Presentation Transcript

1. European Perspectives on Developing Skilled Graduates for Creative and Cultural Industries
2. DEPICT – Project Context Building on learning from ERASMUS-funded Enterprise Bootcamps (2008-2011) Funded by EU Lifelong Learning Programme University and business partners in Latvia, Norway, Spain and UK Building understanding of skills SMEs require from graduates Working specifically with SMEs in creative and cultural industries Investigating how interactive learning technologies can be used to successfully develop employability skills in students Investigating in detail the effectiveness of 4 interactive learning technologies
3. Project Timeline: 6 main stages of project: January-May 2012: Research reports written and published Review of Enterprise bootcamps Review of Learning Technologies and case studies Review of Employer requirements from graduates May-November 2012: Working with Creative and Cultural SMEs to understand their graduate skills requirements Questionnaire Workshop November 2012-April 2013: Evaluating, procuring, installing and customising interactive learning technologies to investigate (1 per country) February-August 2013: Designing and delivering seminars to students using interactive learning technologies August 2013 – January 2014: Evaluating project January-April 2014: Publishing and disseminating findings
4. Project Deliverables: Research: (February 2012-January 2013) Research reports reviewing current relevant literature and good practice in using learning technologies Investigative report using data from questionnaire and workshops held with businesses: what skills do creative and cultural SMEs want from graduates? Researching and evaluating interactive learning technologies to use in the project Practice: (December 2012-August 2013) Procuring, installing and customising one interactive learning technology per country (four in total) Designing and delivering a programme of online seminars to students in each country of the partnership Evaluation: (Throughout the project) Success of work with businesses Effectiveness of learning technologies in developing employability skills Success of seminars with students Dissemination: Website/social media/papers/conference
5. Engaging with Employers Literature Review identified the skills employers in creative and cultural industries look for in graduates Questionnaire based on identified required skills sent to employers in each partner country Workshops held in each country to follow up questionnaire and gain deeper understanding of skills needs Each country identified the 4 top skills needs in their country These skills to be developed into seminars
6. Key findings from the UK Most important skills: verbal and written communication skills, creativity, motivation, working under pressure Barriers to hiring graduates: graduates lack of experience at selling themselves, poor graduate CVs/cover letters What employers want from Universities: teaching graduates to think, projects that challenge students, students with commercial awareness, opportunities to work with students Skills gaps: students being able to market themselves effectively, problem-solving, relevant experience, commercial awareness – understanding context of sector not just individual businesses
7. Summary Skills chosen to develop into seminars: Personal development/self awareness, ICT – being able to use new technologies and build a strong digital presence, entrepreneurship, creativity Participants: 60 SMEs took part in the workshops and questionnaires Engaging with companies: collaborating to create learning resources, participating in curriculum Different environments: some countries have specific skills needs (i.e. Intellectual Property knowledge) but generally, employers needs are similar across Europe
8. Next steps Partners are currently installing interactive learning technologies: Latvia: developing European Employability Engine with online games to support students in acquiring ICT skills Norway: using Second Life and Launchplan – an online business planning tool for entrepreneurs to support commercial awareness and entrepreneurial skills development Spain: using Schoology - a ‘Facebook’ type tool to develop creativity UK: developing an E-Portfolio through CareerHub to allow students to reflect on their developing skills and increase their self awareness Online seminars to be developed and taught to students from each university in the partnership in Summer 2013 Thorough evaluation of all aspects of installing, developing and using technologies from all stakeholders points of view
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