Extra Curricular Skills Programmes and Work Experience

Phil Gibson, Southampton Institute

Susan Reed, Loughborough University

Peter Ireland, University Central England

Workshop Plan

Pilot Projects - Southampton Institute, Loughborough & UCE

Our Motivations Getting People Involved Lessons and Futures Q & A

AGCAS/MERITS

What we did at Southampton Institute

AGCAS/MERITS – what we did at Southampton Institute Target of 35 students and graduates 12 week programme Teaching of career management

skills Involvement of employers Work placements

AGCAS/MERITS – what we did at Southampton Institute ‘Buddy’ approach Payment Careers & CV advice Log books Prizes Feedback

MERITS

What we did at Loughborough University

MERITS

Get to Work on Your Career Loughborough University Careers Service

AIM: To enhance the employability of black and Asian undergraduates.

KEY AREAS

1. Work Experience

2. Skills Launch Course

3. Employer Visits; local SME’s

UCE Pilot - Engaging SME’s in Minority Ethnic Work Experience

15 SME Work Experience Placements Establishing Brokerage Practice 5 Alumni Mentoring Relationships Development of Support Materials Production of Work Experience Web Site Commitment to Track Students

AGCAS/MERITS why we did what we did FDS High % of ethnic minority students Experience and research A chance to improve work with

employers

AGCAS/MERITS why we did what we did A chance to explore the delicate issue

of positive action Conferences Champions

MERITS

Securing Student Involvement Target ethnic minority students

Enhance employment prospects

Include experience on a CV

Industrial placements

Placements with blue chip companies

Payment

Food

MERITS

Securing Employer Involvement Established links

Host organisations for previous schemes

Employers with vacancies

Employers on Careers Service Board

Alumni

Personal contacts

Creative networking

MERITS

Securing Employer Involvement Establish links with the Careers Service

The business case

Keen to develop a diverse workforce

Chance to enable them to hit targets

Goodwill

Potential future recruits

MERITS

Securing Employer Involvement Issues Raised: Timing

Time consuming

Tailor made approach

Selective employers

Lack of flexibility

Students want blue chip companies

IT placements difficult

Employers want to be inclusive

MERITS

Securing Institutional Involvement Equal opps. A strategic objective

‘Careers’ in the Mission and Vision

Impact on graduate employment

Existence of champions

Kudos

Raise the profile of the Careers Service/University

Lessons and Futures

Will Examine :

Our Learning

Impact of the Pilots

Sustainability

Our Learning

Differences in student demand Clear difference in attitudes between large

companies and SMEs Flexibility required to recruit employers Preparation time needed is substantial Have confidence in discussing diversity

issues

Impact

Careers Service profile with employers and Uni. - Pilots addressed widening participation and employability

Strategic employer/HE body on diversity Students acquired further experience Staff developed skills and confidence Profile with DfES Students improved confidence in

employability

Sustainability

Products, systems, web site Skills and confidence of participating staff

and students Good will of satisfied employer Work experience (esp.with SMEs) is a

resource intensive activity UCE secured funding to continue work