Using technology to support employability Lisa Gray, Peter Chatterton and Geoff Rebbeck 02/12/2015

Overview » Background and context » Visioning › What does ‘good’ look like? » Challenges » Findings, guidance and recommendations » Resources 02/12/2015

Why is this important? “Businesses look first and foremost for graduates with the right attitudes and aptitudes to enable them to be effective in the workplace – nearly nine in ten employers (89%) value these above factors such as degree subject (62%)” CBI/Pearson Education and Skills Survey 2015 (CBI / Pearson, 2015) “Managers, entrepreneurs, and business executives must have e- competences to grow, export and be connected to the global digital markets. In a digital economy, e-leadership skills are essential.” Michel Catinat, Head of Unit ’Key Enabling Technologies and ICT’” at DG Enterprise and Industry, European Commission (European Commission, 2015) 02/12/2015

Jisc employability study » Aim: Exploration of the role of technology in supporting the development of student employability skills » Case study research (HE, FE and skills) » Sector engagement › Workshop, webinar, blog, online survey » Report › Case studies and vignettes › Challenges › Framework for technology use › Good practices / guidance › Recommendations 02/12/2015

Technology for employability 1. What does ‘good’ look like? 2. What are the challenges to achieving that? 3. What can we do to address those challenges 02/12/2015

Effective practice examples InstitutionSubject University of GreenwichGreenwich Connect: a joined up approach to employability in a digital world University of NorthamptonStudent employability development through social innovation and enterprise Glasgow Caledonian UniversityProblem-solving real business issues using wikis Birmingham City UniversityA range of creative approaches to developing student employability Keele UniversityILM accredited e-portfolio-based employability award University of EdinburghStudent-led e-portfolio-based assessments for evidencing graduate attributes University of BirminghamOnline employability skills pathway of the Personal Skills Award University of GreenwichGreenwich Connect: a joined up approach to employability in a digital world University of LondonEmployability skills MOOC Staffordshire UniversityStaffordshire Graduate Employability project Bath Spa UniversityInternational virtual internship programme Oregon State University collaborationGlobal student collaborative venture to compete in international student racing Case studies – HE 02/12/2015

Effective practice examples InstitutionSubject The MindsetJoint venture between Reed employment and 13 colleges – in campus branches S&B AutosSupporting motor vehicle apprenticeships through Moodle and virtual reality Job Centre PlusUsing technology to support those out of work Welsh BaccalaureateDigital literacies embedded into the qualification St Helens College Building relationships with employers through LinkedIn South Devon CollegeUsing an online employability course South West College, NIUsing technology to support partnership projects between students and industry Portland CollegeProject using video, accessed by QR codes to support learners with disabilities Reading CollegeA college-wide move away from the VLE to learner-centred approaches City of Glasgow CollegeAn e-portfolio for stonemasons to best record their experiences in the workplace Case studies – FE and skills 02/12/2015

Further education and skills InnoTech, South West College, Cookstown, NI S&B Automotive academy 02/12/2015

Higher education 02/12/2015

Challenges » Institutions are on various points of the continuum towards student employability ‘maturity’ » Technology is under-exploited for employability » Insufficient partner working with employers » Variability in resources to support institutions in using technology to support employability 02/12/2015

Findings and recommendations » 5-dimensional model for considering the role of technology in support student employability › Incorporating benefits » Institutional preparedness » ‘Good practice’ indicators 02/12/2015

Technology for employability 02/12/2015 Technology- enhanced authentic and simulated learning experiences » Active and “real world” learning experiences – supported by technologies – that help to develop employability skills » Simulated experiences

Technology for employability 02/12/2015 Technology- enhanced authentic and simulated learning experiences » Self-directed personal and professional learning (planning, reflection, managing, recording, review) – supported by technology » (Digital) feedback and engagement with a variety of stakeholders including employers to help develop learner self-regulatory skills » Employer-supported / related assessment for learning Technology- enhanced lifelong learning and employability

