51cg

51cg the research

During April and May 2026, we invited 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 51cg.

The survey results are helping us to 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 asked 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 were also securely matched to academic attainment data, anonymised and analysed to explore patterns at an aggregate level.

We are currently analysing the survey responses and hope to publish our report by the end of 2026.

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.

51cg the research

Funding from the allowed the Careers and Employability Service to conduct a research project on integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into careers guidance.

The research explored 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 tried 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

Findings from the research were used to inform a practical toolkit for AI integration into careers guidance. A summary infographic of the toolkit was also produced alongside a report for Jisc. You can download all of this below:

AI in Careers Guidance Toolkit - Summary Infographic
Integrating AI & Human Careers Guidance in Higher Education - A report for Jisc (also see )

The project commenced in June 2025 and was completed by May 2026. This study was also 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.

51cg the project

Funding from The 51cg'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

The following poster was presented at the CAD Symposium in 2025. You can download the LTEP AI Poster as a PDF file. 

The project commenced in March 2025.

Core Research Team

This project is led by Tracey Innes, Assistant Director and Head of Careers, 51cg, 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.