Should employability be compulsory? Chris Wilkinson Careers Adviser “I always thought of employability as selling yourself for a job you don’t necessarily want. This has really helped me re-think attitudes to work & employment” Student comment (University of York Employability Tutorial)

Aims Understand more about employability and our definition of it Provide details of the staff and student consultation Let you know how we think employability will fit in with or run alongside the curriculum Discuss how your institutions have dealt with employability and the way forward

What do you think employability is? Discuss this with your neighbour for five minutes

Employability – our definition The possession of the skills and experience necessary to secure fulfilling employment - as defined by the individual - and to manage life long career progression, enabling graduates to successfully navigate changes and challenges in their work and personal circumstances.

York’s Employability Tutorial As part of our employability strategy we designed the online Employability Tutorial

Academic Focus Groups – before the pilot 30 staff representing 90% of departments Should this be compulsory? Timing Employability – a scary word? Helping students to articulate their academic development E-vision Format for the Personal Employability Plan

Student Focus Groups – before the pilot 92 students - around a third had no previous contact with the Careers Service What is Employability? Importance of Employability = 8.38 / 10 Post-demo 25% said that Employability was more important than before “I don’t think I should be giving you feedback – my employability is appalling!” - student comment

Student comments – after pilot Module map Makes you think The quotes Simple and professional To the point/succinct Personal and relevant Clear and well structured – sets out aims well Better than most VLE sites

Student comments – after pilot A lot of text and not enough other media Doesn’t particularly stand out in the VLE – but not necessarily a bad thing A bit confusing – had to read through more than once A lot of topics

York’s Employability Tutorial The Employability tutorial What it is Why it is important Personal Employability Plans Sharing with your supervisor

Introductory workshop Personal Employability Plan Employability journal Development activities Complete on-line tutorial York Award Supervisor discussion The Careers Service; information, advice & guidance Tutorial overview

Tutorial overview Content Understanding myself Understanding my options Understanding my way forward Employability Journal Employability Plan Share with supervisor at supervision meetings Update on an annual basis

Personal Employability Plan One page document for discussion with supervisor Structured and directive Captures: Skills development within the curriculum Key achievements Ambitions and plans Enables: Sense checking Sign posting

Employability Tutorial “Employability is far more than I thought it was” - student comment

Employability – what is your institution doing? Discuss this with your neighbour for five minutes

Departmental links already included in the Tutorial Existing Careers Service resources: ‘Your department’ Graduate Profiles DLHE data

How a department could tailor the Tutorial further ‘How does this link to my department?’ boxes (optional) in three sections: – Introduction – My Employability Plan – What can I do with my degree? All course communication can be tailored to/controlled by the department

How a department could tailor the Tutorial further Links to the curriculum, e.g. skills modules Deeper analysis of destinations Opportunities within the department Link to events programme Quotes from students/graduates Timetable of key events Anything else…?

Our next steps Follow up to pilot project evaluation Employer focus groups Modify content following feedback Developing a PGT version of tutorial Roll out to students: 2 nd & 3 rd year students (autumn) PGT students (autumn) 1 st year students (spring) The future? Transition support Additional on-line courses

Should it be compulsory? Controversial subject Pilot departments – elements were compulsory Future – institutionally re-address in one year Personal view

Employability - what are your next steps? Discuss this with your neighbour for five minutes

Questions?