Technology for employability 02/12/2015 Technology- enhanced authentic and simulated learning experiences » Researching, identifying and developing contacts and relationships with employers » Developing “digital” and “employability” identity » Developing “digital collateral” as evidence of student “rounded self” » Showcasing student “rounded self” to employers and personal clients Technology- enhanced lifelong learning and employability Digital communications and engagement with employers

Technology for employability 02/12/2015 Technology- enhanced authentic and simulated learning experiences » Learner skills diagnostics » Technology-enhanced development for skills gaps » Computer-aided assessment Technology- enhanced lifelong learning and employability Digital communications and engagement with employers Technology- enhanced employability skills development

Technology for employability 02/12/2015 Technology- enhanced authentic and simulated learning experiences » Developing student technology- enhanced employability skills Technology- enhanced lifelong learning and employability Digital communications and engagement with employers Technology- enhanced employability skills development Employer-focused digital literacy development

Technology for employability 02/12/2015 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

Institutional preparedness » Embedding and aligning technology for employability and its development into policies, plans and processes. » Professional development of staff in relation to employability and technology for employability » Technology tools, resources, infrastructure and support for employability and student-centred flexible curricula » Improving communication and collaborations to drive change in technology for employability » Quality assuring and continuous improvement through employability data monitoring, analytics and review 02/12/2015

Student as: change agent resource creator expert / advisor researcher mentor (students and staff) trainer (staff and peers) evaluator/reviewer Student technology solutions to improve education, research and student life Jisc summer of student innovation Students driving change Case study: “Mission Employable” (University of Southampton) 02/12/2015

Good practice indicators for course teams » Maturity is probably best developed through ‘connected curricula’ » Lifelong employability in a ‘digital world’ needs to be a core student capability – with students encouraged to take ownership early on » Technology is used to underpin student employability development with clearly identified rationale, benefits and adoption of good practices » Authentic and simulated learning experiences » Digital communications and engagement » Lifelong learning and employability » Employability skills development » Employer-focused digital literacy development 02/12/2015

Recommendations for sector bodies » Benchmarking tools » to help institutions self-assess ‘technology for employability’, plan enhancements, linked to policies, goals and priorities » Framework making clearer the digital context for employability skills » Online spaces to support collaborative problem solving with students/professional bodies/staff, employers and alumni » Joined-up approaches » (including resources, support and communications) 02/12/2015

Study resources » Summary report (see handouts) » HE case studies and vignettes » FE case studies and vignettes » Full report Long (online) including: › 20 case studies + vignettes (HE/FE/skills) › Challenges › 5 dimensional model – technology for employability › Guidance: – programme teams – institutions › Recommendations for sector bodies 02/12/2015

Find out more » Peter Chatterton world.com world.com » Lisa Gray » Geoff Rebbeck » Project page: » Join the conversation on the blog: employabilityproject.jiscinvolve.org/ employabilityproject.jiscinvolve.org/ » and on twitter #jiscemployability 02/12/2015

Related Jisc activity Where to find out more » Prospect to alumnus - jisc.ac.uk/rd/projects/prospect-to-alumnusjisc.ac.uk/rd/projects/prospect-to-alumnus » e-Portfolios – portfolioswww.jisc.ac.uk/guides/getting-started-with-e- portfolios » Students as Agents of Change - jisc.ac.uk/rd/projects/change- agents-network jisc.ac.uk/rd/projects/change- agents-network » Digital Literacies - jisc.ac.uk/guides/developing-digital-literaciesjisc.ac.uk/guides/developing-digital-literacies » Assessment and employability - bit.ly/jisc-assessbit.ly/jisc-assess » Curriculum Design - bit.ly/jisccddbit.ly/jisccdd » Lifelong Learning and Workforce Development - repository.jisc.ac.uk/5993/ repository.jisc.ac.uk/5993/ 02/12/2015