The T-shaped graduate in a digital age Peter Chatterton and Lisa Gray 2 December 2015

Background Technology for employability study Technology for HEAR study Changing the Learning Landscape Jisc programmes e.g. Transforming curriculum design/delivery Assessment and feedback Digital literacy Lifelong learning Student Change Agents’ Network Summer of Student Innovation T-shaped graduates in a digital world The Automotive Academy

Challenges » Different visions of “maturity” and variation in approaches to developing employability skills, capabilities and attributes » Authentic experiences can develop skills, but can depend on: › the degree of “authenticity” › the degree to which students learn/reflect on them › the degree to which students articulate them » Many creative uses of technology, but embedding remains elusive to many institutions » Embedding employability/ attributes into curricula may be “ideal”, but there are challenges Institutions are on various points of the continuum towards student employability “maturity”

Challenges Technology is under exploited for employability » Variation in practices and understanding of potential of technologies- particularly with e- portfolios and social media. » Institutions could do a lot more to unleash student creativity in using digital networks/media to engage with employers, alumni and other stakeholders » Digital literacies are not well articulated in relation to employability skills » Employers and HE/FE generally have low aspirations in relation to “digital entrepreneurialism” » Growing band of knowledge in terms of what technology infrastructure is required for "connected curricula".

Challenges Insufficient engagement and partnership working with employers » Core employability skills, capabilities and attributes are continually evolving » Unclear the degree to which employers (large and small) are involved in defining and developing employability skills » Not much evidence of institutions evaluating impact of employability policies/initiatives with employers » Not always easy to identify “truly” authentic learning experiences with employers for ALL students. » HE and FE need to find ways of improved working with a broader range of employers e.g. SMEs. » Need to raise aspirations for “digital entrepreneurialism” with employers.

Challenges Variability in resources to support institutions in using technology for employability » Lack of awareness of e-portfolio resources and their value to institutions. » Insufficient emphasis in sector resources on “making the case” for using technology. » Guidance on digital literacies could be better contextualized and articulated in relation to employability skills. » Minimal resources relating to digital entrepreneurialism. » Insufficient guidance on effective use of social media to support employability. » Potential for greater adoption of multimedia communications approaches. » Resources on their own are insufficient – institutions need to be supported in using them effectively.

The employable student Digital capability underpins all aspects

T-profile curricula (for a digital world) Assessment for learning (discipline & employability) Employer engagement (inc digital engagement) Self-directed learning Self-regulated learning Self-directed employability Digitally literate Connected curricula

Employability Employability (however it is defined) is embedded into curricula learning outcomes and assessment. Employability development commences at the beginning of the student journey. T-profile curricula (for a digital world) T Discipline T Employability Discipline

Curricula provide students with authentic learning (inc. A&F) Employer (alumni?) mentoring Employers engaged in curriculum design Employer engagement (inc digital engagement)

Curricula adopt “assessment for learning” approaches Formative assessment and feedback requires students to reflect on/express their evolving employability/learning Strong emphasis on action on feedback (& follow-up) Collection of evidence (digital artefacts) Assessment for learning (discipline & employability) Module 1Module 2Module 3Module X discipline programme learning outcomes employability programme outcomes

5 dimensions of using technology for employability Technology- enhanced authentic and simulated learning experiences Technology- enhanced lifelong learning and employability Digital communications and engagement with employers Technology- enhanced employability skills development Employer-focused digital literacy development more about this later

Find out more » Peter Chatterton world.com world.com » Lisa Gray » Geoff Rebbeck » Project page: jisc.ac.uk/rd/projects/developing- student-employability jisc.ac.uk/rd/projects/developing- student-employability » Join the conversation on the blog: employabilityproject.jiscinvolve.org/ employabilityproject.jiscinvolve.org/ » and on twitter #jiscemployability