Create Your Future

Overview of Structure

The programme runs over a three week period during your first year, and consists of three components. The workshops will be in person, and the Guided Independent Learning session will take place on Microsoft Teams. All of these sessions will appear on your MyExeter timetable.

• Workshop 1: The Future of Work and What Employers Want.  
• Independent Learning (to complete between workshop 1 and workshop 2), with a timetabled Guided Independent Learning session for support from a Student Programme Assistant whilst you are working through the online activities.  
• Workshop 2: How to build the career you want.

Workshop 1: The Future of Work and What Employers Want

In this interactive workshop you will work together on practical activities to gain expertise on key topics relating to the future of work such as:

•  Why this is happening in your first year.
• Rapid technological advancements in 21st century.
• Your values and those of employers.
• Sustainability, wellbeing and commercial awareness.
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
• The skills graduates will need to thrive in this context

Independent Learning 

You will complete these activities between workshops 1 and 2, and will cover the following areas:

•    Skills to thrive analysis.
•    Discipline specific information and support.

Workshop 2: How to build the career you want

In this workshop, you will:

• Reflect on your skills gaps.
• Further explore opportunities to help you develop your skills and experience.
• Create an action plan to help you take the next steps on your career journey.

Launched last year, Create Your Future for second years will support you in your next steps. If you didn't participate last year, don't worry, we will update you with the relevant information. If you did attend last year, this isn't a repeat of what you've already learned. We will take a moment to reflect on the previous year, look at successes and achievements, consider the skills you've developed before starting to make a plan for your second year.

• Business School - all students will complete the programme on a staggered basis between weeks 4-11 of term 1.
• Computer Science – term 2 (exact weeks TBC).
• Engineering – term 2 (exact weeks TBC).
• Geography - weeks 4-7 of term 1.
• Mathematics - term 2 (exact weeks TBC).
• Natural Sciences – term 2 (exact weeks TBC).
• Physics and Astronomy – term 2 (exact weeks TBC).

• Biosciences – weeks 5-8 of term 1.
• Medical Sciences - weeks 7-9 of term 1.
• Psychology - weeks 4-7 of term 1.
• Sports and Health Sciences – weeks 5-9 of term 1.

• Arab and Islamic Studies – weeks 4-7 of term 1.
• Archaeology – term 2 (exact weeks TBC).
• Art History and Visual Culture – term 2 (exact weeks TBC).
• Classics and Ancient History – term 2 (exact weeks TBC).
• Drama – term 2 (exact weeks TBC).
• English - term 2 (exact weeks TBC).
• Film Studies – term 2 (exact weeks TBC).
• History - term 2 (exact weeks TBC).
• Law - weeks 5-10 of term 1.
• Liberal Arts – term 2 (exact weeks TBC).
• Modern Languages – term 2 (exact weeks TBC).
• Politics and International Relations - weeks 4-7 of term 1.
• Theology – term 2 (exact weeks TBC).
• Sociology, Philosophy, Anthropology and Criminology - term 2 (exact weeks TBC).

• Biosciences - don't attend Create Your Future, as similar content covered in placement module.
• Business - don't attend Create Your Future, as similar content covered in placement module.
• Camborne School of Mines - term 2 (exact weeks TBC).
• Geography - don't attend Create Your Future, as similar content covered in placement module.
• History - term 2 (exact weeks TBC).
• Law - weeks 2-4 of term 1.
• Politics - term 2 (exact weeks TBC).
• Renewable Energy - term 2 (exact weeks TBC).

You can attend the live sessions for any of the disciplines you are studying. All of the sessions will appear on your timetable, and you only need to attend the sessions related to one of your disciplines.

Running in your first year at the University of Exeter, this programme gives you time to explore the wealth of options offered whilst you are studying at The University of Exeter to develop your skills and gain relevant experiences. These include accessing professionals working in the sector you are interested in, gaining experience working in part time internships on campus or through specific work experience and training and using our services to provide a scaffold for your existing skills to ensure you are in strong position by the time you graduate to move forward.

Yes, it is a professional development programme and we recommend including it under the sections Other Skills or Achievements, for example:

“Personal Development: Completed the University of Exeter's Create Your Future during 20XX; committed to a three week personal and professional development programme with interactive workshops and independent learning on EDI, Commercial Awareness, Sustainability and Entrepreneurial thinking.”

It will take around 5-7 hours to complete the programme. We offer discipline specific sessions over 3 weeks, which are timetabled for you convenience. You can choose to sign up to the workshops that suit your availability and complete the online learning Guided Independent Learning at your own pace, in between the workshops. If you can’t make it to timetabled sessions, please email createyourfuture@exeter.ac.uk at the earliest you are aware and we will provide support for the best alternative timed sessions.

The Create Your Future programme aims to ensure that all students can access and participate in learning opportunities and gain skill development. If you are unsure about any element of Create Your Future or how you might participate in the programme, whether related to wellbeing, accessibility, health, reasonable adjustments or anything else, please email createyourfuture@exeter.ac.uk and we will provide support.

We offer you the opportunity to review the slides before attending, and visit the room where the training takes place and welcome advise on any additional needs you may have. The training offers accessibility for all and we value all requests to support your learning, whether related to wellbeing, accessibility, health, reasonable adjustments or anything else, please email createyourfuture@exeter.ac.uk and we will provide support.

Create Your Future is an employability programme focussed on career decision-making and career management (a skill you will use well into the future), so in many cases it is really valuable for mature students. However, we recognise that some of our students are fully established in their career; if this is the case, please email createyourfuture@exeter.ac.uk to discuss. The Career Zone provides a range of support for mature students which you may also find useful to explore.

This programme will give you an awareness of the unique opportunities and experiences available to you from your first and second years at Exeter through to graduation and beyond. In addition to advice on gaining part time work on campus through to internships (all years and only open to students at the University of Exeter) in a variety of sectors, Create Your Future provides guidance on reflecting on your values and how you can best showcase skills that employers report lacking in graduates. Through a personalised action plan, we can help you to propel yourself to wherever you may decide to go.

Create Your Future sessions highlight graduates who have followed a similar academic journey and provides methods to connect with Exeter Alumni and build your network, it also identifies other ways you can develop skills relevant to the career you have in mind. Students who wish to learn more on how they can maximise opportunities pertinent to their personal goals are encouraged to book 1:1 appointments with the team, so we can offer personalised advice. We also have sector specific pages for jobs and more.