UOWx
STUDENT HANDBOOK
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EXPLORE
G
NEW
A
IDEAS
I
N
EXPERIENCE
EXPAND YOUR
E
X
T
E
YOURSELF
OUTSIDE
SKILLS
N
D
YOUR
C O U R S E W O R K
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CONTENTS:
INTRODUCTION TO UOWx
WELCOME // WHAT IS THIS HANDBOOK FOR? // WHAT IS UOWx?
THE BENEFITS
THE RECORD & AWARD // INCREASE YOUR EMPLOYABILITY // ALUMNI TESTIMONIALS
KEY DATES & PROGRAM INFORMATION
UOWx KEY DATES // CURRENTLY APPROVED PROGRAMS
CLAIMING & ONLINE SYSTEM GUIDE
MAKING A CLAIM // ONLINE SYSTEM GUIDE
UOWx INTERACTIVE SEMINARS & OTHER EVENTS
UOWx INTERACTIVE SEMINARS // OTHER EVENTS
REGIONAL CAMPUS INFORMATION
REGIONAL CAMPUS STUDENTS // COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERING
FINDING OUT MORE
WEBSITE // NEWSLETTER // SOCIAL MEDIA // UOWx BACKGROUND //
TROUBLE-SHOOTING
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WELCOME TO UOWx!
We are very excited to welcome you into the UOWx community!
UOWx connects you with experiences outside your degree to give you the x-factor when you
graduate. Now, more than ever, students are seeking to expand their skills and experiences
to maximise their employability. This is your invitation to join this extraordinary group of
graduates!
UOWx offers you the opportunity to engage with a range of programs and activities outside
the classroom. These approved activities are designed to expand your knowledge and
abilities as you engage with the wider university community. The best part is that you will
receive formal recognition on your UOWx Record for the experience you gain through your
involvement in these opportunities!
There are a broad range of available programs, with categories including leadership, global
experiences, volunteering, mentoring and creativity. Those students who extend themselves
and engage in multiple opportunities can even receive a UOWx Award (see The Benefits
section for more information).
Your first steps start right here. In this handbook, you will find all the hints and tips to
get the most out of your UOWx
journey. As you read, think about
the kind of experience you want to
gain and then head to our website
(www.uow.edu.au/uowx)
and
explore the current range of UOWx
opportunities, find one that suits
you, apply and get involved in today.
So what are you waiting for?
Start your journey from the ordinary to the extraordinary today!
Alexandra McPaul
Manager, UOWx (Co-curricular Learning & Recognition)
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INTRODUCTION TO UOWx
WHAT IS THIS HANDBOOK FOR?
This handbook explains everything you need to know to get the most out of
UOWx. It will provide you with information on everything from how UOWx was
created, to what sort of recognition you can receive and right down to the steps
you need to take to be involved and recognised by UOWx.
WHAT IS UOWx?
UOWx is a program, launched in 2015, to recognise the learning experiences that
you gain through co-curricular activities during your time as a student. UOWx
connects students with opportunities that are relevant to them and then upon
graduation formally recognises students for the experience they have gained.
UOWx also hosts extra opportunities for students, notably UOWx Interactive
Seminars.
UOWx is about exploring new ideas; gaining experience; expanding your skills;
and extending yourself outside of your coursework.
WHAT IS CO-CURRICULAR?
Co-curricular encompasses all the learning experiences that you have, which
are separate to your academic coursework, are not for academic credit and are
not a requirement
of
a
subject/
course
program.
Opportunities such
as mentoring other
students, taking on
a leadership role
or contributing to a
competition team
are
included
in
UOWx.
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Co-curricular activities help you to expand on the skills and knowledge you develop
through your academic coursework and these experiences are vitally important for you to
standout as a graduate. They also allow you to develop personally and professionally in
preparation for your life after university.
WHY SHOULD I GET INVOLVED?
So that you can gain experience and skills and stand out from other applicants when you
graduate.
Increase your employability by
developing your skills and being
recognised for your experience.
The UOWx website
allows you to find
activities that suit
you!
Receive a formally validated
record of your involvement
at UOW.
By being involved, you may learn skills that will help
you to succeed in your studies.
By reflecting on your experiences,
you will increase your ability to
communicate and market your skills
to future employers, for awards or
postgraduate entry.
