Evaluating employability skills development in the curriculum: strategy, practice and impact

1. Evaluating employability skills development in the curriculum: strategy, practice and impact Southampton Solent University represented at ceth 23 June 2010

2. Terms of Reference  To investigate the effectiveness of employability skills development within the core curriculum at Southampton Solent University and to make recommendations for enhancement.

3. Objectives To compare University strategy and policies to appraise student perceptions to evaluate the University's arrangements against external benchmark institutions.

4. Methodology Identify strategies Select sample Survey course teams Triangulate results Review external examiner feedback Student Focus groups/Alumni feedback External scan of selected benchmark HEIs Review on-line prospectuses Meeting with employers and key University staff.

5. CBI Definition of Employability A positive attitude is key!

6. The Seven Competencies CBI Report – Future Fit: preparing graduates for the world of work (2009) Self-management Communication and literacy Teamworking Application of numeracy Business and customer awareness Application of IT Problem solving

7. Key Survey Findings/Lessons Learned Programme specifications do not always emphasise employability attributes or reflect perceptions Skills generally developed consistently and coherently Positive attitude often reflected in course aims Numeracy and IT often missing from Aims and Outcomes and not always assessed Entrepreneurial/creative studies and Teamworking less evident Communication & Literacy assessed but not always developed

8. Employability Benchmark Key Findings/Lessons Learned Top level SSU strategies place considerable emphasis on employability skills development, and compare favourably with benchmark institutions, however this is not consistently reflected at course level.

9. Students/Alumni Feedback – conclusions/lessons learned Students identified six skills but only three of these directly matched the CBI employability skills: Communication Teamworking Self management

10. Specific Students/Alumni Perceived Needs/Lessons Learned Careers Service Experience General Skills - IT skills - Problem solving

11. Student quote ‘It’s like having nine pieces of cake. Each skill listed is one piece. All the pieces of cake are there, and it’s up to you how much you want to eat’.

12. Recommendations – Cultural change Staff development Periodic Academic Review Strengthening of PDP framework Succeed@...IT, Numeracy, CVs

13. Recommendations  – Public Information Programme Specifications Unit Descriptor templates Course prospectus

14. Reflections Georgina Andrews, Associate Dean (Enhancement), Southampton Solent University Tel: 02380 319682 email: georgina.andrews@solent.ac.uk Marilyn Russell, Quality Management Officer, Southampton Solent University Tel: 02380 319574 email: marilyn.russell@solent.ac.uk