Extra Curricular Skills Programmes and Work Experience

1. Extra Curricular Skills Programmes and Work Experience Phil Gibson, Southampton Institute Susan Reed, Loughborough University Peter Ireland, University Central England

2. Workshop Plan • Pilot Projects - Southampton Institute, Loughborough & UCE • Our Motivations • Getting People Involved • Lessons and Futures • Q & A

3. AGCAS/MERITS What we did at Southampton Institute

4. AGCAS/MERITS – what we did at Southampton Institute • Target of 35 students and graduates • 12 week programme • Teaching of career management skills • Involvement of employers • Work placements

5. AGCAS/MERITS – what we did at Southampton Institute • ‘Buddy’ approach • Payment • Careers & CV advice • Log books • Prizes • Feedback

6. MERITS What we did at Loughborough University

7. MERITS • Get to Work on Your CareerLoughborough University Careers Service • AIM: To enhance the employability of black and Asian undergraduates. • KEY AREAS • Work Experience • Skills Launch Course • Employer Visits; local SME’s

8. UCE Pilot - Engaging SME’s in Minority Ethnic Work Experience • 15 SME Work Experience Placements • Establishing Brokerage Practice • 5 Alumni Mentoring Relationships • Development of Support Materials • Production of Work Experience Web Site • Commitment to Track Students

9. AGCAS/MERITS why we did what we did • FDS • High % of ethnic minority students • Experience and research • A chance to improve work with employers

10. AGCAS/MERITS why we did what we did • A chance to explore the delicate issue of positive action • Conferences • Champions

11. MERITS • Securing Student Involvement • Target ethnic minority students • Enhance employment prospects • Include experience on a CV • Industrial placements • Placements with blue chip companies • Payment • Food

12. MERITS • Securing Employer Involvement • Established links • Host organisations for previous schemes • Employers with vacancies • Employers on Careers Service Board • Alumni • Personal contacts • Creative networking

13. MERITS • Securing Employer Involvement • Establish links with the Careers Service • The business case • Keen to develop a diverse workforce • Chance to enable them to hit targets • Goodwill • Potential future recruits

14. MERITS • Securing Employer Involvement Issues Raised: • Timing • Time consuming • Tailor made approach • Selective employers • Lack of flexibility • Students want blue chip companies • IT placements difficult • Employers want to be inclusive

15. MERITS • Securing Institutional Involvement • Equal opps. A strategic objective • ‘Careers’ in the Mission and Vision • Impact on graduate employment • Existence of champions • Kudos • Raise the profile of the Careers Service/University

16. Lessons and Futures Will Examine : • Our Learning • Impact of the Pilots • Sustainability

17. Our Learning • Differences in student demand • Clear difference in attitudes between large companies and SMEs • Flexibility required to recruit employers • Preparation time needed is substantial • Have confidence in discussing diversity issues

18. Impact • Careers Service profile with employers and Uni. - Pilots addressed widening participation and employability • Strategic employer/HE body on diversity • Students acquired further experience • Staff developed skills and confidence • Profile with DfES • Students improved confidence in employability

19. Sustainability • Products, systems, web site • Skills and confidence of participating staff and students • Good will of satisfied employer • Work experience (esp.with SMEs) is a resource intensive activity • UCE secured funding to continue work