If you get involved in one or more programs, and have your involvement verified by claiming
it, you will receive the UOWx Record, an official university record listing your involvement.
If you want to excel, you can go above and beyond, and gain the UOWx Award. The first
UOWx Awards and UOWx Records will be given out following Spring Session 2016.
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Co-curricular activities help you to expand on the skills and knowledge you develop through
your academic coursework and these experiences are vitally important for you to standout
as a graduate. They also allow you to develop personally and professionally in preparation
for your life after university.
WHO CAN GET INVOLVED?
EVERYONE!
YOU!
All students can get involved. Undergraduate, postgraduate, regional campus and Wollongong
campus students can all access UOWx recognised programs. In-bound study abroad or
international exchange students are welcome to participate in programs, however it is
estimated it will take around two years to complete the award requirements. NB: Until after
Spring Session 2016, the Record will not be available to in-bound study abroad students.
WHAT TYPES OF OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE?
There are over 50 different types of co-curricular activities
offered to UOW students. To make it easier for you to navigate
and find a program with an activity to suit you, we have
categorised these opportunities according to the following
areas of interest:
• Employability: careers, professional development and
entrepreneurship
• Community:
community
engagement,
service
and
volunteering
• Global: cross-cultural and international opportunities
• Creativity: creative communities and culture
• Mentoring & Educational Engagement
• Leadership
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THE BENEFITS
THE UOWx RECORD & AWARD
UOWx RECORD
The UOWx Record is a document that lists all of your co-curricular involvement for UOWx
approved activities that you have undertaken outside your coursework. Regardless of
whether you have been involved in a single program or activity, or numerous activities you
are eligible to be recognised with a UOWx Record.
The record will include the year, session/s that you participated, the program/activity, the
category, whether the role was in an employed or voluntary capacity and the number of
hours undertaken. It will also include a statement about the activities that are included
and the fact that the university has verified your involvement.
From mid-2016, you will be able to download an unofficial
version of the document from the online system and you will
be provided with an official printed copy upon completion of
your degree. If you require an official printed copy earlier, you
may request that prior to graduation, however you will need
to pay for this. A sample UOWx Record will be made available
on the UOWx Website in April 2016.
UOWx AWARD
To achieve the UOWx Award, participate in a range of UOWx approved activities and
interactive seminars and then produce a piece (using your preferred communication
method) to tell others about the skills you developed, the challenges you overcame
and how you grew as a person through your involvement. The first UOWx Awards will
be provided to graduating students following Spring Session 2016. If you are graduating
prior to this date, we still encourage you to get involved, include your involvement on your
resume and talk about the experience you gained in interview.
To achieve the UOWx Award you are required to complete five approved activities within
at least three different programs. Each ‘activity’ needs to include the minimum hour
commitment (20 hours for Wollongong Campus based activities and 15 hours for Regional
Campus based activities).
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The award requirements are shown in the example above.
A different example of a student who has completed three programs would be, Casey:
Activity 1: AIME Mentor
Activity 2: Wellbeing Ambassador
UOWx Award
An extraordinary Graduate
Activity 3: Wellbeing Ambassador
Activity 4: Univative Team Member
N
Activity 5: AIME Mentor
O
JA PO
N SE
U D
AR V
Y ER
20 S
16 IO
In honour of significant co-curricular achievement
University of Wollongong
presents
Casey has undertaken AIME over two semesters
Sarah Smith
completing at least 20 hours per semester as required.
with the UOWx Award
She has also been a UOW Wellbeing Ambassador for two
has completed three different types of activities:
1.
AIME Mentor;
2.
UOW Wellbeing Ambassador; and
3.
Univative Team Member.
PR
semesters (completing 40 hours of involvement). Casey
To achieve this Award, the student has undertaken over 100 hours of activity, engaged in
five UOWx Interactive Seminars (or equivalent) and reflected on their learning. This is an
award given to students in recognition of the substantial contribution they have made
as part of the University community through activities that complement their academic
program of study. Their involvement in co-curricular activities has extended their skills,
attributes, leadership experience and personal qualities, preparing them to contribute
positively to society and their future workplaces.
Vice-Chancellor
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)
16th December 2016
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REFLECTIVE PIECE
Throughout your time at
university you may have
engaged in a range of UOWx
activities and interactive
seminars and we want you
to be thinking along the way.
