Swansea University Ethical Careers Policy
Purpose
At Swansea University, we are proud to be a principled, purposeful, and resilient institution, committed not only to transforming lives through education and research, but also to making a positive difference in society. This Ethical Careers Policy reflects our deep commitment to our civic mission and to developing socially responsible global citizens who act with integrity, compassion, and respect for others.
Founded by industry, for industry, we have always recognised the value of strong partnerships. But just as technical skill is bereft without culture, so too is employability without ethics. In preparing our students for the world of work, we must ensure that the opportunities we promote are consistent with our values, and that our connections with employers support our broader ambitions for sustainability, equity, and wellbeing.
Aligned with our strategic commitments to sustainability, inclusivity, and regional development, this policy provides a framework for how the University, through its Employability and Careers Service, engages with employers. It sets out our expectations for ethical industry collaboration and guides the support we offer students as they navigate their career paths. In doing so, it underlines our ambition to nurture graduates who are not only highly skilled, but also thoughtful, ethical, and equipped to meet the global challenges of our time.
By embedding these principles in our careers support, we ensure that our students leave Swansea University not just prepared for work, but prepared to lead with purpose.
Swansea University’s Careers and Employability Service is committed to upholding and promoting ethical careers and recruitment activities in accordance with:
• Swansea University’s Strategic Vision & Purpose 2020
• Sustainability Policy 2020
• Sustainability & Climate Emergency Strategy (2021-2025)
• Swansea University’s Careers & Employability Strategy and Graduate Attributes
This commitment is underpinned by the following key factors/goals:
• The climate emergency
• Wellbeing and human health
• Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales)
• United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
The Careers & Employability Service’s Ethical Careers & Recruitment Principles:
1. The University is committed to actively promoting careers and employability related services and opportunities with organisations contributing to sustainability and positive social and environmental impact. ‘Active promotion’ relates to partnerships which enable employers and sectors to be highlighted above and beyond the university’s online jobs board and careers fairs.
2. The University Careers Service is accredited by the Graduate Futures Institute (GFI, formerly AGCAS) which requires universities to “embed impartiality into the design and delivery of career development services, so students and graduates are free to explore and shape their own paths” . We will therefore support students, through the use of tools and frameworks, to develop a personal ethical standpoint, allowing them to make informed decisions about their career and potential future employers.
3. The Careers & Employability Service reserves the right to reject vacancies or decline participation in events and activities at our discretion which it reasonably believes not to be in the best interests of either students, graduates or the University. In particular, this will include organisations and/or opportunities which:
• Have misleading, incomplete or inaccurate job descriptions.
• Promote or endorse illegal activity, or hiring practices.
• In our judgement, requires an unreasonable financial outlay by the applicant and/or requires employees to make use of their personal bank account for purchases/sales (e.g. pyramid or network selling schemes).
• Pay a salary or other type of reimbursement/ in-kind remuneration which is solely based on results or incentive-based schemes, e.g. commission-based work or the awarding of points which can be exchanged for rewards.
• Are involved in the manufacture and promotion of tobacco products in line with Welsh Government smoke-free Wales commitments and generational ban.
• Compromise the health and safety of students.
• Conflict with Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice at the time of posting.
• Recruiters not disclosing role locations.
4. We are committed to enabling the embedding of Graduate Attributes into all programmes of study throughout the university. These attributes integrate knowledge of sustainability, climate change, and UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ensuring students understand their discipline’s perspective on these global challenges. We are committed to ensuring our curricula appeals to an ethically conscious student body and meets employer expectations, including sustainability-oriented competencies, producing globally aware, ethically minded graduates, ready to address environmental, economic, and social challenges.
5. We are committed to providing enterprise support that empowers students to tackle global challenges (e.g. improving clean water access, climate resilience, and social equity) through innovation, collaboration, and responsible design, fostering entrepreneurial thinking in sustainability and global citizenship.
6. We adhere to our accreditor’s (GFI) Work Experience Standard. We commit to upholding best practice in employment by ensuring that all internships that we match/fully fund are paid at The Real Living Wage, that all unpaid internships we endorse remain under 70 hours of work, and that they have demonstrable benefit to the student.
7. We actively favour the funding of employability activities within organisations (particularly local organisations) committed to the betterment of people and the planet.
8. We are committed to delivering projects which facilitate access to careers for students from disadvantaged backgrounds and advocate for inclusive recruitment practices.
9. We commit to limiting the volume of merchandise produced/procured by Swansea University for careers-related promotional activities and, where possible, ensure that they are ethically sourced, with a preference for Fairtrade, recycled or reusable products. Third parties we work with will also be encouraged to adopt this approach.
10. We operate a paperless office, wherever possible, for example, printing only where students may have a need for a reasonable adjustment or where paper is the best method of advertising an essential service to students. We make full use of more sustainable methods such as digital notice boards, chalk pen advertising boards, e-campaigns, social media campaigns and similar.
11. We are committed to transparency and promoting continuous improvement through feedback. Full contact details including names, roles and email addresses are present and be easily found within our webpages. To provide feedback on this policy, or any other Careers/Employability related matters, please contact Lucy Griffiths, Head of Careers, Employability and Placements on 01792 606362 or lucy.j.griffiths@swansea.ac.uk.
Governance
12. Student Futures Board will oversee this policy and review it annually to ensure that it remains fit for purpose, reporting on it to the University Education Committee. Day-to-day responsibility shall reside with the Head of Careers, Employability and Placements, who shall be accountable for the policy and for reporting to Student Futures Board.
We currently work with the following Careers and Employability related third party providers:
• Job Teaser
• CareerSet
• Profiling for Success
• Shortlist.me
• TG Consulting
• Forage
• Aspire2Be
• Student Circus
• ECareersGrad
• Santander Open Academy
• Zero Gravity
