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Student Led Curriculum for Experiencing Employability

Julie PriorDr Karen Fitzgibbon

Lesley Long

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Session Overview

The Employment Experience module Ensuring all students get some experience Different perspectives of employability Module activities Student feedback Our reflections

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The Employment Experience Module

Context• Revalidation of the Business Management Degree • Employers’ perspective• Competitive advantage

Why level 6?• Link to placement experience• Prepare students for graduate recruitment and

selection processes

Work Experience Routes

Sandwich Year

• Traditional placement year in industry

• Minimum of 30 weeks

• Critical Reflections on Learning in the Workplace

Learning Through

Employment• Recognition for

current and relevant work based learning

• Students already working part-time in graduate level positions

Employment Experience module

• Compulsory final year module for all other students

• Mix of lectures and workshops

• Minimum of 30 hours work experience

20 credit module at level 6

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Activity

What does the word ‘employability’ mean to you?

Student Perspectives

Employer perspective: A graduate in Business and Management typically will:

Rees C, Forbes P & Kubler B. (2007) Student Employability Profiles A Guide for Employers. 2nd revised edition. York: HEA.

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Module Activities

Exploring employability skills (employability game)

CV critiquing Deconstructing graduate job

adverts. Identifying key application

criteria– essential and desirable– best methods for assessing them

Application sifting

Mock interview questions Mock interviews Mock assessment centre

activities– In-tray exercises– Problem solving in teams– Negotiation exercises– Psychometric testing

Live discipline based Assessment Centre – run by employers

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Problem Solving Activity

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Student Feedback

“Feel the module is really effective in helping us understand and prepare for employment.”

“Felt we understand what employers want now, still but need more help in developing some of these skills.”

“Made us think about things that we hadn’t really focussed on before.”

“Keep doing the group work – I liked the groups being mixed up so you didn’t work with your friends, it forced you to work with different people and we liked it.”

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Enjoyed the ‘head space’ that such a practical module gives us.

Module is not assessment driven, you feel valued for attending and there is value for you in attending.

Liked that we put our learning into

practice.

It’s a module about you and for you – really good.

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Lessons Learned

Anticipated students would understand the importance of employability

Restructuring of activities

More ‘scene setting’ of each activity

More focus and guidance for students on reflection

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Julie Prior

julie.prior@southwales.ac.uk

(01443) 482884

Questions?