Big Changes to PGCE Bursaries for Trainee Teachers...

were announced by the Government last week.

For September 2011, TDA (Training and Development Agency) bursaries will only be available for those studying for PGCE/PGDE in shortage Secondary subjects:-

• Physics, Chemistry, Engineering and Mathematics will attract a bursary of £9,000
  
• Biology, Combined/General Science and Foreign Languages will attract a bursary of £6,000

This effectively withdraws the bursary for Primary PGCE courses, although the number of course places will rise slightly to reflect the increasing number of primary pupils.

There will also be a big increase in places on the "Teach First" programme, whereby graduates can gain teaching experience without first gaining a qualification.

Marketing Jobs on the Up?

Graduate Prospects' magazine "Jobs and Courses" reports a 26% rise in recruitment to Marketing vacancies in 2010, as surveyed by the Reed Marketing Job Index.

Unfortunately, this has not lead to an increase in Graduate salary levels but is never theless encouraging news. You can view the full article in the January edition of Jobs and Courses.

Looking to get into teaching? Need experience? - Useful advice is available from the TDA http://ow.ly/3L7zW covering the Open Schools, Teaching Advocate, School Introduction and Student Associates programmes.

Shortage of Midwives

NHS Chief Executive David Nicholson recently calculated that England needs an extra 4,500 midwives.

According to information he submitted to the Commons Public Accounts Committee, 608,000 births in England in 1997 had risen to 671,000 by 2009, while the number of full-time midwives had only increased from around 18,000 to just over 20,000.

As mentioned in a previous post, David Cameron has already talked of a need to recruit around 3,000 midwives. However, research I did some time ago suggests that the midwifery shortage mainly affects the South East and Eastern counties of England.

Anecdotal evidence from Scotland suggests that there is a surfeit of midwives training North of the Border.

Milkround.com seeks Budding Writers

Milkround.com's Student View is looking for students to write articles on careers, internships, university, housing, travel and what’s important to students. This is a forum for students, where they can write about where and how their future careers are going to develop and report on university news.


To submit articles students can go to http://www.milkround.com/news-advice/student-view.aspx or email their reports to studentview@milkround.com. Details to be sent with the article are:

• Name

• University

• Year of graduation

• Telephone Number

• Your article

• A photo to accompany the story (Optional and must be your own image)


This post was based on information supplied by Annelise Johnson of Milkround.com

Access to Fashion

This is a copy of the text of a poster we received from Elevation Networks:

Interested in Fashion? Aspiring to be the next Fashion Mogul? Want to know the opportunities available to you as a student? Then this is the event for you!!

Elevation Networks is proud to present an exclusive Access to Fashion event. Where 30 carefully selected students will get the opportunity to meet industry professionals and ask questions to the people who know it best. The event will be hosted by the National Magazine...the owners of Cosmopolitan, Reveal and Harpers Bazaar*.

To Gain your Access invitation please email your CV and Cover Letter to: events@elevationnetworks.org telling us why you should be selected for this event.

Deadline for applications is: FEBRUARY 11TH 2011

*presumably London. The actual event is scheduled for 25th February between 5.30 and 8.00 pm

Positive Outlook for the IT Industry

Research by Sector Skills Council e-skills shows employment in the IT industry is set to grow at five times the national average over the next ten years.

Their "Technology Insights 2011" suggests opportunities will increase at 2.19% per annum, with over half a million new IT & Telecoms professionals needed over the next five years.

Further details suggest that the age profile of the industry is now rising, with only 19% of professionals aged under 30 and 17% are over 50. The gender profile however remains a big issue as only 18% are women.

For more details see http://www.e-skills.com/technologyinsights2011