Mastering Employability

Chris Cardew

Employability is a Learning Orientation not a Grade Orientation

Mastery is an Asymptote

Employability

http://joyfulpublicspeaking.blogspot.com/2011/02/effort-and-asymptote.html

Mastering Employability

In the curriculum blend learning and grade orientation

How to master employability?

• How many students get 100% in their academic studies?• With the HEAR will degree classification become a thing of

the past?• Employability is a ‘learning orientation’ not a ‘grade

orientation’• What’s the bare minimum of WORK needed to get a 2.1?• What’s the bare minimum of WORK needed to get my

dream job?• Of course employability cannot be mastered. • In reality we can’t easily ‘grade’ it. Or it’s simply Pass/Fail• But we can make ourselves as competitive as possible

What can the staff do?

• Support the students academic learning (non grade) requirements (skills developed on course)

• Support the students employability learning requirements (embed into the curriculum)

• Develop a culture of learning in the real world. Move to a learning orientation.

What can a student do?

• Take responsibility for their own life goals• Be self aware• Be prepared to be mobile/global• Be prepared to go it alone• Develop transferable social and learning skills• Expect full support from university staff

BUT• It’s your responsibility to make life decisions. • You can’t BUY a degree or a Job (legally)

Swansea Employability Award

• Self awareness exercises help to give career direction

• Experiences can be sought that follow the individuals preferences

• Each step the student reflects on their learning of self, social and learning skills developed, experience environment etc.

• Student produces a CV, has a Careers interview and a mock job interview

• www.sea.swan.ac.uk

http://www.sea.swan.ac.uk/