Employability Award

Develop the mindset and capabilities to be effective in any path you choose

The Employability Award is a structured program that recognises the personal and professional development you can gain from your involvement in activities above and beyond your academic studies. It is essentially a learning program that will guide you through a range of experiences and reflections to unlock your potential.

Participation is open to both undergraduate and postgraduate coursework students studying at UQ with the opportunity to receive the Award upon graduation.

Download the Activities Guide

Download Conditions of Participation

Book an Award consultation

Information for Staff

Important dates

Applications to receive the Award must be submitted by the following dates in your final semester of study.

29 April for Semester 1 Graduations

30 September for Semester 2 Graduations

Please note: These are firm dates and no extensions will be granted.

Benefits for students

Completion of the Award program is a rewarding process in itself. Other benefits include:

The opportunity to become a reflective practitioner.
Receiving a formal Statement of Attainment upon graduation,
Recognition as a UQ Future Leader and nomination into the UQ Future Leaders Program,
Access to VIP workshops and networking events; and
Creating a greater sense of belonging by becoming more actively engaged at UQ and within the wider community.

Opportunity awaits

Hear how Yunan used the Award program to seize new opportunities for development and shifted her mindset along the way.

How the award works
Get started

The Award process

The Employability Award Process

You will need to complete the steps outlined above to receive the Award.

Information on how it works

Read the full conditions of participation here

All activities that count towards the Award must be extra-curricular (not for course credit)
Only activities completed during your current program of study at UQ can be included
After completing an activity, you are required to record and reflect on it in StudentHub
Once you have completed all the program requirements, you can undertake the application process to receive the Award
Award ePortfolio applications need to be submitted by April 29 for semester one graduations or September 30 for semester two graduations.
Award interviews are conducted between weeks 12 - 13 only. Students must book an interview between this period.

Who can participate?

All currently enrolled full degree undergraduate, honours or postgraduate coursework students can register for the Award at any time throughout their degree.

There are no minimum GPA requirements. The program is designed to complement your degree and will not extend your program.

You have the duration of your degree to work towards the Award program requirements, however you are not obliged to complete them and receive the Award.

Your extra-curricular activities can be completed at any time during your degree, however you should only submit your application for the Award in the semester you are due to graduate.

Before you embark on your adventures and begin activities, there are some things you need to consider.

We strongly recommend you familiarise yourself with the information outlined below.

Understand the Award requirements

To get started in the Employability Award program, you will need to understand the program requirements. Here are a few key things to get you on your way:

Familiarise yourself with the resources available for the Award, in particular the Conditions of Participation.
Make a note of important program dates and deadlines
Review the information on how to Plan your success to ensure you are a step above the rest and are best prepared to apply your skills in the workplace.

Register for the Award

Plan your activities

To complete the program, you will need to complete a minimum of 100 hours of work experience, 100 hours of volunteering, and participate in five supplementary activities.

The Activities Guide booklet provides a guide to the types of activities each category can include, as well as some sugguestions to consider. You are also encouraged to find your own activities.

If you are considering an off-campus activity that has a cost attached you may be eligible for financial suport available through the Employability Grant.

Consider the following definitions when selecting your activities:

Work Experience

Activities you perform in a work environment which supports the day-to-day running of the organisation to meet their business objectives, which can be paid or unpaid.

Volunteering

An activity that is undertaken for the main purpose of benefitting someone else, such as a church, sporting club, government school, charity, or non-for-profit community organisation, for which you do not receive payment.

Supplementary Activity

An activity other than work experience or volunteering, in which your involvement can lead to the development of personal or professional skills or attributes. Refer to the Conditions of Participation for the rules regarding the recording of Supplementary Activities.

Record and reflect on your completed activities

All of the activities you complete as part of the Award will help you to develop a set of capabilities and mindsets that employers are looking for.

Recording and reflecting on your activities enables you to unpack each experience to find out what you specifically developed and will make it easier for you to effectively communicate your potential to an employer. The activity-log form within StudentHub is designed to help you do this.

Simply visit the Employability Award workflow on StudentHub to record and reflect upon your experience under each Award category. We suggest you bookmark your Award page so it's easy to find.

Apply for the Award

Once you have completed the minimum Award requirements, you will be invited to apply for the Award by completing an Employability Award ePortfolio. Applying for formal recognition of your involvement in extra-curricular activities is entirely your choice. You must complete this ePortfolio if you wish to progress to an interview for the Award and receive the statement of attainment when you graduate.

The Employability Award ePortfolio is designed to provide students with an opportunity to create an 'experience bank' of skills and attributes and to communicate these in a concise and professional manner that can be drawn upon in future recruitment processes. Further to this, you will establish your personal brand and online identity. Refer to the Award Application Guide and ePortfolio training video under the 'Resources' section of this website for more information.

Award ePortfolio applications must be received by 29 April for Semester one graduations and 30 September for Semster two graduations.

Your application will be reviewed and you will receive feedback via an assessment rubric within the ePortfolio. You will then be invited to your Employability Award interview between weeks 12 - 13.

Attend your Employability Award interview

Your interview is the final step to complete the Emloyability Award program and is conducted between weeks 12 - 13.

During this stage of the program, you will communicate your employability in an interview situation to a carefully selected interview panel. You will be asked behavioural based questions and will have the opportunity to ask questions of the panel, too. Refer to the Employability Award Interview Guide under the 'Resources' section of this website for more information.

Upon successful completion, you will receive feedback on your interview via your Employability Award ePortfolio page to assist you in continuing to refine your interviewing technique and confirm your successful completion of the program.

Lastly, we will invite you to complete your final Award Activity report, which will provide us with valuable feedback on the whole program, and have the potential to inspire and encourage other students to get involved in the program.

Activities Guide

Download the Activities Guide to view examples of the activities you can complete.

Download the guide;(PDF, 1.7MB)

Here are some activities that are currently open for application.

Ventures Virtual Hackathon
The Great Australasian Undergraduate Research Writing Project
Transform Law KWM Prize. Registrations close 7 August.
Get Set Mentoring Program.
Virtual Village Volunteer.

Find information sessions Book an appointment

Kate Goodfruit

"It is arguably the best experience I have had to date, as I experienced the world of diplomacy first-hand through interning at the Australian Embassy, developed networks and connections with leaders around the globe, and reinforced confidence in myself and my abilities to achieve."

Yanyan Hong

"TED2018 was a life-changing experience and it was the most intellectually stimulating and satisfying event that I have ever been to. This experience enhanced my social networking skills, translation skills and most importantly it made me believe in the greatest potentials of ourselves."

Lewis Jones

"There were so many incredible experiences that came from the Employability Award program. It encouraged me to participate in a wide variety of activities beyond what I would usually consider, and also exposed me to a wide variety of employers, thought leaders and other high-achieving students."

Information for staff

Access to promotional material and resources for staff involved in the Employability Award.