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Technology for Employability - Jisc, May 2015
The document discusses the importance of technology in enhancing employability skills in higher and further education, highlighting challenges and opportunities for institutions. Key themes include the need for better integration of technology, the engagement of employers, and the variability in resources available for support. Recommendations are provided for institutions to improve practices through connected curricula, lifelong learning frameworks, and partnerships with employers.
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Technology for Employability - Jisc, May 2015
- 1. Lisa Gray, PeterChatterton and Geoff Rebbeck Technology for employability27/05/2015
- 2. Technology for employability Blog:employabilityproject.jiscinvolve.org Twitter: #jiscemployability 27/05/2015 Technology for employability 2 Geoff Rebbeck Independent consultant Lisa Gray Jisc Peter Chatterton Independent consultant
- 3. Aims of today »Share themes and issues, opportunities and recommendations, and provide opportunities for participants to add to and test out the themes » Share our vision for ‘technology for employability’ and discuss the barriers and enablers to achieving it » Consider how Jisc can best support institutions in achieving that vision 27/05/2015 Technology for employability 3
- 4. Why is thisimportant? Employability » Increasing importance in policy and strategy › evidence of an ‘employability gap’ » Means to economic independence and active citizenship. » Qualifications not an end to themselves » Evidence that technology can be an enabler…. › But it’s not clear how institutions are using technology most effectively to support learners » Digital savvy graduates are essential for shaping tomorrows entrepreneurial activities › But digital literacies aren’t well articulated in relation to employability skills 27/05/2015 Technology for employability 4 Technology
- 5. Jisc “Technology forEmployability” study » December 2014 - study funded » Focus – technology to support the development and communication of employability skills » February - open invitation for examples of practice » April 29th – webinar to share emerging themes and » 27th May – gathering of experts » June – study completes › Case studies › Analysis of the technology and employability landscape › Issues, challenges, gaps › Recommendations for institutions and Jisc › Good practice guidance » June – next steps identified 27/05/2015 Technology for employability 5
- 6. Effective practice examples 27/05/2015Technology for employability 6 Case studies - HE Institution Subject University of Greenwich Greenwich Connect: a joined up approach to employability in a digital world University of Northampton Student employability development through social innovation and enterprise Glasgow Caledonian University Problem-solving real business issues using wikis Birmingham City University A range of creative approaches to developing student employability Keele University ILM accredited e-portfolio-based employability award University of Edinburgh Student-led e-portfolio-based assessments for evidencing graduate attributes University of Birmingham Online employability skills pathway of the Personal Skills Award University of London Employability skills MOOC Staffordshire University Staffordshire Graduate Employability project Bath Spa University International virtual internship programme Oregon State University collaboration Global student collaborative venture to compete in international student racing
- 7. Effective practice examples 27/05/2015Technology for employability 7 Case studies – FE and skills Institution Subject The Mindset Joint venture between Reed employment and 13 colleges – in campus branches S&B Autos Supporting motor vehicle apprenticeships through Moodle and virtual reality Job Centre Plus Using technology to support those out of work Welsh Baccalaureate Digital literacies embedded into the qualification MyWorksearch An online employability service supporting learners on an ongoing journey South Devon College Using an online employability course SouthWest College, NI Using technology to support partnership projects between students and industry PortlandCollege Project using video, accessed byQR codes to support learners with disabilities Reading College A college-wide move away from theVLE to learner-centred approaches City of Glasgow College An e-portfolio for stonemasons to best record their experiences in the workplace
- 8. Examples Further education andskills 27/05/2015 Technology for employability 8 InnoTech, SouthWest College, Cookstown, NI
- 9. Examples Higher education 27/05/2015 Technologyfor employability 9
- 10. Framing and problemsetting 27/05/2015 Technology for employability 10
