dissemination of employability research findings - hannah mawson

© University of South Wales

Researching Graduate Employability

Dr Hannah MawsonLecturer & Employability Coordinator for Sport

What has previous research shown?

USW Graduate Employability research findings(with interactive activity!)

Considerations for further enhancing employability of students


Researching Graduate Employability

What does ‘Employability’ mean?

‘Employability is a set of achievements, skills, understandings and personal attributes that make graduates more likely to gain employment and be successful in their chosen occupations, which benefits themselves, the workforce, the community and the economy.’

Yorke (2004)


Research into Graduate Employability in Sport

Increasing priority for HEI’s to embed employability into degree courses

Despite progress in HEI’s responding to employers’ needs, the literature suggests that there is a lack of clarity and consistency in how best to promote graduate employability

Lees (2002) suggest there is little common understanding of student employability between employers and HEI’s, as employers tend to view generic skills as more important than the academic content (and academics vice versa)

Still a contemporary issue according to Cranmer (2006) and Lowden et al. (2011)



Research suggests that employability of students should be embedded into the curriculum within HEIs (e.g. Knight and York, 2002).

Approaches to employability skill development should therefore include the development of employability attributes; support in career and job-related decisions; the opportunity for placements and internships and personal development planning.

There are a number of case studies from HEIs who are experiencing some success from their approaches to employability – tends to be descriptive/anecdotal in nature.

More evaluative evidence of the impact of such approaches on graduate employability is lacking (Lowden et al., 2011).



Previous Research

University of Glasgow SCRE Centre & Edge Foundation (Lowden et al., 2011)

Aims of research – To examine the perceptions of employers concerning the skills, knowledge and characteristics which help make graduates employable.

Examine approaches to student employability within HEIs



Previous ResearchKey findings –

There is a broad understanding of what is meant by the term ‘employability’ and the general skills and characteristics that constitute employability.

Employers identify that students/graduates require industry specific knowledge, but broader skills such as communication, team-working, leadership, critical thinking are essential.

Overwhelming evidence that employers, graduates, students and HEI’s all value work-based learning opportunities such as placements and internships in improving and promoting employability

However, efforts to address graduate employability in HEI’s is extremely variable (and in some cases unknown)



Current Research

University of Gloucestershire –

‘Employability of Graduates of Sport’ project working with HEIs across Europe to create a ‘toolkit’ for enhancing student employability and share good practice.

www.egsproject.eu



http://www.egsproject.eu/

USW Sport Research

Keen to evaluate current approach to employability and gain views and perceptions of employers, with regards to the employability of our students.

Given the lack of evaluative research – need for evidence



Two components of initial research:

Surveys • Completed by 45 employers working in the sport industry in Wales• All employers attending last year’s USW Sport & Events Employability

Conference • Employers advertising opportunities for student placements therefore

supportive of the programme at USW

Employer Forum focus groups• 32 Employers attended a forum at last year’s conference• Interactive group discussion on expectations of the employer;

University and student for work-based learning placements


USW Sport Employability Research

Employers/survey respondents:

64% Male 36% Female

Majority were aged between 20 – 34 years (71%)

Attending the conference on behalf of their organisation to advertise a sport related placement to students.


USW Sport Employability Research - Employers

Sector of sport industry represented:


USW Sport Employability Research - Employers

NGB

Leisu

re

Community clu

b

LA Sport

LA other

University

Not for p

rofit s

port

School

LA O

AA

Other 0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

So – what were the employers’ perceptions of our students and how suitable they are to work in the industry?

Now for some audience participation!

To start with – some initial test questions….




Test Q 1.How did you travel here today?

1. Car2. Train3. Bus4. Cycle5. Walk6. Other


Test Q 2.Are you in the right workshop?

1. Yes2. No 3. Don’t know


Test Q 3.Rob is an Everton fan. Which

of the following is most likely?

1. Rob will want Everton to beat Man City

2. Rob will secretly want Man C to beat Everton (so Liverpool are less likely to win premiership)

3. Rob won’t be watching the game

On the survey, we asked employers from the sports sector a number of questions related to the appropriateness of skills of current students; why they are providing placement opportunities; and what placements should provide.

The next few slides you will be asked the same question and you can provide your own response, so we can compare to the actual findings


Back to the Employer research!


Q1. Why do you take a student on placement?Select 3 options

1. Nurture future employees 2. Develop someone 3. Create links with USW 4. Projects need doing5. Free resource 6. Fill gaps in workforce 7. Find talent 8. Need volunteers 9. Organisational Dev


Nurture fu

ture employees

Develop someone

Create better links w

ith USW

Projects

need doing

Free reso

urce

Fill gaps in

workforce

Find talent

Need volunteers

Organisational d

evelopment 0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

Q1. Why do you take a student on placement?


Q2. What should a placement provide to students?Select 3 options

1. Subject knowledge 2. Planning & Evaluation 3. Industry learning 4. Communication skills 5. Application of theory 6. Skills & expertise for role7. Experience real life work 8. Networking9. Employment10. Exposure to the real world


Q2. What should a placement provide to students?

