Transcript Employability and Skills: Implicit or explicit? Dr Sara Preston www.abdn.ac.uk/alsu

Employability and Skills:
Implicit or explicit?
Dr Sara Preston
www.abdn.ac.uk/alsu
Implicit…
Employability is:
‘A set of achievements – skills, understandings
and personal attributes – that make graduates
more likely to gain employment and be successful
in their chosen occupations, which benefits
themselves, the workforce, the community and
the economy’
Enhancing Student Employability Co-Ordination Team (ESECT)
www.abdn.ac.uk/alsu
What are ‘Employability Skills’?
Subject-specific skills
• Knowledge and Understanding
• Practical
QAA Subject Benchmarks, Professional
Accreditation Bodies
Generic skills
• Cognitive/Intellectual Skills
Analysis, synthesis, evaluation, application, creativity
• Key/Core/Transferable Skills
Improving own learning & performance,
communication, application of number, information
technology, problem solving, group working
www.abdn.ac.uk/alsu
How can these skills be developed?
Stand alone courses
• Skills get covered
• Easier to introduce – low cost/no redesign
• Can be targeted
Embedded
• Same status as subject knowledge
• Link between skills and academic success
• Students take it more seriously
Extra-curricular activities
• Work placements/projects
• Part-time employment
• Students’ Association activities
www.abdn.ac.uk/alsu
Explicit?
• Engagement of students with employability
• Mapping & tracking students’ skills - PDP
• Avoidance of ‘tick-box’ approach
• Assessment strategies/curriculum design
• Reflective self-directed learners
www.abdn.ac.uk/alsu
Further Information
•Bennett N., Dunne E., & Carré C. 2000. Skills Development in
Higher Education and Employment. Society for Research into
Higher Education. Open University Press, Buckingham.
• Knight P.T., Yorke M. 2003. Assessment, Learning and
Employability. Society for Research into Higher Education. Open
University Press, Buckingham.
• http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/Employability.htm
• http://www.herts.ac.uk/envstrat/HILP/
• http://www.qub.ac.uk/celt/webpages/student-skills.htm
www.abdn.ac.uk/alsu