Career opportunities
At all stages the programme focuses on skills for employability. The personal development and career plan is designed to ensure that, from the beginning of the programme, candidates focus on career and employment objectives, and in meetings with supervisors this will be the subject of regular review. In the first semester a workshop will be led by a member of the Careers Advisory Service of the University of Kent about the identification and development of key employability skills. Candidates will be encouraged to use work placements and internships to develop their career objectives. The generic and subject specific training will emphasise skills and competences for employability. The wide-range of associated members and the interaction and contact that the candidates will have with these partners will enable both the associate partners and the candidates to establish effective contacts for future employment.
Every aspect of the training is oriented to enhance the employment prospects of successful doctoral graduates. The associated members represent a wide spectrum of employers in the fields in which highly-skilled criminological researchers with cultural and global perspectives will be in demand. Key representatives of these associated members will participate in the programme (giving training sessions, providing advice on research, offering opportunities for internships) and will enable candidates to access a wide network of contacts in allied organisations. In their contribution to the governance of the programme they will advise on the content of the programme and the skills and competences that employers in the field require.
Employment opportunities will include a wide range of high-level research, teaching, training, policy and consultancy positions in:
■ national and international NGOs and similar third-sector organisations;
■ department/schools of criminology, social science and law in universities;
■ criminological research institutes;
■ EU or other regional level organisations dealing with justice, crime, security and rights;
■ national government - in ministries of justice, home affairs and related departments;
■ local government - in ministries of justice and crime prevention/community safety departments;
■ criminal justice and security agencies - local, national and international;
■ inter-agency crime prevention and control partnerships between public, voluntary and private sectors;
■ specialist positions in the publishing and media industries;
■ specialist positions in libraries or archives.
The career prospects of graduates will be promoted through dedicated institutional support services at all sites. The Kent Careers Advisory Service will continue to provide advice and support following the initial induction and will advise how to develop and present personal portfolios; this work will be continued at the careers centres of Utrecht, Hamburg, and ELTE, all offering advice, information and guidance on possible career options upon graduation. Extensive institutional careers websites which include online databases of graduate vacancies in research and other employment opportunities throughout Europe and workshop programmes assist candidates in presenting and documenting their employability skills, making career choices, and developing their application and interview skills. Existing alumni careers networks allow candidates to meet and discuss career options and opportunities with graduates of the universities who are in employment. The advice will include reference to EURES and other relevant on-line sites.
