An ALT Conference presentation by Sarah Knight and Lisa Gray

1. Working in partnership to support student employability
Sarah Knight and Lisa Gray (Jisc)
ALT-C
Conference
08/09/2016
#JiscCAN http://can.jiscinvolve.org #Jiscemployability http://bit.ly/employabilityproject

2. Our aims for this symposium
» Explore how technology is supporting students to acquire the
digital skills to effectively communicate, influence and
engage with employers
» Consider opportunities for including employers in student-
staff partnership working
» Showcase current practices
» Overview of Jisc research and resources to help you advance
your practice

3. Institutional practice
»Fiona Harvey, Education Development Manager,
University of Southampton
»Dr Eleanor Quince, PrincipalTeaching Fellow, University
of Southampton
»James Kieft, Group Learning and Development manager
at Activate Learning
»Students from University of Southampton

4. Context
“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 EnablingTechnologies and ICT’” at DG Enterprise and Industry, European
Commission (European Commission, 2015)
“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)

5. Jisc ‘Technology for employability’ research
Toolkit:
» 3 approaches to thinking about
technology-enhanced employability
› Connected curricula approach
– A holistic approach to programme design and technology
adoption
› A five-dimensional model for
adopting technology
› What does the “employable
student” look like in a digital world?
» Plus guidance on institutional support
» Case studies

6. Jisc ‘Technology for employability’ research
T-profile curricula
Employer
engagementAssessment for
learning
employability built into
curriculum design & assessment
through ‘connected curricula’
5 dimensions for adopting technology

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

8. Technology for employability
Technology-
enhanced
authentic and
simulated learning
experiences
» Self-directed personal and
professional learning (planning,
reflection, managing, recording,
review)–supportedby 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
» Recording/recognition
Technology-
enhanced lifelong
learning and
employability

9. Technology for employability
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
evidenceof student “roundedself”
» Showcasing student “rounded
self” to employers and personal
clients
Technology-
enhanced lifelong
learning and
employability
Digital
communications
and engagement
with employers

10. Technology for employability
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

11. Technology for employability
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

12. Digital capability underpins all aspects
Working in partnership to support student employability

13. The employable student in a digital world
Digital capability underpins all aspects

14. Resources
» Summary report
» HE and FE case studies and vignettes
» Full report including:
› 20 case studies + vignettes (HE/FE/skills)
› Challenges
› 5 dimensional model – technology for
employability
› Guidance:
– programme teams
– institutions
» Toolkit
› Aids dialogue, decision-making and planning
for developing student employability and
adoption of technology http://bit.ly/employabilityproject

15. Working in partnership
working on real employer problems
(co/extra-curricula)
mentoring students
programme design and delivery (inc
assessment)
“business” initiatives e.g. consultancy,
agency
Staff-student
partnerships
Staff-student-
employer (&
alumni)
partnerships
change agents
resource creators
researchers
mentors
trainers
advisors
evaluators
Examples:
• Mission employable (University of Southampton)
• University of EdinburghSLICCS + Design Agency
• University of GreenwichVirtual Law Clinic
Jisc student
innovators
Examples:
• https://potential.ly/
• https://www.callforparticipants.com/
• https://elevator.jisc.ac.uk/e/4-apprentices-ideas
Students as:
Jisc Change Agents’ Network
Student technology solutions
to improve education,
research and student life
http://can.jiscinvolve.org

16. CAN research findings: Impact on students
» Students (who actively engage):
› Confidence (digital, personal, professional)
› Active engagement in live and meaningful research
› Development of key employability skills (e.g. team working, leadership, influencing)
› New/improved career opportunities
› Community, belonging, connections, making a difference
› Recognition/potential accreditation (e.g. leadership awards, HEAR)
» The wider student body:
› Empowerment - positive and informed changes to overall student experience (eg
improved services, stronger voice, exposure to wider skills set beyond chosen
curriculum)
09/09/16 What will a successful student-staff partnership look like in 2020 and how should we measure impact?

17. CAN research findings: Impact on staff
» Staff (who actively engage):
› Increased digital confidence and range of digital technologies and techniques
› Increased insight to student needs, culture and experience at
curriculum/school/institutional levels
› Benefitting from student creativity, drive and passion
› Changing relationships - mutually supportive and increased engagement
› Professional reputation
» The wider body of staff:
› Empowered, more engaged and satisfied students
› Staff benefitting from student digital skills
09/09/16 What will a successful student-staff partnership look like in 2020 and how should we measure impact?