Subjec

t knowled

ge

Planning &

Evalu

ation

Industry l

earning

Communication sk

ills

Applicati

on of theo

ry

Skills

& ex

pertise

for role

Experi

ence

real

life w

ork

Networki

ng

Employm

ent

Exposu

re to re

al world

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%


Q3. What skills do you think are lacking in current students?Select 3 options

1. Subject knowledge / expertise 2. Previous work experience 3. Planning & evaluation skills4. Self-direction / initiative 5. Application / Interview 6. Communication skills 7. Confidence / Attitude 8. Admin skills9. Team working10. Maturity/professionalism


Q3. What skills do you think are lacking in current students?

Subject knowledge / e

xperti

se

Previous work exp

erience

Planning & evaluation sk

ills

Self-dire

ction / i

nitiative

Application / I

nterview

Communication sk

ills

Confidence / A

ttitude

Admin skills

Team working

Maturity / p

rofessi

onalism0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

Q4. Is a relevant degree sufficient to make graduates employable?

1. Strongly Agree2. Agree3. Neutral4. Disagree5. Strongly

Disagree


Strongly Disagree

Disagree Neither Agree Strongly Agree

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

Q4. Is a relevant degree sufficient to make graduates employable?

Q5. Should sports graduates undertake a placement as part of

their degree?

1. Strongly Agree2. Agree3. Neutral4. Disagree5. Strongly Disagree


Strongly Disagree


0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

Q5. Should sports graduates undertake a placement as part of

their degree?

Q5. Sports Graduates possess enough work-experience to gain entry level jobs



Q5. Sports Graduates possess enough work-experience to gain

entry level jobs

Strongly Disagree


0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

Q6. Sports graduates have the right ‘soft’ skills (e.g. communication) to

make them employable



Q6. Sports graduates have the right ‘soft’ skills (e.g. communication) to

make them employable

Strongly Disagree


0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

Q7. Universities should provide students with other skills (e.g. customer service)



Q7. Universities should provide students with other skills (e.g.

customer service)

Strongly Disagree


0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

Q8. Students possess enough subject knowledge to be

employable in my organisation



Q8. Students possess enough subject knowledge to be

employable in my organisation

Strongly Disagree


0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

Q9. The purpose of a placement is to provide students with industry-

specific knowledge



Q9. The purpose of a placement is to provide students with industry-

specific knowledge

Strongly Disagree


0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

Q10. Students who have undertaken a placement as part of their degree

are more employable



Q10. Students who have undertaken a placement as part of their degree are more employable

Strongly Disagree


0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%


Employer Forum focus groups

Discussion groups were held with employers at last year’s forum to gain views and perspectives on a number of WBL related areas.


What training/support could USW provide you as employers to get the

most from WBL?

Coaching/mentoring qualification

An understanding of course modules that

link to student assignments

Knowledge and understanding of the course and module

being completed by the students

What do the students need to

achieve?

Peer mentoring skills and

qualifications

Training in support mechanisms i.e. mentoring etc.

Training for students on WBL e.g. coaching qualifications, work

basics (telephone skills etc.)

Regular reviews with placements -

feedback

Opportunity to discuss academic

content

Awareness of students curriculum

of studies

Course information and

expectations (module)



Are there key times (dates) where you need WBL students the most?

End of school term in order to support

the input of data for submission to Sport

Wales

October – March term-time – helps with programme

delivery

Flexible and negotiable!

Flexible – Sports Development is not

9 – 5!

During school term – Time to develop and deliver 5x60

programme

Flexible – school terms & holidays

Summer placement Tennis season –

peak interest from public

Fixed timetable or day where students will be available so that a programme can be organised with current staff



What core skills are most important for WBL

students?

Communication – Internal & external

Reliable and passionate

Interest and ambition

Commitment

Motivation and self drive

Effective communication

Communication

Communications through a variety of

sources

Motivation

Communication and motivation

Adaptability and communication

Marketing skill & experience Initiative

Interest in the areaGood

communication skills

Work basic skills ie. Telephone manner

Time management

Financial / big picture awareness



What is the value of this conference to you as employers?

Ideas from other employers in

terms of placement

projects

Great opportunity to find a new

valued employee

Networking with other employers

Opportunity to promote our organisation

Access to students with a view to it

being an informal interview

To identify potential

workforce / employees

Learn about how a student values a

placement

To find out how we can improve placements for future students

Considerations moving forward….

- Whose role is it help students develop certain employability skills?

- Are there some skills that neither HE or employer can teach?- Maintaining and enhancing quality assurance as employability

programme grows- Continuing to bridge the gap between academic degree and

gaining employment in an increasingly competitive market – common understanding of ‘student employability’

- University’s role in clarifying expectations of working in the industry

- Selective about which employers – maintaining high standards- Supporting those students who want to develop- Further research to be undertaken



Any questions / comments?



dissemination of employability research findings - hannah mawson

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