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Heriot-Watt UniversitySchool of Textiles & DesignCath. Fenton – Lecturer

Jeanette Graham – Careers Adviser

Embedding skills into the curriculum

Professional Career Readiness

Heriot-Watt UniversitySchool of Textiles & Design

Why?

Employability & Professional Career

Readiness main focus of University’s strategic plan.

Improve graduate destination figuresCombat fall in league tables

Heriot-Watt UniversitySchool of Textiles & Design

Employability, preparingstudents and graduates with the essential skills beyond the intricacies of the discipline for a career in the fashion arena.

Fashion graduates not only need an impressive portfolio, they also require:

• creative talent and abilities to produce new variants

• technical knowledge in product realisation

• solutions to the age-old problem of clothing the body

• skill to develop refreshing and exciting awareness of design in a contemporary context

Fashion graduates not only have to have an impressive portfolio:• But also :

Commitment and drive Motivation and enthusiasm Team working Oral communication Flexibility and adaptability Customer focus Problem solving Managing own learning and career Commercial awareness

Planning and organising

Session 04/05 – implemented a strategy to intersperse activities into the curriculum at all levels to enhance Professional Career Readiness (PCR)

Looked at 3 areas of PDP focus and integration:

Academic core skillsPersonal/Career skillsReflective skills for students

Graduate employability skills

Achieved an informed understanding of the requirements for employment through:

• Placement provider feedback• Graduates feedback• Graduate employers feedback• Guest speakers from the industry • Industrial Advisory Group

Based on SCQF levels, Academic Skills Coach undertook an audit of employability skills already in the curriculum through:

• Questionnaires to academic staff• Lecturers looking at skills in each module • Activities and assignments in each course• Specialist skills workshops delivered either

by lecturer or Academic Skills Coach

Embedded in the curriculum Oral, visual and written presentation Live projects Teamwork to achieve common goals Self and peer assessment Reflective analysisAlso• Encourage work placements (compulsory in FT)• Discipline related vocational employment

Live Projects in curriculum

Current: Woven fabric manufacturer - Holland &

Sherry Giftware retailers – Hallmark Specialist dye manufacturer - B & H Liquid

Crystal Resources Ltd Textile design agent - Chris Judge Using environmental friendly fabrics –

Gardening Scotland

Professional Career Readiness

Sessions delivered by Careers Adviser for all years of all courses from year one.

All sessions are timetabled for all studentsAttendance is taken at each class and

passed to Course Directors Encouraged and supported by academic

staffNo formal assessment

Professional Career Readiness classes

Four courses – FDI, TFDM, FT and DfT

Year One – Delivered as part of Registration programme to all 1st year students and Direct Entrants:

Careers Service Induction Introduction to employability skills and

expectations of graduate employers.


Year Two Building on, recording and reflecting on skills Writing CV/covering letter. Individual CV/letter checks

Year Three Career planning and work experience Career options – fashion/textile occupations and

skills required


Year Four Graduate job searching Application procedures Interview skillsAlso: All students offered individual help and advice Separate programme for Placement Students Same programme for School of Management

students on Campus

Professional Career Readiness classes Get Started Programme

Professional Career Readiness classes Guest Speakers

Textile Embroiderer theatre; couture; design and production

Director CAD/CAM company advanced technologies for the Clothing industry

Senior Retail Consultant

Former CE of Aquascutum global sourcing and the impact on the Western World .

BHS Quality Manager career and experiences/advice.

Results - PCR & Embedded Skills

Rates of Graduate level employment steadily increasing

03/04 - 46.4%

04/05 - 56.3%

05/06 - 73.4%

06/07 – 81.4%

Professional Career Readiness classesBenefits:

Closer links with academic staffHigher profile of Careers Service amongst

studentsMore awareness of the needs of the

industryStudents better informed with regard to

where/when/how to apply for jobsMarked increase in number of students

applying for work experience


Issues:

Attendance can varyRaised expectationsVery labour intensiveRequires back-up resourcesRelies on support from academic staff

Preparing graduates for a successful career in the global fashion industry