Approaches to Employer Engagement

A Partnership Approach to Employer Engagement

Helen Dewhurst, Leap Ahead Lifelong Learning Network for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire

A Partnership Approach to Employer Engagement

Partnership fdf Employers – TUI UK, BIA and over 50 others 8 (5) HEIs

Bedfordshire University University College Birmingham University of Brighton Coventry University University of Derby University of Greenwich (Orpington College) University of Sunderland University of Wolverhampton

4 LLNs Other HEIs - ULCC The SSC, People 1st

ABTA, ITT, Tourism Society

Product National product: FdA Travel Operations

Management. Pilot 60 learners, full launch March 09.

Collaboration on development and delivery Development: curriculum design, materials,

platform Delivery: common documentation, admissions,

management and reform of processes (APEL) – efficiency and transparency

Further funding bids

Platform

Achieving sustainable employer responsive HE through partnerships

Why? Challenges• Sector wide product • Resource efficiencies• Transparent HE offer to business• Networking gains• Pooling of specialisms• Innovation

• Trust “… collaboration in curriculum development involves working with friends while cavorting with the enemy!” (Weaver et al, 1987:2) • QA• Competition v partnership• “We can do that” v reality• Timescales• Group work!• Resources• Culture change

Does it/should it look like this?

Learner

ProviderEmployer

Bibliography

Foskett, R. (2005) Collaborative partnership between HE and employers: a study of workforce development. Journal of Further and Higher Education. 29(3): 251-264.

Harvey, M. (2007) “The changing power balance between learners, universities and work contexts”. 28-35. IN D. Young and J. Garnett (2007) Work Based Learning Futures. Proceedings from the Work Based Learning Conference, Buxton, April.

HEFCE (2008) “Quality assurance and employer engagement in HE learning”. Bristol: HEFCE. September.

Weaver, R.A., Coester, R.J. and McInosh, D. (1987) Collaboration in curriculum development: a case study. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the American Educational Research Association, Washington DC.

Approaches to Employer Engagement

A Partnership Approach to Employer Engagement