Today, we delve into a crucial aspect of higher education—student employability and how we can enhance career chances for our students. As the world evolves at lightning speed, our academic approaches must be agile to meet the demands of employers and ensure our students excel in their careers.
1. A Paradigm Shift: Employability Skills Beyond Academics
It's time to embrace the changing landscape of employability. While academic excellence is vital, it's not the only ingredient for success. As educators, we must equip our students with all-round employability skills that will make them valuable assets to prospective employers.
As a student of a “wooly” subject (Politics and Philosophy) I’m well aware that my degree was designed to showcase that I can think critically and form arguments, but that doesn’t necessarily translate very well into the real-world. I can’t say that my slightly-above-average knowledge of Metaethics has really been utilized much in my professional life. It’s a common response within less vocational subjects like mine that it’s much more difficult to create opportunities to develop employability skills, but it’s precisely students doing these subjects that need as much development in these fields as possible.
My university course never once had me using Powerpoint, or excel data work, or anything other than arguing and writing essays. That is entirely unhelpful in a job market where information is at your fingertips in an instant.
If your course can’t work these skills in, then hopefully your department is offering more to students outside of the curriculum that they can work on. I cannot stress enough how important it is that you push your students to avail themselves of every single resource that is provided. If the resources aren’[t there, then this is your cure to go find them!
2. Practical Hands-On Experience: Beyond Theoretical Knowledge
It's not enough for students to know how to do something theoretically. Practical, han
ds-on experience is invaluable. Whether it's designing marketing plans, conducting research, or collaborating on projects, real-world involvement fosters confidence and reflective thinking among students.
I’ve seen some fascinating examples of developing conflict management skills and how to present. A course I worked with were recording mock meetings, with all the students playing a role within the company. Whilst there were some examples of very dodgy character acting, it highlighted that most students are wholly unprepared for that first business meeting with a C-level exec within their company. How do you manage the appropriate level of formality in those scenarios? How do you raise an objection without it getting heated?
Consider bringing in a “real-world” factor to your group presentations – it could help you create a genuine teachable moment!
3. The Agility Factor: Meeting the Needs of Evolving Industries
In the age of rapid technological advancements, our university courses must be agile. As generative AI and other technologies reshape industries, we must constantly reassess the skills we develop in our students. Staying ahead of the curve ensures our graduates are well-prepared to thrive in a dynamic job market.
I’m not going to go into the debate on AI in education here – I have other blog posts for t
hat – but it’s vital that we don’t ignore the world changing outside of the Higher Ed bubble. The skills that were prized 5 years ago (copy writing, video editing, Calculation etc) are rapidly being eroded by the ever-changing world of AI.
Don’t leave your students learning about a system that will be radically different by the time they graduate.
4. Case Study: Theory vs. Vocational Focus
Consider a comparison between Marketing students from an established Russell Group university, focused on theory and academic excellence, and those from a more vocational-oriented institution. While the elite students excel in theoretical knowledge, the employability-focused students seamlessly transition into jobs due to their practical experience. As employers ourselves, we know that practical skills matter as much as theoretical expertise in the real world.
I’ve interviewed and hired from both. I can tell you, with no doubt in my mind, that I would pick the skills-based student every single time.
I encountered a lot of institution snobbery when I first entered the job market. I didn’t go to a Russell Group Uni but it maintained a constant position in the Top Ten rankings. I had interviewers asking me “is that a real university” when I first entered the job mar
ket. And to an extent, I believed it!
I now actively recruit from “not real universities” because I know the ramp up time is so much shorter. If I’m hiring for an entry level job, I’m not influenced by how many research papers their 3rd year instructor has published (sorry!). I’m concerned about how quickly they can be helping me in their role. It’s a no-brainer for me!
5. Integrating Real-World Experience: Lessons from Research
Research supports the value of real-world experience in enhancing student employability. Students are most motivated when they engage in activities they are likely to encounter in the business world. Collaborative learning environments that encourage teamwork and interdependence lead to increased student engagement in employability pursuits.
This brings me on to the topic of authentic assessment. There’s a 5 minute tip vide
o on this on my site which I recommend watching, but a brief synopsis is:
- Try to assess your students doing tasks that will best relate to their real-world experience. Deprioritise an essay on marketing in favour of writing a Marketing Plan. Less of “can you do this equation” and more of “here’s a scenario where your manager has asked you to solve this problem”.
Conclusion: A Roadmap to Empower Success
Empowering student employability is a shared responsibility. As educators and staff, we can create a roadmap for success by blending theory with practical experience, offering opportunities for real-world exposure, and remaining agile in our curriculum design. By doing so, we nurture a generation of confident, skilled, and adaptable individuals who are ready to make their mark in their chosen careers.
In the current market of ever-increasing competition for student attention and attendance, I think the focus has already shifted to employability as being a primary draw. That being said, most universities seem to be a little slow in making the large scale changes in their approach that need to happen. Changing courses is hard, but you need to be brave and drive the change you want to see! W
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