsbury Academic
https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/study-skills-handbook-9781350421288/

Cottrell S. (2023) Critical thinking skills: effective analysis, argument and reflection /
4th edition London Bloomsbury
https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/critical-thinking-skills-9781350322585/

Cameron S. (2021) The business student's handbook: skills for study and employment  7th edition Harlow, England: Pearson,
https://www.pearson.com/en-gb/subject-catalog/p/business-students-handbook-the-skills-for-study-and-employment/P200000003873/9781292304618

ebook
Forsyth P. (2022) Successful time management: how to be organized, productive and get things done  6th edition London : Kogan Page
https://www.koganpage.com/general-business-interest/successful-time-management-9781398606197

Other Resources
Web learn Gateway to Success – Careers evolution section
London Met Career and employability advice Link
https://student.londonmet.ac.uk/jobs-and-employment/career-and-employability-advice/

Meechan D. (2025)  Generative AI for students: the essential guide to using artificial intelligence for study at university London: Sage,
https://uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/generative-ai-for-students/book288416

Greetham B, (2023) How to write better essays 5th edition London, UK ; New York : Bloomsbury Academic
https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/how-to-write-better-essays-9781350337923/

Academic Misconduct
https://student.londonmet.ac.uk/your-studies/student-administration/rules-and-regulations/academic-misconduct/
Rules and regulations - Student Zone
Guidance on the use of Artificial Intelligence - Student Zone

Links to Skills Hub
Libguides - LibGuides at London Metropolitan University  - includes Referencing
Overview of AI - Artificial Intelligence (AI) Library Guide - LibGuides at London Metropolitan University   plus video on using AI responsibly: https://londonmet.cloud.panopto.eu/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=ba56ff8f-4d65-4601-a6c4-b2c000b56f9c

Video
Edmans, A, (2022) Time management in the digital age .London : Henry Stewart Talks, 2022
http://catalogue.londonmet.ac.uk/record=b2406684~S1

Books
Wallbank, A. (2023) Academic writing and dyslexia: a visual guide to writing at university /
2nd edition London; New York : Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group
https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9781003190189/academic-writing-dyslexia-adrian-wallbank

Williams, K. Woolliams M. and  Spiro J. (2020)  Reflective writing 2nd edition
London: Red Globe Press,
https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/reflective-writing-9781352010084/

Van Emden, J.. Van Emden J.  Becker L. (2016) Presentation Skills for students 3rd edition
London: Bloomsbury
https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/presentation-skills-for-students-9781137576491/

Monica Gribben (2012) The study skills toolkit for students with dyslexia
https://uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/the-study-skills-toolkit-for-students-with-dyslexia/book235978

Hopkins.  Reid T. (2024) The academic skills handbook: your guide to success in writing, thinking and communicating at university 2nd edition  London  SAGE Publications,
https://uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/the-academic-skills-handbook/book280781

E Books
Bailey, S. (2025) Academic writing: a handbook for international students 6th edition London ; New York : Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group
https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9781003509264/academic-writing-stephen-bailey

Grix,J. (2019) The foundations of research 3rd edition London : Bloomsbury
https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/foundations-of-research-9781352002003/