1. Ideas from Others
A lightning talk on employability in Library teaching and learning
Doug Broadbent-Yale
Library Canterbury Christ Church University
16/07/2019

2. Introduction Employability in HE and at the UEA
Outside help? Certification in online resources
Inside help? Collaboration with others on campus
Further Ideas
Conclusion
UEA: Employability in Library Teaching – 16/07/2019

3. Employability at University
UEA: Employability in Library Teaching – 16/07/2019

4. Employability at University
Practical, vocational courses
Abstract, academic courses
Underpinning of consistent transferrable skills
Degree apprenticeships
Employability at University in general – difference between practical/vocational courses: accounting, law, photography, engineering
Vs. more abstract/academic courses: English literature, history, geography
However, all courses should provide an underpinning in cross applicable skills:
creative and critical thinking, teamwork and communication, digital and information literacy skills and
Universities UK promoting Degree apprenticeships yesterday gives an indication of the desire for more employability focussed options for students
Image source: UEA Asset Bank
UEA: Employability in Library Teaching – 16/07/2019

5. Employability at the UEA
UEA: Employability in Library Teaching – 16/07/2019

6. Career Central Self service Face to face Online Self service
Image source: UEA Asset Bank
Self service
- MyCareerCentral portal of job, internship and volunteering opportunities
In person
Quick Query 15mins
Guidance appointment 45mins
Mock interviews 1hr (recorded to video)
Online
- Information on career options and ideas – case studies, interviews and videos with alumni etc.
UEA: Employability in Library Teaching – 16/07/2019

7. Certification in Online Resources
Outside help?
Certification in Online Resources
UEA: Employability in Library Teaching – 16/07/2019

8. Business School Employability week – November 2018 and 2019
Numerous sessions on huge variety of topics
Four sessions organised by the Library – bringing in outside speakers
Space for more employability in Library sessions?
Transferable vs practical skills
Benefits to Law and Business Students – resources such as Westlaw, Lexis, Justis One
UEA: Employability in Library Teaching – 16/07/2019

9. Collaboration with others on campus
Inside help?
Collaboration with others on campus
UEA: Employability in Library Teaching – 16/07/2019

10. Working with Careers Colleagues
What can the library offer to advisors? What skills do library staff have that could be useful for students? What can we as library workers learn from our colleagues in the Careers Centre?
Careers centres and libraries offer many similar things but in different areas: resources, guidance and expertise
In the institutions and roles that I have worked at there has been almost complete separation between the Library and Careers Centre; whilst there was a close working relationship between the Library, Technology enhanced learning, IT, and Student Support departments. What learn from our Careers colleagues?
UEA: Employability in Library Teaching – 16/07/2019

11. Further ideas ‘Living Library’ events Alumni events
Digital skills week
‘Living Library’ events
researchers (‘books’) are ‘borrowed’ by visitors who ‘read’ them by asking them questions about their research and plans for the future. Transferrable skills include: communication, ability to describe complex research quickly and clearly in plain English and opportunities to network with other researchers
Alumni events
Many students will appreciate seeing where others from their course have gone on to work. My colleague Kate Squire organised a session in the Business department at the Norwich Central Library with current and past students and a collection of relevant speakers. Although it was quite well attended the downside she described was the large amount of work she put in to a relatively short experience for students.
Digital skills week
This could be as broad or specific as you want it to be! Previous sessions run in the past at the University of Sussex include:
A makerspace
Introduction to coding
Creating accessible digital documents
Introduction to Podcasting
Using 360 degree GoPros to create VR content (library tour)
Most of these ideas were not conceived of in order to promote an employability agenda, however, when given an opportunity to reflect on the skills that the attendees have engaged and improved during the session from an employability perspective, I am sure that students would be able to come up with a large number of constructive thoughts regarding their experiences.
UEA: Employability in Library Teaching – 16/07/2019

12. “Best transferable skill: Being able to transfer your skills”
UK Commission for Employment and Skills, UKCES. (2009). ‘The Employability Challenge’. London
UEA: Employability in Library Teaching – 16/07/2019

13. Email: D.Broadbent-Yale@uea.ac.uk
THANK YOU
Any questions?
Thank you for your time, do you have any questions?
UEA: Employability in Library Teaching – 16/07/2019