Sixth Annual University of Sheffield
Learning and Teaching Conference
2012: Progress Since 2011
Welcome to the Conference Plenary
• Live feed to B81 and B79
• Tweet about the plenary: #UOSLTC12
• Please fill out the evaluation sheets in your
packs and leave them on your way out
17/07/2016 © The University of Sheffield
2012: Progress Since 2011
Discover and Understand
Louise Woodcock, Head of Learning & Teaching
Services
Employability
Elena Rodriguez-Falcon, Director of Enterprise
Education
Flexibility in the Academic Year / Higher Education
Achievement Record
Paul White, PVC Learning & Teaching
Internationalisation
Gavin Douglas, Head of Student Recruitment,
Admissions and International Relations
Student
Skills and Development Centre "301“
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Discover and Understand
Louise Woodcock
Head of Learning & Teaching Services
Employability Strategy
Elena Rodriguez-Falcon
Director of Enterprise Education
Group members
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Strategy development
The process so far
Next steps
• Agreement on a
definition of
Employability.
• Finalise Employability
Strategy.
• Consultation on
current good practice
in departments.
• Initial draft based on
consultation
outcomes.
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• Seek UEB
endorsement.
• Broader approval.
• Dissemination of
strategy.
• Implementation and
evaluation.
Employability @ TUOS
• “A set of achievements, skills,
understanding and personal
attributes that make them more
likely to gain employment, be
successful in their chosen
occupations and become
active citizens”
(Derived from the HEA’s definition)
17/07/2016 © The University of Sheffield
Some points from the strategy
• Develop opportunities within the curriculum for
students to use their skills in practical contexts.
• Support opportunities outside the curriculum to
gain work experience and to participate in
volunteering initiatives.
• Encourage students to take up opportunities to
develop specific employment skills.
• Etc.
17/07/2016 © The University of Sheffield
Why is this important?
• To help our students find a place in society.
• To help them acquire, reflect on, articulate and
record their skills.
• To achieve a basic employability offer across the
university through Careers Service and
departments for specific career skills
development.
• Also in the context of 2012, HEAR and KIS.
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• “It’s about employability and not about
getting a job. If you know what your
employability skills are, then you may be
able to decide what job you want to have”
Professor Mike Braddick
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Flexibility in the Academic
Year
Professor Paul White
Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Learning &
Teaching
Why seek to increase flexibility?
• There are many more things
we want our students to be
able to experience, beyond
their courses
• The system we moved to in
1994 is perceived in many
places as too rigid
• Departments and faculties are
looking at new ways of
delivering activities
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Discussions so far:
• No one wants major upheaval, but …
• ,,, everyone has suggestions for change
• Question whether all years need to work to the
same timetable
• General view that Christmas break + S1 exam
period is too long
• But problems identified over dual students
NEXT STEPS
Setting up a Task and Finish Group
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Higher Education Achievement
Report (HEAR)
Professor Paul White
Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Learning &
Teaching
Steering Group
Plus Francine Lindley, Marcus Zientek, Anne Rogers
What is it?
•
•
A record of achievement in academic work – degree
and modules
A record of achievement in extra-curricular activity
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Why do it?
• National recommendation from a committee
headed by Sir Bob Burgess
- but Sheffield is in the lead in implementation
• Employers are very supportive of its use
• It can help to drive student behaviour as well as
to record it
• We are ambitious for our students – but
academic achievement is not enough
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Isn’t degree classification
enough?
60
Degree
outcomes
(classified
degrees only)
2009/10
50
40
30
National
(HESA data)
Sheffield
20
10
0
First
Upper
Second
Lower
Second
Third
National discussions about moving from degree classifications
to Grade Point Averages – watch this space!
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Internationalisation
Gavin Douglas
Head of Recruitment, Admissions & International Relations
2012 Proposition
• Gain a truly international outlook… A
diverse mixture of people from many parts
of the UK and the world……cultural agility
to work in international settings...Sheffield
Graduates will be active and concerned
global citizens.
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Internationalisation Strategy
• Global visibility of the University and what it
stands for.
• A truly international University community.
• Promoting our research globally and enhancing
knowledge transfer opportunities internationally
• Increasing the work we do to improve the lives of
others through our international relationships,
locally and abroad.
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Achieving objectives
• Enhanced support for international
students eg
• Pre arrival
• Extra-curricular
• English language
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Achieving objectives
• An international experience for all our
students eg
• Internationalising our curricula
• Opportunities to develop a second language
• Increasing numbers on international
exchanges / placements
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Top down and bottom up
• “Faculties and departments will have
channels which we hope they will use to
bring forward planned and new activities in
support of (shared) international goals.”
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Student Skills and
Development Centre “301”
Dr Andrew West
Director, Student Services
Services & activities to help students
make the most of their learning
•Maths & statistics
•English support
•Language learning
•Skills development: study; employability; life
•IT & digital media
•Learning support & development
• And more
Sixth Annual University of Sheffield
Learning and Teaching Conference
2012: Progress Since 2011