18. Developing successful student staff partnerships
» Benefits of student-staff partnerships
» Quick start
» Viewpoints implementation framework,
resources and guidance:
› partnership setup
› partnership implementation
› capabilities, development and
accreditation
› sustaining and embedding
partnerships based on evaluation of
impact
» Case studies
» Webinars
» Other agency initiatives
Online guide available from:
http://bit.ly/jisc-partnership
09/09/16 What will a successful student-staff partnership look like in 2020 and how should we measure impact?

19. Change Agents’ Network Conference 2017
»Thursday 20 - Friday 21 April 2017
»University of Exeter, Streatham Campus
»More information will be available in the coming weeks
on our web page: http://ex.ac.uk/CAN2017
»Contact Jake Hibberd j.hibberd@exeter.ac.uk for more
information

20. Find out more
» Jisc NUSTSEP Benchmarking the student digital experience – http://bit.ly/digistudentexp
» Enhancing the student digital experience - http://bit.ly/digitalstudentguide
» Developing successful student staff partnerships - http://bit.ly/jisc-partnership
» Change agents’ network – http://can.jiscinvolve.org
» Case studies of institutional practice - http://digitalstudent.jiscinvolve.org/wp/exemplars
» Using technology to support employability - http://bit.ly/employabilityproject
» The Student Engagement Partnership – http://www.tsep.org.uk
» REACT project – http://www.studentengagement.ac.uk
» Technology for Employability report – http://bit.ly/1OFFjSE
» Technology for Employability toolkit – http://bit.ly/28KiPjM
» Technology for Employability blog - http://employabilityproject.jiscinvolve.org

21. University of Southampton
Eleanor Quince and Fiona Harvey
Working in partnership to support student employability

22. Mission
Employable:
Knowing,
Growing &
Showing the
skills for career
success
Peer
Mentoring
OPUS
(opportunity
Profiles at the
University of
Southampton)
Alumni
Network
Subject/sector
specific
evening events
Employability
Modules:
HUMA 1036,
HUMA2014,
HUMA 3010
Online
employability
resource for
year abroad
students
(REALIE)
‘Pop-up’
advice sessions
and drop-ins
Student
Working
Group
Public
Engagement
and Enterprise
activities
External
Advisory
Board
Career support
for PGT
students
Career support
for PGR
students
Summer
Internships
humsemployable
HumsEmployable
missionemployable
http://blog.soton.ac.uk/missionemployable/

23. Innovation & Digital literacies champions iChamps
» 12 - 16 iChamps across the university (discipline specific)
» Working with academics on specific projects relating to the
development of digital literacies skills
» Scaffolded projects with Open Badges - specific sets of skills
» Badges linked to Portfolios to support digital literacies (ultimately
increase their profiles and confidence in skills)
» Non-ichamps now have the opportunity to earn badges - working with
the student Union to support training along the same kind of model for
digital literacies to increase participation in developing digital literacies
skills
Working in partnership to support student employability

24. Activate Learning
James Kieft, Group Learning and Development manager at Activate Learning
Working in partnership to support student employability

25. Collaboration & use of social media communities
» Use of G+ communities, Has helped to Extend Learning
conversations beyond the classroom.Also provide a safe space to
develop professional use of social media.
» Use of Hangouts, has enabled learners opportunities to connect
with other learners and employers from around the world. Also a
platform for aiding them showcasing their skills.
» Through use of the of the above GoogleApps it has enabled
employers to connect with student cohorts to support and inform
learning.
» Provided students with experience of using the types of tools
they will use in employment.

26. Hearing our students’ views
To ask a question…
UseTwitter #JiscCAN with starting
your tweet with Q

27. Hearing our students’ views
» University of Southampton:
› Ellen Blacow: current BA Modern History & Politics student
› Elizabeth Oliver: current BA History (with aYear Abroad)
› Sophie Pitman: recently-graduated BA Film & English
student and begins her MA at Southampton in October
› Charlotte Medland: Current PGR student in Modern
Languages and part-time coordinator for Mission
Employable activity
› Clarissa Chay, Innovation and Digital Literacies Champion

28. Sharing your experiences
» Use ourTwitter hash tag #JiscCAN
What one thing …
… are you going to do as a result of
this session to advance or enhance
the digital employability of your
students?
Send a text to 0207 183 8329 starting
with digi

29. Find out more…
Jisc Change Agents’ Network
Sarah.knight@jisc.ac.uk
Lisa.gray@jisc.ac.uk
http://can.jiscinvolve.org
http://bit.ly/employabilityproject
Join our mailing list:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/CAN
Except where otherwise noted, this
work is licensed under CC-BY-NC-ND