Approaches to Employer Engagement

An Institutional Response

An Institutional Response to Employer Engagement

Kingston University

Deborah LockExecutive Director, Enterprise

Overview of session

• Employer engagement business imperative• Institutional response• Key challenges• Next steps for KU• Next steps for you – the workshop element!

Employer engagement business imperative

• Very successful institution, 10 years of growth now on the cusp of X lean years

• Competitive edge not looking quite as competitive as it once was – perhaps a little bit frowsy on the edges

• Locking down of the ASNs for the next couple of years• Internal systems & processes outdated and fragmented• Benevolent leadership style under-pressure

• Leading through times of immense change requires directive but inclusive leadership

• Geographical advantage becoming increasing apparent• Innovation & higher level skills development to soften the impact of the

credit crunch and increase the UK’s competitive edge

• If we do not act now, we will ‘miss the boat’

Key challenges

• Agreeing meaning• Getting buy-in

• Identifying the ‘what’s new factor’ in an institution with a track record in professional education

• Embedding employer engagement within the core strands of university activity

ResearchTeaching & Learning

Enterprise

How to apply new knowledge? How to determine future needs?

Teaching & LearningResearch & enterprise Comprehensive

Engagement =Wide reaching &

sustainable Knowledge Exchange

UsersUniversity

The KU Employer-Engagement cycle

Employers

Institutional response1. Management structure

2. Infrastructure

3. Behavioural / cultural shift

4. 3 x C’s approach adopted • Clarify

The offering - what success looks like for the employer & the institution

• Connectivity Who is responsible for what and are all parties that should be

talking to each other talking and sharing knowledge

• Consistency All students, employers should have the same experience when

dealing with the University e.g business engagement protocols / behaviours, CRM, key account management plans

Business Engagement Network

Business Engagement

Network Enterprise

Support Services

Careers &

Employability

Workforce Development

Innoversity

External Affairs

Faculties Knowledge Transfer

Strategic Alliance Development

Student enterprise STEP; LIPP,

placements

Joint projects & innovations

Enhanced Student - Business

Engagement

EE & higher level skills

development

Workshop questions

1. What are the structures that enable HE to play an effective role in the skills agenda?

1. Are HE systems mature enough to address the needs of successful employer engagement

2. What skills are necessary within the institution to support an employer-led curriculum?

3. What are the main barriers to effective employer engagement in your own institutions and how should these be addressed?

4. How do the enterprise & employer engagement agendas complement each other, and how does this influence the institutional structure?

5. How should HEIs measure their employer engagement interaction?

Approaches to Employer Engagement

An Institutional Response