Reflection is undertaking
CONNECTIONS BETWEEN EXPERIENCES
C H A L L E N G E S
SKILLS
DEVELOPED
L E A R N I N G
REFLECTION & ARTICULATION
J
G
O
R
U
O
R
W
N
T
E
Y
H
a thinking process by remembering what you did, understanding what was important,
applying where you could use it again, analysing your actions, evaluating how well you did
and creating a plan of what to do next.
Upon completion of your activities and interactive seminars you will be asked to create
something. It might be a blog, a video, a digital pin-board or a presentation. We are
interested in seeing how you connect together the learning, skills development, personal
growth and experiences that you have had across all of your experiences. The process
of developing this piece along the way and at the end will prepare you for recruitment
processes because you will have gathered together a range of examples that you can
draw upon as responses to interview questions. You may even have the opportunity to
showcase your piece to future employers to demonstrate how you have furthered yourself
beyond the academic coursework of your degree.
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INCREASE YOUR EMPLOYABILITY
One of the key drivers for UOWx is to help students increase their employability. In the
process of creating UOWx, we sat down with employers from a range of industries and
posed the question, ‘If everyone has a degree, how do you choose who gets the job?’, they
all pointed to the skills and experience students had gained outside of the classroom.
Over 25 employers told us that they look for students who have been involved & gained
experience in addition to their academic work. They highlighted the importance of soft
skills that are gained through work experience and volunteer opportunities, such as:
• COMMUNICATION
• INTERPERSONAL COMPETENCE
• TEAMWORK
We also sought feedback from these employers when designing the content and wording
of the UOWx Record & Award to ensure that the documents provided useful information.
GAINING EXPERIENCE OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM CONTRIBUTES
SIGNIFICANTLY TO YOUR DEVELOPMENT AND WILL ASSIST YOU IN GAINING
EMPLOYMENT BEYOND UNIVERSITY.
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[
Build industry contacts – UOWx
Interactive Seminars are a great
opportunity to build networks with
industry contacts and experts, as
well as others students who share
your interests.
][
]
Develop professional experience by
finding a program or opportunity with
a similar environment to your chosen
career and gain that experience.
Tips to increase your employability:
[ ]
Learn from people who have gone
before you or who have already
developed the skills you are seeking –
get to know people who have skills or
experience that you want to develop
and learn from them. Volunteer
alongside them, make time to meet
with them, or get involved in programs
[ ]
Think about the skills that are
valued in your preferred career
and identify opportunities that
will help you to build these
skills
they run.
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ALUMNI TESTIMONIALS
Past graduates from the University of Wollongong know just how valuable co-curricular
activities are for gaining experience. Here’s a snapshot of what they have to say. You can
watch their full stories on the UOWx website.
Annie Zhou
Analyst, Strategic Finance, Telstra
Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting Finance)
(Hons.)
Illawarra Committee for International Students
‘I think it is not until I entered the workplace
that I realised how important communication
is. Because of the activity you have done,
it builds this confidence in you, that no
matter what happens you can handle it.’
Andrew Moon
Social Media Producer, Australian Broadcasting
Corporation
Bachelor of Journalism / Bachelor of Arts
Principal Residential Advisor, Campus East;
UOWTV Multimedia Content Producer;
CSE Leadership Program; and
Faculty of Arts Students Association
‘I’m a massive believer in co-curricular and
doing things on the side, because that is really
the thing that gives you this huge edge when
you go to get employment. My time…taught
me leadership experience, running meetings,
mentoring and motivating teams that I use
everyday…that experience has been absolutely
invaluable.’
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Lewis Westhoff
Town Planner, Cardno
Bachelor of Communications & Media Studies
(Journalism) / Bachelor of Science (Human
Geography)
In2Uni Mentor
Study Abroad Student
‘I suppose it shaped me mostly by my maturity, it really taught
me about how I am going to live my life. When I first started
the In2Uni program, going into school by myself and having to
speak to 30 or 40 kids, you become more confident by going
through that process. It’s a great way to develop a skillset that
is transferrable to a range of jobs.’