- 11. Challenge 1 Institutions areon various points of the continuum towards student employability “maturity” » Different visions of “maturity” and variation in approaches to developing employability skills, capabilities and attributes » Authentic experiences can develop skills, but depend on: › the degree of “authenticity” › the degree to which students learn/reflect on them › the degree to which students articulate them » Many creative uses of technology, but embedding remains elusive to many institutions » Embedding employability/ attributes into curricula may be “ideal”, but there are challenges 27/05/2015 Technology for employability 11
- 12. Challenge 2 Technology isunder exploited for employability » Variation in practices and understanding of potential of technologies- particularly with e-portfolios and social media » Institutions could do a lot more to unleash student creativity in using digital networks/media to engage with employers, alumni and other stakeholders » Digital literacies are not well articulated in relation to employability skills » Employers and HE/FE generally have low aspirations in relation to “digital entrepreneurialism” » Growing band of knowledge in terms of what technology infrastructure is required for "connected curricula" 27/05/2015 Technology for employability 12
- 13. Challenge 3 Insufficient engagementand partnership working with employers » Core employability skills, capabilities and attributes are continually evolving » Unclear the degree to which employers (large and small) are involved in defining and developing employability skills » Not much evidence of institutions evaluating impact of employability policies/initiatives with employers » Not always easy to identify “truly” authentic learning experiences with employers for ALL students » HE and FE need to find ways of improved working with a broader range of employers e.g. SMEs » Need to raise aspirations for “digital entrepreneurialism” with employers 27/05/2015 Technology for employability 13
- 14. Challenge 4 Variability inresources to support institutions in using technology for employability » Lack of awareness of e-portfolio resources and their value to institutions » Insufficient emphasis in sector resources on “making the case” for using technology » Guidance on digital literacies could be better contextualised and articulated in relation to employability skills » Minimal resources relating to digital entrepreneurialism » Insufficient guidance on effective use of social media to support employability » Potential for greater adoption of multimedia communications approaches » Resources on their own are insufficient – institutions need to be supported in using them effectively 27/05/2015 Technology for employability 14
- 15. Activity 27/05/2015 Technology foremployability 15 On your tables, discuss: » Do these challenges resonate with you? » Provide examples from your contexts › What is the problem, and for who? » What is missing?
- 16. Activity » In thelight of these challenges, think big about how these might be solved ‘What if……’ » Write one per post-it 27/05/2015 Technology for employability 16
- 17. Visualising effective practice 27/05/2015Technology for employability 17
- 18. Three thematic ideasfor institutions to enhance practices Idea 1 "Maturity" is probably best developed through "connected curricula" - embedding employability in curriculum and assessment combined with authentic experiential learning and employer engagement and underpinned by technology. » Some excellent examples of "connected curricula" where employability embedded into curricula and assessment » "Connected curricula" inextricably linked to assessment for learning approaches and authentic assessment » Curricula and assessment must incorporate student articulation of their experiential learning and employability skills » "Connected curricula" map well to the QAA "Flexible Curricula" framework ** » "Connected curricula" requires a learner-centred connected technology infrastructure 27/05/2015 Technology for employability 18 ** enhancementthemes.ac.uk/toolkits/flexible-curriculum
- 19. Three thematic ideasfor institutions to enhance practices Idea 2 “Lifelong employability in a digital world” needs to be a core student capability – with students encouraged to take ownership early on” » HE and FE need to prepare students for taking ownership of identifying and developing their employability skills and capabilities - using technology » “Lifelong employability” is a key employability capability in its own right » Lifelong employability aligns with lifelong learning, self- review, self-management and learning directions concepts » Self-directed personal and professional learning (planning, reflection, managing, recording, review) can be effectively supported by e-portfolios » (Digital) feedback and engagement with a variety of stakeholders including employers to help develop learner self-regulatory skills can be facilitated by technology 27/05/2015 Technology for employability 19
- 20. Three thematic ideasfor institutions to enhance practices Idea 3 Institutions can better prepare for supporting student employability through technology in five key ways » Embedding and aligning technology for employability into polices, plans and resources » Developing staff digital literacies for employability – for themselves and their students. » 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 27/05/2015 Technology for employability 20
