EMPLOYABILITY
Making it work in Higher National
Certificates and Diplomas
Cathy McSkimming/John Laird
Cardonald College
April2007
Employability – what is it?
• “...the combination of factors and processes which enable
people to progress towards, or get into employment, to stay in
employment and to move on in the workplace…” (Scottish
Executive 2006)
• “…the possession by an individual of the qualities and
competences required to meet the changing needs of
employers and customers and thereby help to realise his or her
aspirations and potential in work..” (CBI, 1999)
• “…a set of achievements- skills, understandings and attributes
- that make individuals more likely to gain employment and be
successful in their chosen occupations…” (Learning to Work –
SFC 2004)
Where do colleges fit in?
• Major providers of vocational
education
• Partnerships with employers and HE
• Extensive experience in delivery of
core skills
• Awareness of ‘soft skills’
• Flexibility in approach
Revised HN – the opportunities?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
More holistic assessment
Greater number of generic units
Graded Unit
SCQF levelling
Opportunities to develop Core Skills
Updating of vocational relevance
Collaboration between QDTs
Continuation of QSTs
Revised HN – the threats
• More difficult to find placements/work
experience
• Frameworks haven’t all embedded
employability at the design stage
• Staff workload
• Staff development required
• Sourcing appropriate materials
What can colleges do?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Devise a college strategy
Carry out an employability audit
Deliver staff development
Amend frameworks
Encourage innovative use of materials/units
Develop repositories of relevant materials
Raise student awareness and understanding
Think and act ‘outside the box’
EMPLOYABILITY QUIZ
TRUE or FALSE?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Students understand what employability is and what they have to
do to get and keep a job.
Work experience/placements are vital for giving students
employability skills.
Employability is about addressing the agenda of the current
government.
Employability skills are demanded by employers and are essential
to get and keep a job.
Employability has already been embedded in HN programmes.
Employers rate vocational skills higher than skills such as
communication and problem-solving.
There are no units written for HN which deliver employability skills.
Employability should be delivered through core skills.
Employability is a distraction from learning and teaching.
Employability is part of the contract between the College and the
student.
FALSE
TRUE
TRUE
TRUE
FALSE
TRUE
FALSE
FALSE
FALSE
TRUE
Carry out an employability audit e.g.
Deliver staff development e.g.
Assess Your Employability
Self Confidence
Personal
Presentation
Motivation
Enthusiasm
Attitude
Team Work
Flexibility
Reliability
Planning and Organising
Problem Solving
Writing and Numeracy
Skills
IT Skills
Raise Student Awareness e.g
Employability Skills
Encourage innovative use of materials/units e.g.
For Example…
Problem :
Work placements in your area are scarce……
Solutions might include:
•
•
•
•
•
Live projects with in-built employability
College-based simulations
Entering skills competitions
Employer briefs
Engage in voluntary/charity work or community
projects
Encourage innovative use of materials/units e.g.
For Example…
Problem :
Work experience unit doesn’t meet the needs of the
students so…adapt it to what the students need….
Solutions might include:
• Alter the timing of work experience (Xmas, Easter etc)
• Improve use of their part time employment
• Use an alternative unit (a ‘carrier’) to improve
employability
• Use voluntary or charity work
• Replace it with the PDP unit (DE3R 34)
Think outside the box e.g.
For Example…
• Focus on Learning 2 projects on employability
included:
–
–
–
–
–
a team play computer game
Life-coaching
Visualisation techniques
Training staff in EI and STEPS techniques
Videos of local employers
• Don’t be afraid to change the timetable,
attendance pattern, college year, framework,
delivery modes or assessment instruments
Finally….
The Scottish CBI came up with a one
word definition of employability.
What is it?
ATTITUDE!