Meadhbh Cacciaguidi-Fahy
Lawyer, Ashurst
Bachelor of Law
Lucy Mentee
Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience Mentor
‘Particularly the Lucy Mentoring Program and the AIME Mentoring
Program, …for me in particular it set into motion my interest
in criminal law, and my interest in indigenous issues. It helped
me shape my time management, and…it gives you an immense
amount of skills, be it communication, be it leadership, be it time
management skills. ’
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KEY DATES & PROGRAM
INFORMATION
KEY DATES FOR UOWx
Event
Autumn Session
Spring Session
O-Week Stalls
23rd - 25th February
19th July
UOWx Square One
Week 2, 10th March
TBA
UOWx Information Sessions
Weeks 3 & 4
Weeks 3 & 4
UOWx Interactive Seminars
Weeks 3 - 7
Weeks 2 - 6
Submission of Final
Claims for UOWx Activity
Involvement
For continuing students:
30th May 2016
For continuing students:
28th November 2016
For completing/graduating
students:
23rd September 2016
Approval of Activity Claims
by Program Coordinators
30th June 2016
For continuing students:
30th December
For completing students:
7th October
Application for UOWx Award
via Moodle (cut-off date)
N/A
30th September 2016
Award Eligibility Checking
by UOWx staff
N/A
30/9/16 - 10/10/16
Reflective Submission Due
date
N/A
10th October 2016
Student Advised of Outcome
of Reflective Piece & Award
Application
N/A
21st October 2016
Student Feedback/
complaint resolution
N/A
Completed by 28th October
2016
2016 Course Completion
- First UOWx Documents
Issued with Official
Academic Documents
N/A
January 2017
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CURRENTLY APPROVED
PROGRAMS
UOWx Approved Programs are programs that have met the criteria in the Activity Eligibility
Framework to be recognised by UOWx. They are guaranteed to provide opportunities for
students to gain new skills and experience across an extended period of time. Different
departments across the university coordinate UOWx Approved Programs. Look for the
Approved Program Badge (pictured above).
UOWx Approved Programs must involve:
a minimum of 20 hours involvement for students across a session (or annually);
provide an induction and/or training;
comply with the Fair Work Act;
develop students in at least three of the five core skill development areas; and
not be counted towards academic credit or a requirement of a course.
All of the programs listed on the UOWx website meet these criteria.
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CLAIMING & ONLINE SYSTEM GUIDE
MAKING A CLAIM
WHY, HOW & DO I HAVE TO?
Making a claim for your involvement in a program is essential if you wish
to be recognised by UOWx. Students must submit an entry each time they
are involved. You must complete a minimum of 20 hours across a program
to receive recognition from UOWx for your involvement (for information on
Regional Campus requirements see Regional Campus Information section).
It is crucial that you accurately record the number of hours you have spent
undertaking the activity and it is best you submit entries on a regular basis.
We recommend you consult with your program coordinator to determine
what hours are included, e.g. driving to and from campuses will be unlikely
to count towards your hours of involvement. You must ensure your claims
are accurate as all student claims are reviewed by the Program Coordinator
prior to final approval. Once a program is closed off at the end of a Session
no claims will be accepted after this date. You will need to ensure that you
log your entries as you go and complete this before the end of the session,
as you will be unable to claim everything retrospectively at the end of your
degree. Claiming your involvement is essential for recognition on your
UOWx Record.
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
This is the person responsible for overseeing and running a UOWx co-curricular program at
the university. Each UOWx Approved Program has a Program Coordinator and they are your
best point of contact for all questions regarding involvement in the program and how to claim
and be approved for UOWx recognition.
MOODLE
To be recognised for your participation in a UOWx recognised program you need to log and
submit your hours via Moodle. Every UOWx Approved Program has a Moodle Site and all claims
of involvement must be made through these Moodle Sites. The program coordinator will need
to enrol you within the site. Once enrolled, log into Moodle using your UOW Student Log-in
and select the program from your Moodle sites. The name will begin with UOWx - <Activity
Name>. If your program’s Moodle Site does not appear in your dashboard this is because you
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have not been enrolled in the Moodle Site. Please contact your program coordinator and ask
them to enrol you in the program’s Moodle Site.
Once on your Moodle Site, you should log your hours using the activity listed. You should
submit an entry for each day that you were involved. We suggest that you access Moodle
and submit as you are involved, however as a minimum you should submit monthly. Once
you submit an entry, your program coordinator will review this claim and approve, reject or
request you to resubmit. The system will calculate your total approved hours and show your
progress towards recognition.
ONLINE SYSTEM GUIDE
A.