- 21. Technology for employability– a framework 27/05/2015 Technology for employability 21 Technology- enhanced authentic and simulated learning experiences Technology- enhanced lifelong learning and employability Technology- enhanced employability skills development Employer-focused digital literacy development Digital communications and engagement with employers
- 22. Technology for employability– a framework » Active and “real world” learning experiences – supported by technologies – that help to develop employability skills » Simulated experiences 22 Technology- enhanced authentic and simulated learning experiences 27/05/2015 Technology for employability
- 23. Technology for employability– a framework » 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 23 Technology- enhanced authentic and simulated learning experiences Digital communications and engagement with employers 27/05/2015 Technology for employability
- 24. Technology for employability– a framework » 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 24 Technology- enhanced authentic and simulated learning experiences Technology- enhanced lifelong learning and employability Digital communications and engagement with employers 27/05/2015 Technology for employability
- 25. Technology for employability– a framework » Learner skills diagnostics » Technology-enhanced development for skills gaps » Computer-aided assessment 25 Technology- enhanced authentic and simulated learning experiences Technology- enhanced lifelong learning and employability Technology- enhanced employability skills development Digital communications and engagement with employers 27/05/2015 Technology for employability
- 26. Technology for employability– a framework » Developing student technology-enhanced employability skills 26 Technology- enhanced authentic and simulated learning experiences Technology- enhanced lifelong learning and employability Technology- enhanced employability skills development Employer-focused digital literacy development Digital communications and engagement with employers 27/05/2015 Technology for employability
- 27. Technology for employability– a framework 27/05/2015 Technology for employability 27 Technology- enhanced authentic and simulated learning experiences Technology- enhanced lifelong learning and employability Technology- enhanced employability skills development Employer-focused digital literacy development Digital communications and engagement with employers
- 28. Activity » Using thetemplates on your tables, consider what ‘effective practice’ looks like for one or more of the five dimensions above 27/05/2015 Technology for employability 28
- 29. Concept development Shaping therecommendations – how to get fromA to B 27/05/2015 Technology for employability 29
- 30. Options for Jiscto consider to support the sector Options So far, from our research, we are recommending that Jisc can potentially support institutions in six key ways » Benchmarking and effective practice toolkits » Easily accessible, usable and navigable resources » Facilitating an institution-led communications and engagement plan » Online spaces to support creative collaborations between institutions, students, alumni, employers and professional & sector bodies » Support services to institutions » Staff-student-employer partnerships 27/05/2015 Technology for employability 30
- 31. Activity » Select acluster of ‘what ifs’ and get into groups » Decide as a group which of the ideas you’d like to work up in more detail as ‘solutions’ » Develop the ‘solution cards’ for presenting back at the end 27/05/2015 Technology for employability 31
- 32. Related Jisc activity Whereto find out more » Prospect to alumnus - jisc.ac.uk/rd/projects/prospect-to-alumnus » e-Portfolios – updated guide currently in development - jisc.ac.uk/eportfolio » Students asAgents of Change - jisc.ac.uk/rd/projects/change-agents-network » Digital Literacies - jisc.ac.uk/guides/developing-digital-literacies » Assessment and employability - bit.ly/jisc-assess » Curriculum Design - bit.ly/jisccdd » Lifelong Learning andWorkforce Development - repository.jisc.ac.uk/5993/ 27/05/2015 Technology for employability 32
- 33. Prospect to Alumnus– Employability Data Services project 33 a) Employability Skills Match* and Data Services: enabling learners to demonstrate soft skills and capabilities, gained through extra-curricular activities (eg P/T work), through open badges pre-defined by employers’ consortia b) Learner Cradle to Grave Data Service** ..that allows students to own & manage a digital record of their educational & extra-curricular achievements throughout their lifelong & life-wide learning.Supporting student credit transfer and mobility. *This will be extended into an Employability Data Service, enhanced by an updated Higher EducationAchievement Record (HEAR) **This will integrate HEAR, Personal Learner Record, Enterprise Passport and open badges.
