Research Activities

About the research

We are inviting undergraduate and postgraduate taught students to take part in a research survey exploring the impact of part-time work on academic performance, wellbeing, and the overall student experience at the University of Aberdeen.

Your experiences will help build an up-to-date, evidence-based understanding of how paid work affects students. The findings will be used to develop practical guidance for students balancing work and study, improve careers advice and inform University policy.

The survey will ask about your work patterns, motivations and experiences, including working hours, job type and impact on your studies and well-being. With explicit consent, the survey responses will be securely matched to academic attainment data, anonymised and analysed to explore patterns at an aggregate level.

Participant information: Help shape better support for students balancing work and study

All full-time University of Aberdeen undergraduate and postgraduate taught students based at the Aberdeen campus can participate in this research study. We are particularly interested to hear from students who work, have worked, or are considering working alongside their studies.

IMPORTANT *Please read the Participant Information Sheet to develop your understanding of the project and help you to make an informed decision about whether you wish to participate.*

Survey participants will be given the option to be entered into a draw for a £100 Amazon voucher as a thank you for taking part.

Take part: Access the survey.

Contact Information: If you have questions about the study, please contact: Tracey Innes, Assistant Director and Head of Careers - t.innes@abdn.ac.uk.

With thanks to the Learning and Teaching Enhancement Programme for funding this research.

About the research

Funding from the JISC Careers Research Grant is allowing the Careers and Employability Service to conduct a research project on integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into careers guidance.

The research explores how careers advisers in higher education understand and use Artificial Intelligence (AI) within their professional practice. As AI tools, such as CV checkers, chatbots, or job matching tools, become more widely used, this study seeks to understand how these tools are experienced by practitioners, what benefits and limitations they present, and how they can be ethically and effectively integrated alongside human careers guidance.

Findings from the research will contribute to a practical framework for AI integration into careers guidance. 

The project commenced in June 2025 and will be completed by Summer 2026. This study is also being conducted as part of a Master's degree in Careers Education, Information and Guidance in Higher Education at the University of Warwick.

Core research team

Kate Robertson, Senior Careers and Employability Adviser
Fajar Imran, Student Intern (research project assistant)
Wendy Pearson, Dissertation Supervisor (University of Warwick)

Please contact careers@abdn.ac.uk, if you have any questions about this research.

Participant information

Careers guidance professionals are invited to participate in this research study which explores how AI can be optimally integrated with human careers guidance for maximum effectiveness in the higher education sector. We are seeking careers professionals to share their unique insights into the opportunities, challenges, and ethics of using AI tools in professional practice. 

Your participation will contribute to a better understanding of how AI can be ethically and effectively used in higher education careers services. Your insights will help inform future professional practices and contribute to a practical framework for AI integration.

All information you provide will be treated confidentially. Interviews will be recorded and transcribed. Identifying details such as your name, institution, or job title will be pseudonymised and replaced with a participant code (e.g., P1).

As a thank you for your time, you will be offered a £25 digital gift voucher after the interview

Please access the Participant Information Leaflet before completing the sign up form.

Note: sign-ups are currently closed

About the project

Funding from The University of Aberdeen's Learning & Teaching Enhancement Programme enabled the Careers and Employability Service to conduct a research project to understand how students integrate AI into their career learning and job preparation.

This project explored students’ use of AI in relation to their career learning and development, building understanding of the benefits and challenges students face in its use and exploring how it impacts on their career readiness and confidence. 

We also explored employers’ use of AI in the recruitment and selection process.

Findings

Findings were used to inform the development of a website and mini online course to support students and graduates to develop the skills and insights needed to be able to benefit from and avoid the pitfalls of using AI in their career development and learning.

Visit our website: Using Generative AI in applications

Final report to follow.

The project commenced in March 2025.

Core Research Team

This project is led by Tracey Innes, Assistant Director and Head of Careers, University of Aberdeen, alongside the following collaborators: 

• John Barrow, Dean for Employability and Entrepreneurship
• Ghina Elkasti, Careers and Internships Manager (Qatar Campus)
• Rhona Gibson, Senior Careers Adviser
• Julia Leng, Careers and Employability Adviser
• Kate Robertson, Senior Careers and Employability Adviser
• Faisal Al-Mallah, Student Intern (Qatar)
• Anastasiia Korkina, Student Intern (Aberdeen)

Please contact careers@abdn.ac.uk, if you have any questions about this research.