ACCESSING THE MOODLE SITE
1. Log into Moodle & Select your program. It will be called ‘UOWx – Program Name 2016’
2. Your site will look similar to the screen visual below and will include instructions on how
to log your claim and an activity. If there are multiple activities, carefully read the title and
descriptions as there may be two roles in a program (e.g. Team Leader and Team Member)
or there may be two sessions that you can log under (e.g. Summer 2016 and Autumn 2016).
IMPORTANT NOTE: You MUST ensure you log in the correct activity and session as
this information will appear on your UOWx Record and must be accurate. Your Program
Coordinator will request you to resubmit your claim if you log it incorrectly.
3. Read ‘Instructions about How to Log a Claim’ on the Moodle site.
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B.
ACCESSING THE ACTIVITY
4. You need to click on the blue link to access the appropriate activity (as circled below). This
will take you to the activity page, showing the information that is attached to the activity.
C.
UNDERSTANDING THE INFORMATION IN THE ACTIVITY DETAILS
The front page of the activity shows some important information about your progress and the
activity. Each is labelled with a letter, which appears below with a description.
}
b
c
}
a
d
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a. Description of the activity.
b. Information about the year, session, campus, activity name and involvement type. These
details will be listed on the UOWx Record.
c. Hours required to be recognised for this activity. For Wollongong campus activities you must
complete 20 hours for the activity to be listed on your UOWx Record, and so this sections shows
your progress towards being recognised for the activity.
d. This shows the hours you have undertaken which have been completed AND approved. If
you have logged an entry and the status is ‘Submitted for approval’ the hours logged in that
entry will not be included in this total.
D. SUBMITTING A LOG ENTRY TO CLAIM RECOGNITION
5. To submit a log and claim recognition, you need to click on the blue link that says ‘Add a new
entry’.
6. The pop-up screen below will appear for adding a new entry.
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7. To log a claim, you need to:
a. Select the correct date of your involvement;
b. Fill out the description; and
c. Fill in the number of hours undertaken (see fields circled below) – NB: hours can only
be entered in quarter hours so if you have done 1 hour and 5 minutes you must log the 1
hour only, if you have done 1 hour and 15 minutes you should log 1.25.
Accuracy in recording your hours is important in receiving final approval from your Program
Coordinator. IMPORTANT NOTE: Your first entry must always be training unless you have
completed training in a previous semester and this is a subsequent activity.
8. A new row must be submitted for each date that you were involved. Click on ‘Add 1 more
rows’ to add multiple entries at the same time.
9. An example of the ‘Add new entry’ pop-up box showing two entries is shown below.
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10. Once you have completed filling out the entries, you should click on the ‘Submit logs for
approval’ button to save the changes.
11. Moodle will return to the activity screen and your entries will appear with the status shown
as ‘Submitted for approval’.
12. When the Program Coordinator has actioned your submission, the status of the log will
change. They will provide approval if they are satisfied that you have completed the requirements
for the activity. If not, they will return your claim to you and request further information so it will
state ‘Please resubmit’ or the claim will be ‘Rejected’ and you will be advised a reason for the
claim not being approved. (See example below with one approved log, one log which has been
entered with an incorrect date requesting resubmission and one log that has been rejected.)
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E. RESUBMITTING A CLAIM
13.
If you have been requested to resubmit, click on the small grey pen icon to edit your
original entry and resubmit.
14. A pop-up box, similar to the ‘Add a new entry’ pop-up box will appear and you can edit the
information and submit again.
CLAIMING FOR A UOWX AWARD
To achieve the UOWx Award, you are required to complete five approved activities including
at least three different programs. Each ‘activity’ needs to include a minimum 20-hour
commitment. Students must also participate in five UOWx Interactive Seminars, and create a
reflective piece about the experience they have gained through UOWx programs.
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UOWx INTERACTIVE SEMINARS
& OTHER EVENTS
UOWx INTERACTIVE SEMINAR SERIES
Whilst UOWx is committed to recognising a student’s involvement outside the
classroom, we are also committed to providing extra opportunities for students to
extend themselves. UOWx Interactive Seminars are designed to do just that!
Drawing upon excellent speakers
and facilitators from industry and
the local community, UOWx Interactive Seminars will provide opportunities for
students to engage with key cross-disciplinary issues and topics outside of the
classroom. These Interactive Seminars are also designed as a core component of the
UOWx Award. Over the course of your involvement, you will need to engage in five
UOWx Interactive Seminars as part of
your eligibility for the UOWx Award.
