An Enquiry Based Approach to

Employability

Joan Cartledge – Development & Learning Consultant

Sarah Jeffries – Personal Skills Award Manager

Enquiry Based Learning

• Active participants in own learning

• Equipped with tools to learn

• Developing Transferable Skills

• Fostering learner independence

• Promote philosophy of lifelong learning

Enquiry Based Employability

• Participation in work based and voluntary activities

• Skills Development through activities

• Self Reflection - >>Progress>>

• Focus on process of ongoing professional development

>>Progress>>

Modular Pathway

Take three accredited skills modules

The Personal Skills Award

Two ways of achieving the Award:Two ways of achieving the Award:Two ways of achieving the Award:

Activity Pathway

Participation in extra-curricular activities

The Personal Skills Award

1) Modular Pathway

Employability and Professional Development Skills (compulsory module)

• 2 lectures focusing on Employability and Reflective Practice

• Practical Engagement in work or voluntary activity

• Reflection on skills development using >>Progress>>

• Assignment requires both use of reflective cycles and ability to represent skills developed to an graduate employer.

The Personal Skills Award

2) Activity Pathway

• Recognition of work based and voluntary activities

• Participation in Employability Skills Workshop

• Reflection on skills developed through activities using >>Progress>>

• Successful completion of competency based application process

Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS)

• Developmental model of peer support• Student to student support scheme• Weekly sessions facilitated by trained student leaders • PASS offers a safe place to help students:

• Adjust quickly to University life• Improve their study habits• Enhance their understanding through collaborative learning• Enhance their awareness of course direction and expectations

• Content is based on course materials and PASS leaders are engaged in sharing their experience and facilitating discussions

PASS is successful because it is discipline-owned and student-led.

Honey Pot Award

• Scheme to provide financial support for low or unpaid work experience placements.

• Application and Interview process.• Report • Reflection on Employability Skills developed• Case Study

ADEPT

• Service developed and delivered by Doctoral Researchers (DR’s)

• Focus on career development

• Self and skills development key feature

• Reflection on learning on real life work experience context

SPEED

• Programme moves students beyond enquiry based learning to ‘extreme learning’.

• Has been run in 14 HE institutions• Entrepreneurial learning experience• Participants identify a business opportunity• Participants negotiate their own support i.e. mentors,

advice and training• Participants set up their own business• Participants learn through experience and reflection

on their experience

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