First university careers service achieves matrix standard

AGCAS members move towards three year accreditation objective

Newcastle University is the first higher education Careers Service to achieve the new matrix Standard, the national quality standard for organisations delivering information, advice and guidance.

Earlier this year AGCAS, the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services, decided to include matrix in its criteria for membership, making it a requirement for all of its institutional members to be working towards accreditation against matrix.

ìWe are delighted that Newcastle University Careers Services is among the first organisations in the country to achieve the new standard,î says Margaret Dane, chief executive of AGCAS.

ìIn the past dual accreditation systems have evolved with some Careers Services being accredited against the old Guidance Council standards and some using AGCAS standards.

ìThe Harris Review recommended that we should work towards single accreditation against the matrix standard and having been one of the key players in its development we were happy to adopt it as the framework for quality assurance within all HE Careers Services.î

AGCAS sees matrix as a framework which allows Careers Services to monitor their effectiveness, particularly via client feedback, and develop systems for continuous quality improvement of the service delivery and management.

Adds Margaret Dane: ìThe framework also has a strong emphasis on staff development, which is particularly important to AGCAS and alongside the rest of the guidance community it will allow us to influence developments in the profession.î

The objective is for all AGCAS services to be accredited within three years. In addition to Newcastle being the first to achieve this several others are expecting to be accredited before Christmas.

ìThe new matrix standard has been well received by Careers Services and we are confident that all our members will be accredited according to our timetable,î concludes Margaret Dane.

Note

AGCAS represents the Careers Services and c. 1200 professional staff in over 130 institutions of Higher Education throughout the UK and Eire. It enhances their activities through collaboration in areas such as professional development, raising quality standards, the gathering and dissemination of information on graduate careers and the production of information products and services for HE students and graduates.



matrix is supported by The Guidance Council and the Guidance Accreditation Board (GAB). The Guidance Council is a charity that promotes the availability of high quality information and guidance services to the public. Promoting matrix is a prominent part of the Councilís activities.