Past topics include Career Coaching,
Social
Sustainable
Entrepreneurship,
Development.
and
Students
have learnt how to refine their interview
skills, identify personal passions as
strengths, work in teams to develop
and present startup business models
and gain an understanding of working in
cross-cultural environments.
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Future UOWx Interactive Seminars are tipped to include the Future of Education; Design
Thinking; and Ethics. We are always eager to hear your suggestions for topics or speakers
– send your suggestions to us via email: [email protected].
UOWx Interactive Seminars are open to all UOW students! They run for approximately 2
to 3 hours on a weekday evening. Light refreshments are provided and it’s a great chance
to meet students from other faculties and network!
Your involvement in UOWx Interactive Seminars will be uploaded to the annual UOWx
Interactive Seminar Moodle site (e.g. 2016 UOWx Interactive Seminar site) by UOWx staff.
You will receive a notification when this has happened and will need to self-enrol in the
site to be able to view this.
OTHER
EVENTS
In addition to the Interactive Seminar Series, UOWx is involved in
and runs various events throughout the year, including Orientation
Week, Enrolment, UOWx Information Sessions & Stalls, UOW Open
Day, Clubs Day, Careers Fair, W-Day at Shoalhaven Campus, UOWx
Square One and visits to the Regional Campuses.
Students can find out more about UOWx at our Information Sessions which are held in
the first three weeks of session and UOWx Square One, which is a trade fair style event
that allows you to meet students currently involved in UOWx approved and recognised
programs, and network with other students over lunch. Keep an eye out for these
opportunities to find out more!
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REGIONAL CAMPUS
INFORMATION
UOWx has opportunities for all students from the University of Wollongong – including
students from Regional Campuses!
While there are a number of engaging co-curricular activities available for students on
regional campuses, not all UOWx approved programs are available on Main Campus and
Regional Campuses. For this reason, the UOWx framework for regional students varies
slightly.
HOURS REQUIRED
Students at regional campuses are only required to complete 15 hours per on-campus
activity to be eligible for recognition on the UOWx Record (for main campus students there
is a requirement of 20 hours). This is due to the different structure of program at regional
campuses.
For community volunteering activities to be recognised on the UOWx Record, students will
be required to have completed a minimum of 20 hours (further information will be coming
late April 2016).
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It is important to note, that in order for regional students to receive the UOWx Award,
they must still complete a total of 100 hours involvement across 5 activities (including at
least three types). To meet the required 100 hours, students could engage for more than
the required 15 hours for each activity, they could participate in more than 5 activities, or
engage in community volunteering for additional hours.
UOWx INTERACTIVE SEMINARS OR EQUIVALENT
Regional Campus students are able to engage with UOWx Interactive Seminars by
travelling to main campus to attend (if this is possible), engage in seminars via videoconferencing when available, or complete an equivalent activity. An equivalent activity
is in the form of a MOOC which stands for Massive Open Online Course. This is delivered
over the web and students can complete it in their own time. A selection of suggested
courses will be made available to regional students. For the latest updates please check
the UOWx Website.
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERING
Students on Regional Campuses have the opportunity to receive recognition from UOWx
for community volunteering activities they undertake outside of the university. This is
an opportunity unique to regional students. There are strict criteria and processes for
students to have community volunteering recognised by UOWx. These are currently being
developed and this document will be updated to include these when they are finalised.
A minimum of 20 hours must be completed per community volunteering opportunity (this
differs from the required 15 hours per on campus activity).
• All forms must be signed, returned and approved prior to commencing any community
volunteering to be eligible for recognition from UOWx.
• Students must obtain must complete the online claim for their involvement with the
community organisation within Moodle.
• Volunteering must be undertaken with either a Registered Australian Charity, a NotFor-Profit Commission registered organisation or a school.
For more information please see the UOWx Website, contact your campus manager or
email [email protected].
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FINDING OUT MORE
UOWx Website: www.uow.edu.au/uowx
The UOWx website is the place to go for the latest UOWx updates, news and opportunities! If
you want to be the first to know about new opportunities or events, make sure you’ve signed
up to our newsletter using the form on the homepage.
[list in an attractive and exciting layout]
Our website contains:
• Over 50 unique co-curricular opportunities available to students from the University
of Wollongong.
