Languages and the development of key skills for employability

1. Languages and the development of key skills for employability “I can work effectively on my own but I can also work well in a team.” Dawn Leggott and Jane Stapleford Leeds Metropolitan University d.leggott@leedsmet.ac.uk j.stapleford@leedsmet.ac.uk

2. Contents “I organise my time better now.” • Outline of the research • Two main ‘discoveries’ • Attempts to respond to the research findings through modifications to the curriculum

3. The 5-year Research Study “A life-building experience. It has helped me with my confidence and really changed me as a person.” • The Focus • The Participants • The Course • Data Collection Methods

4. Skills for the Future “You learn a lot of skills at university… it makes you a different person.”

5. The Year Abroad “The year abroad is different to previous years. I have learnt new skills that couldn’t be learnt at home.” • Maturity • Employability/Key transferable skills • Cross-cultural awareness • Language skills and Language Learning Strategies

6. Two ‘discoveries’ “The skills you learn…can be transferred to every walk of life…” • How these findings have informed tutors in the language department about how to integrate and embed skills development into the curriculum • Recognition of the students’ low awareness of the skills we intended them to develop • Realisation that many students are unaware of employers’ skills requirements

7. Questions?

8. Employability Office Enhancing Employability

9. Key Features of the approach • Embedding in the curriculum • Enhancing and re-packaging the existing curriculum • Linking with mainstream academic work • Customised support and delivery • Building career development into PDP for Progress Files

10. Employability Skill STUDENT Awareness of Development in % STUDENT Perceptions of Use for Work in % EMPLOYER View of Importance in % EMPLOYER Satisfaction in % Time Management 65 69 80 58 Organisation & Planning 42 54 84 64 Critical thinking & Analysis 27 46 79 68 Self Confidence 39 39 78 69 Problem Solving 34 42 84 63

11. Audit - What was missing? • Explicit links to employability / what employers want • Input at Level 2 • Sufficient preparation for work experience / Year Abroad • Reflection • Sufficient support and feedback • Career management skills

12. Level 1 - Personal and Professional Development (PPD) Awareness of own strengths and weaknesses, skills analysis, learning styles, study skills, reflection, evaluation of their own learning, organisation and planning, presentation skills, group working, planning for future learning, portfolio development Level 2 - Observing Culture Self awareness of career interests, cross cultural awareness, globalisation, opportunity awareness, presentation skills, CV development (in a foreign language), reflection, preparation for work experience – all in preparation for Year Abroad . Research Skills. Enhancing portfolio, action planning. PDP in Language Courses in SOL

13. Level 3 - (Year 3) YEAR ABROAD Level 3 - (Year 4) Work Related Project – Full Module Reflections on Year Abroad. Project management, research, team working, communication skills, time management, objective setting and strategy, reflection on their own experiences and performance, enhancing CV, job searching, applications and selection processes, postgraduate opportunities. Portfolio PDP in Language Courses in SOL

14. Languages and the development of key skills for employability “I can work effectively on my own but I can also work well in a team.” Dawn Leggott and Jane Stapleford Leeds Metropolitan University d.leggott@leedsmet.ac.uk j.stapleford@leedsmet.ac.uk