Employers, employabilities and employability for the employed

Thinking about employabilities

COBECentre for Outcomes-Based Education

intranet.open.ac.uk/cobe c.h.edwards@open.ac.uk

Relevance of employability

Relevance of employability

• Around three quarters of OU students are in employment.

• They have started their personal journey through their careers

• Many are well into this journey• Many have held more than one

position• Many have experienced appraisals

• Around two fifths of OU students directly link their study to their career.

• Perhaps to change jobs

• Or to progress within their current role.

Relevance of employability

Relevance of employability

• Around two thirds of OU students link their study to personal development.

Employability is

the set of achievements, understandings and personal attributes that support individuals in managing their careers.

• Writing concisely and persuasively (e.g. case reports, essays, assignments);

• Integrating and synthesising information from different sources ;

• Translating complex/sensitive ideas into everyday language;

• Speaking persuasively; Making effective presentations ;

• Listening effectively; Giving helpful, constructive feedback

• Identifying your own skills and capabilities• Keeping up-to-date• Developing new skills and knowledge• Planning strategically, identifying key tasks,

resources and goals• Establishing achievable goals and objectives• Prioritising tasks and assignments • Meeting deadlines• Allocating time effectively to establish

achievable goals• Finishing tasks within required timescale• Working effectively under

pressure/demanding deadlines• Checking progress against original

objectives• Thinking ahead and contingency planning• Using feedback to monitor performance

Supporting employability• Making full use of learning outcomes• Making links between skills and competencies

developed through a course and the world of work• Facilitating reflection on learning

Employer engagement and employability

OU

Employed

Employer

Employability

Employer engagement

Employer engagement and employability

OU

Employed

Employer

From courses to programmes

From courses to programmes

COBECentre for Outcomes-Based Education

intranet.open.ac.uk/cobe c.h.edwards@open.ac.uk