Thinking Critically about Employability Dr. Finola Farrant Department of Social Sciences University of Roehampton
Today… Expectations of what having a university degree means Reflect on our own experiences of employment Case-study of embedding employability into curriculum design Share good practice
What does having a degree mean to…? Academics who teach undergraduate degree courses Employers who recruit graduates Students who are studying for a degree
The student perspective…
Employability…
UNIVERSITY STRATEGIES
Criminology: A case-study Embedding employability across the curriculum Key aims: -Promote a love of learning -Encourage critical thinking -Promote self-confidence -Promote tolerance -Develop key skills such as communication/teamwork/problem solving
Some of the things we do Critical understanding of criminal justice theory and practice Critical understanding of criminal justice practice and policy- making Ability to identify key strengths and weaknesses and plan how to develop key skills/knowledge during their degree Awareness of the diversity of jobs available and what is required Get students to reflect on the skills/knowledge they have attained
Over to you… What do you wish you’d known at the very outset of your career? What has been the most valuable advice you’ve received? How might you take forward employability in your programmes?
Bringing it all together Considered what having a university degree means to: students/academics/employers Considered an example of how one programme embedded employability Shared good practice and reflected on our own experiences of employability