• Videos of alumni stories, current students stories and others that explain the
breadth of opportunities available through UOWx.
• Explanations of the UOWx Award & Record, and how you can make sure you get
one!
• The latest news on UOWx Interactive Seminars and other upcoming UOWx events.
• Details for regional students and how they can access opportunities through UOWx.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook & Instagram
You can stay up to date with key UOWx event news by following
UOW StudentLife on Facebook and Instagram.
MyUOW App
UOWx now has a channel on the My UOW App. Be sure to
subscribe to the UOWx channel to receive the latest updates on
UOWx events and opportunities!
Newsletter
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The UOWx Newsletter is your most comprehensive source of the latest UOWx news, important
updates, priority access to events and information about other special opportunities. The
newsletter is sent to you monthly, so you won’t be inundated with unwanted emails, but you
will be kept in the loop with the latest announcements from UOWx.
Past newsletters have given subscribers opportunities to:
• Attend the VIP Launch of UOWx with the Vice-Chancellor!
• Access priority registration for limited capacity UOWx Interactive Seminars
• Apply to be involved in specific UOWx programs
• Discounted registrations for external conferences and events
• Apply for grants to support your involvement in external leadership programs
• And more!
To sign up for the newsletter, head to the UOWx homepage and register your details today!
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UOWx BACKGROUND:
WHY WAS UOWx DEVELOPED?
In 2009, the Australian Government implemented a requirement for all universities in
Australia to provide students with an AHEGS (Australian Higher Education Graduate
Statement) upon graduation. The AHEGS is a nationally standardised document, intended
for easy international recognition.
It includes information about:
• The Higher Education sector in Australia;
• The institution that is awarding the qualification;
• The academic qualification details; and
• Special Awards and Achievements.
When this was introduced, University of Wollongong began to discuss and consider what
might be included within this section of the AHEGS. This began a broader discussion about
recognition of co-curricular learning experiences students have while at the university.
UOWx was initially known as the Co-curricular Learning & Recognition Project, and was
developed as a Student Services and Amenities Fee funded project based on feedback
from students who wanted to be formally recognised for co-curricular activities they were
involved with.
The initial development phase was undertaken in 2014 and involved extensive research on
co-curricular recognition programs at other universities in the United Kingdom and Canada.
Two distinct models were used:
• In Canada the model was based on a holistic notion of education, that learning occurs
across all areas of a student’s life, not just in the classroom. Almost all universities in
Canada provide students with a Co-curricular Transcript (CCT) or Co-curricular Record
(CCR), which lists details of the student’s involvement.
• In the UK, each university’s framework looks a little different, but essentially they all
use an award-based model of recognition, and this has been driven by the employability
agenda.
Following on from this, a desktop audit was undertaken to understand the local context
in Australia. Universities that have developed co-curricular initiatives in Australia have
followed one of these two broad methods of recognition.
Based on this background research, UOW then developed a proposed recognition framework
based on the key drivers of:
• Student success and learning;
• Employability; and
• Community engagement.
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Design Principles
The design principles for this development were that it should be Equitable & Accessible,
Learning-focused, Digitally-enabled and Simple. Consultation was undertaken with
students, staff and graduate employers to ensure that the co-curricular recognition
framework at UOW was designed to be best practice within the sector.
The framework involves two types of recognition and was designed to provide recognition
for all students who are involved in approved programs, regardless of their breadth of
involvement. The UOWx Record is a transcript-like listing of all the approved activities
undertaken by each student, available to all students who have completed one or more
activities. The UOWx Award is for students who excel, completing at least three different
types of activities and engaging in UOWx Interactive Seminars.
Trouble-shooting Tips
GETTING INVOLVED
+ I am not sure where to start when choosing an activity
The first thing you need to do is think about what sort of experience you want to gain.
Is there a particular skill you want to develop?
What are some of your personal interests?
What industry do you want to work in and what sort of experience do you need?
If you’re still unsure, chat with some peers, friends or family and ask them what sort of
experience and opportunities would suit you. Once you have thought about this, you can
use keywords to search available opportunities on the UOWx homepage (i.e. employability,
leadership, media, cultural, international, communication skills, etc). When browsing the
available opportunities, also be sure to check the special requirements to ensure this is
a suitable role for you.
+ Can’t find an available opportunity?
