Employability in Education Conference

Workshop slides

Objective:

• To provide an opportunity to explore processes of embedding employability

Getting started

• How would/did you start?

• Who would you involve?

• What infrastructure is required?

Process

1. Gather Data:– Alumni survey + Case studies– Finalist survey– Workshops & Staff survey– Employer database

2. Involve Employers

3. Work on Curriculum

Case Studies from Alumni

• Recommendations to Course, Students, Skills developed– Live experience, credibility of team, simulations

(Course)– Use opportunity (Students)

• Skills of employability: communication skills, willingness to learn, commitment and enthusiasm

• Skills developed: research skills, criticality – PDP, RS, TW, SS, R, CS, P-S +ve– B, CD, WE –ve– I – a bit

Designing a Survey Tool

1. Ceth tool

2. Adapted through staff feedback

3. Run with students

• Key message: – Staff became keen when they knew

everything I was doing would benefit them, not me!

Key Findings from Students

• Students generally felt confident in PD,RS, TW,SS, CS, P-S, but– Education not confident in CD, WE, RS– Criminology students lacked confidence in

ALL areas– Sociology were confident in PD, CD, RS, TW,

PP, CS, P-S and A but not in others

• All skills regarded as important to varying degrees – apart from SE and I

…continued• Course helped develop PD, RS, SS, R skills• Course did not develop B, WE, CD, I• Bizarre results:

– WE & TW developed only outside course – Students unsure about development of P-S,SE, A– Education developed skills only outside course– Sociology developed fewest skills outside of course,

Criminology and History the most

• Students generally sought more career related information and understanding of sector, also work experience

Engaging Employers

• Use alumni

• Create database

• Launch event

• Early morning, hotel, breakfast

• Ensure has additional benefits for employers; networking

• Involve students, staff and employers

Curriculum Points:

• Situate within Subject• Progression:

1. Value added2. Skills development3. Gain experience4. Focus on CV, career, sector

• Year 1- skills development• Year 2 –gain experience; enhance CV;

contacts with employers• Year 3 –pragmatic focus on graduation, CV,

interview and career options; contacts with employers

PDP + Employability

PDP + Transition/induction

Flying Start

The ‘i’/ M&M

Personal TutorCurriculum delivery

Skills

Subject knowledge & skills

Relevance

WISER

Fresh Start

Part-time work

Relevance

Skills - generic

Career Management

Strengths & Weaknesses

Opportunities

Lifelong learning

The overlapping process of PDP, transition and employability, and indicating some of the contributing elements

Pre-HE experience

Career/employment

Learning to learn

Futures

Using the tools

• Employer Forum

• Database

• Student Learning

• ANY QUESTIONS?