Transcript The Higher Education Academy

Philosophers are Employable! –
employability attributes and
academic disciplines
Val Butcher, Higher Education
Academy
and Claire Rees, University of
York
What are Student Employability Profiles?
In 2002, Peter Forbes and Bianca Kubler undertook a
consultancy for CIHE: Employer Perceptions of
Subject Benchmark Statements. The report
examines employers' perceptions about the skills
developed through undergraduate study and how far
these skills are reflected in the QAA benchmark
statements produced for English, Engineering and
Hospitality, Tourism and Sport – to give a range of
disciplines.
What are Student Employability Profiles?
Four years later, in September 2006, Peter and
Bianca completed a huge research project for CIHE,
The Higher Education Academy, and Graduate
Prospects covering all the 56 QAA Benchmark
statements (including a separate version for
Scotland). Two “versions “ were published, with
separate introductions for higher education
practitioners and for employers.
It is essential that the hard copies are read in
conjunction with the appropriate web-sites:
CIHE: http://www.cihe-uk.com/publications.php
Academy: http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/profiles.htm
What is in Student Employability Profiles?
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Evidence from QAA benchmark statements of the
work related attributes developable through study of
a particular subject
Summary of knowledge taught
Skills mapped against competencies identified by the
Council for Industry and Higher Education (CIHE) as
ones that help transform organisations
Glossary of terms
How were Student Employability Profiles
developed?
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The profiles were developed by identifying the
employability skills recorded in the QAA subject
benchmark statements.
There followed a process of consultation with
Academy Subject Centre staff for each subject so
as to reach agreement on the content and style of the
profiles such that they would be useful to academics
in developing and executing their learning and
teaching programmes.
Panels of employers were consulted and
subsequently, versions of the profiles were written
for the benefit of employers.
Higher Education Academy Subject Network
Medicine,
Dentistry and
Veterinary
science
Bioscience
Health
Sciences and
Practice
Social work
and Social
policy
Sociology,
Anthropology
and Politics
Physical
Sciences
Engineering
Psychology
Geography,
Earth and
Environmental
Sciences
Materials
Education in
the Built
Environment
Maths,
Statistics and
Operational
Research
Information
and Computer
Sciences
Economics
Legal
Education
Languages,
Linguistics and
Areas Studies
English
History,
Classics and
Archeology
Philosophical
and Religious
Studies
Art, Design and Performing
Communication Arts
Hospitality and Business,
Leisure Studies Management
and
Accountancy
Education
What are “Employability Skills?”
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Employers in the CIHE Policy Forum identified the following,
and it is against these that the benchmark statements are
mapped.
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These competencies are (and no list is definitive):
Cognitive skills - problem solving and information handling
Generic competencies - communication, influencing, organisation
and interpersonal skills
Personal capabilities - desire for self improvement, initiative
Technical ability
Business or organisation awareness
Practical and professional skills - continuous professional
development.
Student Employability Profiles
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Inform curriculum design
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Support delivery of career development learning
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Enhance understanding of prospective students and
their parents as to the value of higher level study
Facilitate effective communication with employers,
especially non-cognate
Supporting Career Development Learning
“Career development learning is concerned with helping students
acquire knowledge, concepts, skills and attitudes which will equip
them to manage their careers, i.e. their lifelong progression in
learning and work”
Watts, A.G. (2006) Career Development Learning and
Employability, Learning and Employability Series. York: Higher
Education Academy
Mode of Material Usage
Materials led
Adaptation
Design
Materials Led
Skills and Attributes Map
Personal Development Planning
mock interviews
Reflective Questions
Personal Development Planning
mock interviews
Adaptation
Skills and attributes map
self-assessment grid
role analysis exercise
Glossary of competencies
defining the nature of competencies
feedback form for observing assessments
Design
Skills and Attributes map
Visualisation - what are the skills and competencies
which a ‘skilled graduate’ from their degree course
might possess