© University of South Wales Student Led Curriculum for Experiencing Employability Julie Prior Dr Karen Fitzgibbon Lesley Long

© University of South Wales Session Overview  The Employment Experience module  Ensuring all students get some experience  Different perspectives of employability  Module activities  Student feedback  Our reflections

© University of South Wales The Employment Experience Module  Context Revalidation of the Business Management Degree Employers’ perspective Competitive advantage  Why level 6? Link to placement experience Prepare students for graduate recruitment and selection processes

Work Experience Routes Sandwich Year Traditional placement year in industry Minimum of 30 weeks Critical Reflections on Learning in the Workplace Learning Through Employment Recognition for current and relevant work based learning Students already working part-time in graduate level positions Employment Experience module Compulsory final year module for all other students Mix of lectures and workshops Minimum of 30 hours work experience 20 credit module at level 6

© University of South Wales Activity What does the word ‘employability’ mean to you?

Student Perspectives

Employer perspective: A graduate in Business and Management typically will: Rees C, Forbes P & Kubler B. (2007) Student Employability Profiles A Guide for Employers. 2 nd revised edition. York: HEA.

© University of South Wales Module Activities  Exploring employability skills (employability game)  CV critiquing  Deconstructing graduate job adverts.  Identifying key application criteria – essential and desirable – best methods for assessing them  Application sifting  Mock interview questions  Mock interviews  Mock assessment centre activities – In-tray exercises – Problem solving in teams – Negotiation exercises – Psychometric testing  Live discipline based Assessment Centre – run by employers

© University of South Wales Problem Solving Activity

© University of South Wales Student Feedback  “Feel the module is really effective in helping us understand and prepare for employment.”  “Felt we understand what employers want now, still but need more help in developing some of these skills.”  “Made us think about things that we hadn’t really focussed on before.”  “Keep doing the group work – I liked the groups being mixed up so you didn’t work with your friends, it forced you to work with different people and we liked it.”

© University of South Wales Enjoyed the ‘head space’ that such a practical module gives us. Module is not assessment driven, you feel valued for attending and there is value for you in attending. Liked that we put our learning into practice. It’s a module about you and for you – really good.

© University of South Wales Lessons Learned  Anticipated students would understand the importance of employability  Restructuring of activities  More ‘scene setting’ of each activity  More focus and guidance for students on reflection

© University of South Wales Julie Prior (01443) Questions?