Pedagogy for employability - Higher Education Academy

The futures programme team have developed a set of over 70 modules, ‘mini-modules’ and
workshops addressing all aspects of the EDP. These learning opportunities are offered in
a variety of formats to allow students to fit them more easily into their study programme.
Examples include:
- Presenting with the X factor; - Writing reflectively;
- Kick-start your career; - Emotional intelligence;
- The language of work; - Writing for websites;
- I’m the one (you’re looking for); - Self-presentation and impression management
in the recruitment process.
This list of topics is being increased by staff across the University who are able to offer topics
in their specialist area; for example, mentoring, ICT skills and volunteering.
The futures award
The various learning elements of the futures programme can be combined into an agreed
study programme through a credit system. This enables students to gain the futures award,
a second qualification they can pursue in addition to their undergraduate degree. To achieve
this, students must complete an assessment for each element. Employers are engaged as judges
and advisers, sometimes delivering workshops. Academic staff working in teams undertake
regular programme evaluations, reflecting upon progress and considering opportunities for
improvement.
Feedback from students and employers shows that the approach meets many of their
needs. Students engage with the learning because they select their programme based upon
their recognition of their own development needs. Course teams recognise the advantages
for students who are able to augment their existing study programme with high quality
employability learning. futures staff are also working with course teams to incorporate
customised study units into degree programmes. Employers recognise that the topics
addressed seek to develop graduate attributes they need. Employers and students alike
appreciate the way employability learning is presented in different formats and particularly the
flexibility that allows small study units to be combined into a coherent programme.
For more information contact David Bagley: dbagley@uclan.ac.uk.
The related issue of enhancing employability through industry recognition and endorsement of
degrees is sometimes dealt with within these awards, and sometimes identified through separate
professional recognition arrangements. Where there are established professional bodies,
practitioners have a clear remit to include the necessary professional requirements within course
materials as part of the validation process, and developing employability is long established within
many directly vocational qualifications. What is important to remember is that these vocationally led
courses also have students who need to understand and to be able to articulate their learning in the
longer-term as they develop, and may change, their career pathways. Indeed, their intended career
pathways may evolve or disappear with changing local, national and global economic circumstances.
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