1. Connecting employers and students Adele Merrison, Ellen Cocking & Dave Gilchrist. September 2009

2. Why connect with employers - OU OU student profile – large numbers, varied locations range of experiences and backgrounds Alternative to face to face campus recruitment campaigns. Less time consuming and resource heavy. Increasing emphasis on awareness and development of employability skills within the OU Interactivity of our support and previous experience of online forums

3. Why connect with Employers - UWE UWE student profile – large numbers on different campuses, placements, many part time / open learning, time poor Alternative to face to face employer events which are difficult to timetable to suit all. Employers may prefer this type of contact if intending to reduce campus activity in current climate. Increasing emphasis on employability skills through UWE’s Graduate Development Programme Faculties/ Schools are interested in using this technology

4. Employer Showcase http://www.open.ac.uk/careers/secure/virtual- employer-fair.php http://www.open.ac.uk/careers/secure/virtual- employer-fair.php Established 2006 - now 32 entries Provided leads for further work with employers Template for the pages - less content in the future

5. Video Clips http://www.open.ac.uk/careers/secure/what- employers-say.php http://www.open.ac.uk/careers/secure/what- employers-say.php 4 employers involved Filming at the employers premises External consultant was expert in filming Scripts agreed beforehand Costly in terms of money and time! Increased credibility with students and staff Sensitivity from employers about content and message of clips (marketing/PR involvement)

6. Online employer forums http://learn.open.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=3804 &m=3 http://learn.open.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=3804 &m=3 Benefits to employer: location, range of students, response read by many, understanding students 2008 – What Employers Want; 2009 Public Sector Employers Live period then read only period Guest employers with a careers adviser moderating Guidance for employers crucial

9. Feedback Students liked: the anonymity of the employer contact, reading others’ Q&As, 24:7, ‘read only’ facility, ‘talking’ to other students as well as employers, sharing experiences Employers liked: Encouraging and informing, doing something different, how easy it was – technology, time commitment, IT/ Careers support, ‘meeting’ other employers……also they offered to stay for longer and to do it again!

10. Welcome screen

11. Employer discussions

12. Example discussion

13. Conclusions Varied methods with high visibility to reach lots of users Increased awareness of careers service with staff Increased credibility and offering to employers Student feedback has been very positive Difficult to judge impact on employability of students Raised the profile of the part time undergraduate market (OU)

14. Thank you for listening. Any questions? If you want to find out more please contact Adele Merrison, Adele.Merrison@uwe.ac.ukAdele.Merrison@uwe.ac.uk Ellen Cocking, e.cocking@open.ac.uke.cocking@open.ac.uk