A Handbook for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Enhancing academic and Practice

Teaching and learning for employability
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1 take effective and appropriate action;
2 explain what they are seeking to achieve;
3 live and work effectively with others, and
4 continue to learn from their experiences both as individuals and in association with
others in a diverse and changing society.
Stephenson recognises that individuals have their own specialist knowledge derived
from their degree and other experiences, but more importantly they know how to apply
that knowledge, and to acquire new knowledge. They have the aptitude to continue to
learn and to develop their skills and knowledge so as to become continuously employable.
The Australian approach in defining ‘graduate qualities’ is tailored in many university
strategies. For example, a University of South Australia graduate:
• can operate effectively with and upon a body of knowledge of sufficient depth to
begin professional practice;
• is prepared for lifelong learning in pursuit of personal development and excellence
in professional practice;
• is an effective problem-solver, capable of applying logical, critical and creative
thinking to a range of problems;
• can work both autonomously and collaboratively as a professional;
• is committed to ethical action and social responsibility as a professional and citizen;
• communicates effectively in professional practice and as a member of the community;
• demonstrates international perspectives as a professional and as a citizen.
(Curtis and McKenzie, 2001)
For further insights into the range of definitions, descriptions of practice, employability
case studies and institutional employability strategies, see Rooney et al. (2006);
Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services – AGCAS (2006, 2007); Higher
Education Academy (2007); Harris Committee (2000), and Maguire (2005).
Interrogating practice
• What are the skills and employability ambitions of your university
learning and teaching strategy and employability strategy?
• How are these institutional strategies linked to departmental practices?
OWNERSHIP OF EMPLOYABILITY
Ideally, employability is delivered by a partnership of academic staff and ‘careers’ staff
who are usually located outside departments. The status of careers staff within