- 34. Find out more »Lisa Gray - lisa.gray@jisc.ac.uk » Peter Chatterton peter.chatterton@daedalus-e-world.com » Geoff Rebbeck - grebbeck@me.com » Googledocs: bit.ly/1blC97E and bit.ly/1GaYdKx » Project page: jisc.ac.uk/rd/projects/developing-student- employability » Join the conversation on the blog: employabilityproject.jiscinvolve.org/ » and on twitter #jiscemployability 27/05/2015 Technology for employability 34
- 35. Also on thehorizon…. Higher Education Academy » Embedding employability strategic enhancement programme » 37 Higher Education institutions » Using the HEA employability framework - heacademy.ac.uk/node/6797 » Completing end of July 2015 Joint AGCAS / CRA seminar » Presenting yourself for the 21stCentury’ » Birmingham City University, Monday 8th June » Register at: tinyurl.com/k9jxncr 27/05/2015 Technology for employability 35
Editor's Notes
- #5 I wont spend too much time on this as I’m sure this audience is already aware of the key importance of employability for all educational sectors. We have seen an increasing focus on employability in policy and strategy, and evidence of a gap in the skills that students are starting with on day one of employment and the skills that employers are expecting from their new employees. Qualifications are increasingly seen, particularly in in FE and skills, as a stepping stone to employment from which economic independence and active citizenship flow. The qualification is no longer the end point. Technology We have evidence that technology can be an enabler to developing and communicating employability skills, and clear evidence of benefits of use from quality enhancements to efficiencies in time and cost. But it isn’t clear on how universities are using the tech to most effectively support learners, and the impact hasn’t yet been clearly articulated. Digitally savvy graduates (with more than just basic IT skills) are essential for shaping tomorrow’s entrepreneurial activities. But employability skills articulated by employer, professional, sector and regulatory bodies do not typically stress the importance of digital literacies to support employability skills, such as communication, project management, collaboration.
- #6 So, in December last year we funded a study to explore the technology for employability landscape across higher education, further education and skills. We went out in February to look for examples of effective practice across all sectors. We were looking for examples of where technology was being used to support students with the development or communication of skills, and set the boundary there – so we are not looking at the use of technology to find employment. If you are interested in this aspect we have another piece of work at Jisc exploring that further SEE http://prospect2alumnus.jiscinvolve.org Today is about enabling wider engagement with the findings of the study before it reports, and the study is due to complete in May, with a number of case studies, as well as an analysis of the landscape, with challenges and issues highlighted, and recommendations made for how we can move forward.
- #7 Just to give you a flavour of the breadth of case studies we’ll be writing up, these are examples of those in train, covering a range of use from e-portfolio-based evidencing of skills and graduate attributes, to an employability skills MOOC.
- #8 And for FE and skills sectors – from a new course being developed with digital literacies at the heart, to a virtual reality paint spraying workshop where cost savings are already being identified.
- #9 InnoTech: A venture by South West College, Northern Ireland. Financed by the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) to provide partnerships between industry and college students to nurture and grow innovation. Industry approach Innotech with a particular problem/challenge and develop the project for them. They then partners businesses with students at all levels – with businesses around a particular problem. And encourage the return of the knowledge through the curriculum. Projects vary between 12 and 36 months. Partnerships facilitated using technology tools (CAD and animation modelling tools) and communications tools. Student also work directly with companies on technology projects in the area of mechanical engineering, IT, electronics and renewable energy systems . Won international green sustainability awards. And AOC Beacon Award 2013. S&B Automotive Academy An independent provider based on the motor vehicle industry in Bristol. They support apprentices who are placed in client organizations around the UK, Germany and Bermuda, dealing with supplies, bodywork, repairs etc. The apprentices are supported through the Moodle VLE and industry portfolio (Institute of Motor Vehicle Industry) along with mobile devices, even when on work-placement. Come into the company for their classes, with over 1500 online learning modules on the VLE. Apprentices make use of video capture in garages to demonstrate competence, and students encouraged to talk over the video capture to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding. A training needs analysis assesses their gaps, and courses fill gaps only. They also go into schools to talk about the apprenticeship scheme, and have the apprentices present over a live video feed from their current workplace, doing a Q&A session. Now working with virtual reality, building a professional virtual reality paint spray workshop that allows apprentices to acquire paint spraying skills at vast cost savings (at least £13,000 in teacher time and consumables so far).
