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Higher
education institutions are responding to the employability
agenda in a variety of ways. A varied range of initiatives
has been introduced to try and ensure that the curriculum
reflects the importance of employability.
These
eight case studies have been prepared to show how some of
the front-runners have reacted. Their responses are as
diverse
as the structures and cultures of the institutions’ from
which they come. Consequently they offer a valuable resource
to those who wish to pursue the employability agenda within
their own institutions. They show difficulties and problems,
as well as successes and progress.
The
eight are:
University
of Bradford: Changing Landscape, Revised Approach
University
of Central Lancashire: Strategic Approaches to Delivering
Employability throughout the University of Central Lancashire,
with particular reference to Academic Policy.
University
College Chester: Developing links between academic departments
and the Careers Service
University
of Exeter: The Exeter Approach to
Employability
University
of Glamorgan: Planning for Employability
London
Metropolitan University: Access to employability
Sheffield
Hallam University: Employability framework
University
of Paisley: Employability in the Curriculum: an approach
to embedding employability in the structure and content of
degree programmes
In
some cases the developments described are institutional-wide.
In others they are centred on a part of the whole institution.
In some, the changes have been brought about as part of a
formal corporate strategy, whilst in others they have been
driven forward by Careers Service interventions and the determination
and enthusiasm of individual champions. The nature of the
interventions varies considerably and reflects their differing
circumstances, histories and communities. Inevitably, the
impact of the developments also differs in scale and nature
and no one model can be described as the best. In all cases
the work is continuing. Taken together they offer a rich source
of information and inspiration to those interested in embedding
employability in higher education.
Depending
upon your interests, you might want to start with a case study,
perhaps for an institution you see as having similarities
to your own. These are hot linked from the list above.
Subject-area case
studies
The built
environment provides examples of a subject area that
has provided case studies of collaboration between institutions
and employers in the development of student employability
skills at various levels. The ACBEE
initiative includes a range of institutions and industrial
partners.
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