Most programs recruit students at the beginning of a session. So in the weeks before
session starts, identify the programs you are interested in and apply according to the
directions listed on the site or get in contact with the program coordinator to express
your interest. Your eagerness to be involved will be a great first impression.
Attending UOWx Square One is also a great opportunity to find available programs. This
is a trade fair of all available opportunities where you can go and talk with students who
have been involved in each program to find out what they have gained and how to get
involved. Be sure to make attending UOWx Square One a priority for you! This is held
annually during Week 2 of Autumn Session.
Also, don’t forget to sign up for the UOWx Newsletter! The newsletter always contains
the latest available opportunities for students.
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+ Does community-volunteering count?
Recognition for community volunteering is only available for students at Regional
Campuses. Regional students should read the ‘Regional Campus Information’ section of
the UOWx Student Handbook for more information. Recognition for selected community
volunteering programs may made available for students on Main Campus in the future,
so keep an eye out.
+ I’m a regional campus student, how can I best get involved?
There are some great opportunities available on regional campuses which are listed on
the UOWx Website. Find your campus under the ‘UOWx at Regional Campuses’ tab on the
left hand side and see what on-campus activities interest you. Community Volunteering
can also be recognised for regional students. See the ‘Regional Campus Information’
section of this UOWx Student Handbook for more information.
+ I work on weeknights, is there any other time that I can attend a UOWx Interactive Seminar?
UOWx Interactive Seminars are presented at times that students have indicated to be
most convenient. Weeknights have been identified as the preferred timeslot for most
students. If you would like to suggest a time that you think would suit a lot of students,
please send us an email at [email protected] to let us know when and why! (Please
note seminars require a minimum of 2.5 hours to run). We are working to bring the
UOWx Interactive Seminars to Regional Campus students too, see the ‘Regional Campus
Information’ section of the UOWx Student Handbook for more information.
CLAIMING
+ Not enrolled on Moodle?
Your program coordinator is responsible for enrolling you in your program’s Moodle
Site, but it is your responsibility to let your coordinator know if you cannot access this
site or you have not been correctly enrolled. Please contact your program coordinator
as soon as possible to ensure you are enrolled in your Moodle Site with sufficient time to
process your claims. If you do not hear back from them, please email [email protected].
au and we will assist you.
+ I didn’t know I was eligible for UOWx, can I make a claim for roles I’ve already finished?
Once a program is closed off at the end of a Session, no claims will be accepted after
this date. You will need to ensure that you make a claim before you complete each
program, as you will be unable to claim everything retrospectively at the end of your
degree. Before you start a program, be sure to ask your coordinator if you are eligible
to receive UOWx Recognition. It is your responsibility to find out what roles are or aren’t
eligible for recognition.
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BEING RECOGNISED
+ I haven’t attended enough UOWx Interactive Seminars, can I still receive a UOWx Award?
It is a strict requirement of the UOWx Award that you attend a minimum of 5 UOWx
Interactive Seminars (or equivalent) to be eligible to receive the Award. If you are
unable to attend seminars due to accessibility reasons or other personal reasons,
(i.e disability, illness, or other extenuating circumstances) please contact us to see if
alternative arrangements are possible.
+ I need a copy of my UOWx Record before I graduate to apply for jobs. Can I get this?
Currently students are not able to access their UOWx Record before graduation. You
are advised to keep a personal record of their involvement for their resumes and job
applications. You could approach the program coordinator and see if they are able to
provide a letter or other proof of your involvement where required, although this is not
always possible.
+ I’m involved in a program that’s not listed on your website, can I still be recognised by
UOWx?
Unfortunately only programs listed on the website at the time of your involvement can
be recognised by UOWx. If you are involved in a program that you think would meet the
requirements of UOWx, please suggest this to your program coordinator or send us an
email with the details of the program you are involved in to [email protected] and we
can look into having the program recognised for students in the future.
+ Who can I contact for more information?
Please direct requests for information or advice on an individual program to the
program coordinator or the office that runs the program. Contact details are usually
available for each program on the UOWx website.
For UOWx specific information, please read the appropriate section of the UOWx
Website and check out our FAQs at www.uow.edu.au/uowx. If your question remains
unanswered, please contact [email protected].
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UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG
www.uow.edu.au/uowx
PRODUCED BY UOWx
[email protected]
Version 1. 25th March 2016. Hard copies of this document are uncontrolled, please refer to the UOW website for the latest version.