- #10 Keele University Keele’s strategic approach to student employability is focused on supporting students to take responsibility for their own development via a new flexible degree structure that includes co-curricula activities offering options such as part-time work, entrepreneurial schemes or volunteering. A development strand runs through all curricula with a focus on personal and professional development, helping students to focus students on making sense of, and taking responsibility for their learning and futures. They have developed a ‘Keele University Skills Portfolio’, an e-portfolio based collection of students reflections on their experiences (curricular or co-curricular), evidencing the Keele Graduate Attributes, which leads to an accredited certificate from the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM), the UKs largest awarding body for leadership and management qualifications. Also recognised on the students HEAR. Completed portfolios are submitted to the personal tutor who signs it off pending the result of their main award. See: http://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2013/jan/22/student-development-university-curriculum-design Greenwich Connect: a joined up approach to employability in a digital world Greenwich Connect is the Universities approach to learning innovation in a digital world which joins-up strategies and practices for teaching, learning, employability and digital literacies. It works with projects that support the creation and growth of networks and connections between learners, graduates, faculty, peers, research and community. One example of a project within Greenwich Connect is a virtual law clinic – a specialist web-based case advice system developed by students. Any member of the public can submit a query using the secure web form, and is assessed for suitability by an academic and law professional. The query is then assigned to a bank of volunteer law students / and academics and profs that are working pro-bono. Tools are used to facilitate asynchronous and synchronous working to find a solution. Once draft advice has been approved it is shared back through the website. Every study writes a reflective blog of her experiences of working on the case. All information and communication is retained to grow the knowledgebase.
- #11 Go to ‘View’ menu > ‘Header and Footer…’ to edit the footers on this slide (click ‘Apply’ to change only the currently selected slide, or ‘Apply to All’ to change the footers on all slides).
- #31 provision of advice by students/staff to employers problem-solving employer issues match-making (e.g. alumni mentors) mentoring (e.g. alumni, employer mentoring of students) development of knowledge-bases e.g. for employers and professional / sector areas crowd-voting to support identification of and ideas generation for shared problems professional / discipline communities of practice
- #33 Jisc has been working to enhance employability through technology for many years, and if you’re interested in finding out more here are some suggestions of where to find out more. Just to note, the e-portfolio links have been archived and new pages are currently in development– get in touch with me to find out more and I can share the new links when they are live. Recent implementation toolkit and accompanying video case studies. Students as agents of change – evidenced these opportunities as being key for the devt of employability skills. Dig lit programme – range of learning points around digit lits and employability Guidance on redesigning assessments to ensure they are ‘work-integrated’, and discussion of the importance of developing learners self-regulation. Curriculum design explored how to better design courses with employers views at the fore and flexible provision provided for. Our LLL programme explored how to ensure learners can access education at all stages of life, including whilst in the workplace.
- #35 And finally just a reminder of how to get int ouch with any further comments. Follow the blog too to hear about new developments – and please do continue to add to the googledocs with any further thoughts.
- #36 Before we move onto more questions – I wanted to just highlight that this isn’t just an area for Jisc alone, we have been working in collaboration with other agencies including the Higher Education Academy and Centre for Recording Achievement, and we’ll be bringing a group together in May to discuss the findings before we report . I wanted to highlight a couple of key initiatives that might be of interest. The HEA is currently running an embedding employability strategic enhancement programme and are working with 37 HE institutions using their employability framework. This work is due to complete at the end of July and findings will be shared after that date. The Centre for Recroding Achievement and AGCAS are also running an event in June focusing on ‘Presenting yourself for the 21st Century’, you can register from the link in the slide.