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