Employability Skills and Career Development

Addis Ababa University

Course Syllabus

AAU-GG 1124 – Employability Skills and Career Development

Summer 2025

I. COURSE OVERVIEW

Part of the Project Green Gaming initiative, this course is designed to enhance the employability skills of university students, particularly ICT students and non-ICT female students aged 18-24, through a game-based approach. Over four weeks and 20 hours of engaging sessions, participants will develop essential soft and digital skills to address 21st-century challenges and excel in their careers. The course combines gamified learning experiences with practical career advancement strategies, focusing on critical skills such as effective communication, problem-solving, adaptability, and collaboration. Participants will also gain expertise in crafting impactful resumes and cover letters, navigating the job application process, and mastering interview techniques. Facilitated by Dr. Berhanu Abera, an experienced professional with extensive knowledge and practical insights, the course offers tailored guidance, hands-on activities, and actionable strategies to prepare students for modern workplace demands and empower them to contribute to sustainable, innovative solutions.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand and apply key employability skills relevant to the modern job market.
• Develop a personalized career plan and set realistic career goals.
• Create an effective resume and cover letter tailored to specific job applications.
• Understand the job application process and best practices for submitting applications.
• Master interview techniques, including preparation, communication skills, and presenting oneself confidently.
• Enhance their job search strategies using current tools and resources.
• Understand the 21st-century skills essential for career success in a dynamic, global economy.

Course Topics

1. Conceptualizing Employability Skills
2. Career Planning and Development
3. Building an Effective Resume and Cover Letter
4. Job Application Process andJob Search Strategies
5. Interview Skills and Techniques
6. 21st Century Skills for Career Succes

II. WEEKLY ACTIVITIES AND TIME COMMITMENT

The training follows a facilitator-led, self-paced format, requiring trainees to complete assigned readings and review all necessary materials for each week. Participant attendance is monitored through regular logins to the course portal and active engagement in all posted activities. The course spans four weeks, during which students are expected to dedicate a total of 20 hours, averaging approximately five hours per week for preparation and active participation. The fifth and final week is reserved exclusively for the final exam.

Course Content and Assignments

 Course Access Your courses can be accessed through your Dashboard, additionally, you can bookmark the following link to directly access your course websites: https://portal.greengamingexchange.se/ Video and Audio Lectures from your instructional team on specific topics, designed to help you learn key concepts. Readings The course makes use of open educational resources (OERs), no purchase necessary. You will find required weekly readings on the subject matter, along with possible optional item. Graded Assignments Assignments will be graded and will contribute to the final grade, reflecting students’ overall achievement in the course. Students are required to submit their assignments through the course portal, following the submission instructions provided.

Quizzes – 30%: You will complete a total of four quizzes, one per week, based on the course material. Each quiz is open-book but must be completed individually. The quizzes consist of multiple-choice questions drawn from the week’s readings, lectures, and video materials. Together, the quizzes account for 30% of your total grade. While you may take a quiz at any time during the week, it must be submitted by the specified deadline.

Discussion Boards – 20%:  The course requires students to actively participate in online forums. Both the facilitator and participants will pose questions and initiate discussions. Contributing thoughtful responses to the issues raised and engaging in discussions will be credited and graded as part of the course assessment.

Final Exam – 50%: The final exam accounts for 50% of your total grade and assesses content from weeks 1 through 4. You will have one and half hours to complete the exam. The final is not a proctored exam. Ungraded Assignments The following assignments are optional but strongly encouraged in order to maximize your learning, as well as interaction with your peers and course team.

Introductions: Each participants of the course are required to introduce themselves. They are requested to tell the course team and class a little bit about themselves, their educational background, and their career planning and development in the course’s Introductions Discussion Forum.

Course Readiness Quiz: This quiz is designed to ensure you are familiar with the information that will be covered in the course before it begins. Although the quiz does not contribute to your grade, you must complete it successfully to access Module 1 and subsequent modules as they become available.

III. COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND COMMUNICATION

Course Requirements

Recommended Prior Knowledge: To be successful in this course, we recommend English language fluency and computer literacy. Online Course Requirements: You will find all content and learning activities within the course portal. There will be one, optional, live session via Zoom. (Live session(s) are recorded, and students can watch after the initial broadcast.) All course interactions use Internet technologies. It is your responsibility to watch all required videos and assigned readings, and complete all graded assessments (quizzes, exams, and content mastery exercises.) You are encouraged to interact with your peers and course team in the discussion forums, and ask questions there as well.

Course Communication

All communication will take place in discussion boards, course updates, and on the course home page. Each week, there will be a dedicated discussion board where you can post general questions and comments about the subject matter, as well as direct inquiries for the instructor and course team. Please use this forum to ensure a timely response.

IV. STUDENT EVALUATION

Here is the breakdown of your grade:

Final grades are determined by the points earned in course activities, with no extra credit available. Progress can be tracked on your progress page. Grades are assigned as follows: A for 90% or above, B for 80–89%, C for 70–79%, and below 70% is a failing grade.

V. POLICIES Assignment Deadlines

As an online course, all content and learning activities will be provided on the course platform by your instructional team. All interactions will take place online, and it is your responsibility to review the materials, complete assignments on time, and address any questions in the designated discussion area. Late submissions will not be accepted at any point during the course. To stay on track, we recommend creating a time management plan within the first two days of the course to ensure you meet all deadlines and course requirements.

Subject to Change Notice: This syllabus serves as a general guide. Details such as assignments, grading criteria, deadlines, and other course materials are subject to change. It is your responsibility to regularly review course announcements to stay informed about any updates or modifications.

Academic Integrity: All students are expected to uphold academic honesty in all coursework and examinations.

VI. UTC TIME ZONE

To accommodate students worldwide, all deadlines are set in UTC, the global standard. It is your responsibility to understand UTC and calculate due dates and times for your local timezone. Be sure to address this before the first set of assignments is due to avoid unnecessary stress. Extensions will NOT be granted for misunderstandings about UTC. Please see https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html for converting your timezone.

VII. GENERAL AND TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

This course is best accessed by a reasonably modern browser on a laptop or desktop computer. You can also access course videos via a browser on your mobile device.

VIII. CERTIFICATION/DIGITAL BADGES If you successfully complete the course and achieve the passing mark (70%), you will be able to access your digital certificate and digital badges.