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Q-Step Centre»Our Courses»Career Readiness
Over the last six decades, the UK has invested in an excellent social science data infrastructure that is unparalleled by almost any other country (British Academy, 2012). This embraces the 46, 58, 70, millennium and (future) birth cohorts supported by the research councils. The increasing importance of data analysis in decision-making has boosted demand for employees with analytical skill sets, popularising career paths that lead to ‘big data’ jobs. Advanced quantitative skills are required to exploit fully the UK’s investment in its social science data infrastructure (British Academy, 2012). The growing demand for quantitative skills in UK business is also reflected in surveys among business sector leaders.
The Q-Step Centre is active in establishing links with partners organizations across Manchester. Currently we have students working in the eleven partnerships listed on our ‘Partner Organisations’ page but our partnerships continue grow and we have more partnerships coming on line this September. These partnerships benefit our students in terms career readiness in giving them opportunity for ‘real world’ experience but beyond that it continues Manchester Metropolitan’s proud tradition of actively working with our local community through knowledge exchange. As part of Q-Step in the community, our students gain valuable workplace experience through placements with our partner organisations. In turn, our students engage in volunteer activities and in undertaking statistical analysis of partner organisations’ data sets.
Q-Step Dissertation Work Experience Placements: At MMU we actively encourage our students to get involved with the local community and this year we have a record number of students who are undertaking quantitative dissertations with our partner organisations across Greater Manchester. This provides an excellent opportunity for students to gain ‘real world’ experience of the world of work and importantly, an opportunity to undertake a quantitative project that benefits the host partner organisation and wider still, society.This year we went off campus to deliver the two-day work ready training sessions at HOME. Great food, great venue and amazing commitment from our BSc 'Class of 2017’.
Work Readiness Training Events: We prepare our students through two day ‘Work Readiness’ training in order that they can immediately start contributing in their workplace environment. Throughout the students’ work placement experiences we encourage our students to maintain a reflexive journal so that they can record the experiences and skills they acquire along the way and can leave us confidently knowing that they can contribute widely in a digitally driven data society.
Postgraduate Training: The Sociology Department at MMU is one of the largest suppliers of graduates in the UK. It is, therefore, strategically important for us to be aware of the demands of Quantitative Methods skills in the job market and how our students can contribute. To meet the demands of a digitally data driven society, we have developed an exciting new MSc in Applied Quantitative Methods which is purposefully designed for our students to acquire the Quantitative Methods skills urgently required in our economy and job market.