Engaging with Problem Based Learning: Project LeAP
University of Leicester
PBL Summer Workshop 2014
Developing employability attributes by using
consultancy projects as a form of problem-based
learning in degree programmes
Dr Simon O’Leary
Principal Lecturer, Regent’s University London
Tuesday 8th July 2014
“Do graduates want employability-related
support and do PBL-style approaches help
develop graduate employability?”
Based on research into:
• Graduate employability.
• Education via PBL-style approaches.
The premise …..
• Gap opening up …
Global
developments
Employer
needs
Widening
gap?
Graduate
capabilities
The premise …..
• Gap opening up …
Global
developments
Employer
needs
Widening
gap?
Graduate
capabilities
The significance ….
• 2014: UK government all-party
parliamentary group report “An
Education System fit for an
Entrepreneur”
* Student loans to
cover costs of
higher education
• Priority theme for the Higher Education
Academy HEA and Higher Education
Funding Council England HEFCE
* National Student
Survey
• Numerous journal papers over the last
decade in Studies in Higher Education,
International Journal of Human Resource
Management, Education and Training
and many others.
* Teaching and
research
• HE as an
investment
• Student views
increasingly
important
• Balance
between the two
under review
What is employability ….. ?
• A widely accepted definition of employability has been
given by the Higher Education Academy (2012):
 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.
Selected highlights:
…. chosen occupation …
…. more likely …
…. breadth of stakeholders …
What is education via PBL ….. ?
• Can apply to any subject discipline
• Understanding of how to apply the knowledge, skills,
capabilities and experiences accrued during a degree
programme, in the world of work
• Applies across the spectrum, from established
organisations to new start-ups in the private, public and
third-sectors:
 To survive and prosper, established large organisations are
constantly evolving and finding new ways to do things
 Medium and smaller size organisations may need to act even
quicker
What is involved in consultancy projects ….. ?
How?
When?
Why?
Who?
What?
Where?
Living in the present …..
• A kaleidoscope of change for today’s graduates ….
Emerging economies
Alternative energies
Innovation
Financial crises
Genetics
Natural resources
Information sources
Communications …..
Background …..
1. Survey.
2. Literature.
3. Issues.
Survey:
• Over 100 graduates:
 Variety of disciplines: Sciences, Humanities,
Engineering, Social Sciences
 Era (pre-1980s, post-1980s and post-2000)
 Gender
•Experiences:
 Support, content and delivery of employability
related matters during undergraduate degrees.
• Views:
 How best to provide such support and its
potential impact.
Survey highlights
Benefits:
• Top: Better understanding of employer needs.
Delivery:
• Since 2000, more employability-related support overall.
• Tends now to be mainly from careers services and
external speakers rather than departmental staff.
Disciplines:
• Engineering use business, management and external
speakers.
• Sciences appear to rely on careers services.
• Humanities could do more in this area.
Graduate survey
60
50
40
Employability as
an aim for
undergraduate
degrees?
30
20
10
0
Not
Yes, but Yes, well
directly optional managed
Employability to be
included in your degree
programme?
Sciences
Concentrate
on subject
Yes, but
optional
Humanities
Yes, and well
managed
Employability to be
included in your degree
programme?
Engineering
Concentrate
on subject
Yes, but
optional
Social Sciences
Yes, and well
managed
Employability to be
included in your degree
programme?
Recent graduates
Concentrate
on subject
Yes, but
optional
Yes, and well
managed
Employability to be
included in your degree
programme?
Older graduates
Concentrate
on subject
Yes, but
optional
Yes, and well
managed
Employability to be
included in your degree
programme?
Male
Concentrate
on subject
Yes, but
optional
Yes, and well
managed
Employability to be
included in your degree
programme?
Female
Concentrate
on subject
Yes, but
optional
Yes, and well
managed
Employability benefits …. using the 3C’s
Content
Accumulation of relevant hand-on
knowledge and networks ….
Capability
Direct application in a relevant employer
context ….
Character
Work alone and in teams …..
O'Leary, S. (2012), Using entrepreneurship to enhance the employability of scientists and engineers, 1st Annual Conference on
Aiming for Excellence in Science Technology Engineering & Mathematics STEM Learning and Teaching, Imperial College London
& The Royal Geographical Society, Higher Education Academy. http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/stem-conference/physical-sciences
O’Leary, S. (2012), Impact of Entrepreneurship Teaching in Higher Education on the Employability of Scientists and Engineers,
Industry and Higher Education Journal, Vol.26, No.6, pp.431-442.
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ip/ihe/2012/00000026/00000006/art00003
Equation of Employability
e = 3c.i
• Factor ‘e’ is the employability index.
• c factors: c1 content, c2 capability, c3 character.
• Factor ‘i’ is the suitability of the identified role.
O’Leary, S. (2013), Collaborations in Higher Education with Employers and Their Influence on Graduate Employability: An
Institutional Project, HEA Journal Enhancing Learning in the Social Sciences, 5(1), 37-50.
http://journals.heacademy.ac.uk/doi/pdf/10.11120/elss.2013.05010037
O’Leary, S. (2013), Scottish Higher Education Enhancement Committee Taught Postgraduate Student Experience Research
Case Study, Enhancement and Innovation in HE International Conference, Glasgow.
http://www.enhancementthemes.ac.uk/sheec/learning-from-international-practice/taught-postgraduate-student-experience
Employability Strategy Matrix model
Overall
rating of
content,
capability and
character, 3c
High
(13-27)
Good
applicant:
May be more
suitable roles.
e = 13-27
Very good fit:
Demonstrate
how your
assets apply.
e = 26-54
Excellent fit:
Network for
openings.
e = 39-81
Medium
(4-12)
Potential
applicant:
Also consider
other roles.
e = 4-12
Good
potential:
Highlight all
round ability.
e = 8-24
Good fit:
Focus on
strengths for
the role.
e = 12-36
Development Development
priority:
zone:
Improve low c Improve low c
factors.
factors.
e = 1-3
e = 2-6
Potential fit:
Need to
develop low
c factors.
e = 3-9
Low
(1-3)
Low (1)
Medium (2)
High (3)
Suitability of an identified role, i
The Employability Strategy Matrix is based on the Equation of Employability e=3c.i, where
e is the employability index, and the c factors (content, capability and character) of the
participant are assessed against the suitability of an identified (i) role.
Consultancy Projects as form of PBL
Dissertation Report
15,000 words
Consultancy Project
10,000 words report
2,000 reflective report
Presentation 30 minutes
Individual student
Student team
Supervisor
Supervisor & Client
Research format
Research/business format
Examples of employability-related quotes made in
PBL-style reflective reports
1. “… essential contribution for my future career …”
2. “…very good practical experience … enhance my skills … transferable skills ...”
3. “… helped me improve my skills …”
4. “… stepped out of my comfort zone, and feel it has provided me with more
confidence to enter the job market.”
5. “I learned so much through this project. It is because of this opportunity that I feel
even more excited … working in this sector in the future.”
6. “… I feel more confident about my qualifications … greatest part of the
programme.”
7.
“ … my communication, interpersonal and organisational skills improved
massively during this exciting . I feel very good about my future career after
having worked with real luxury brand managers …”
8.
“ … the things which you would never be able to find out in a book …”
9.
“ … project was both enjoyable and challenging at the same time … what
ultimately matters is that everybody wants to learn and grow.”
10. “ … one of the best decisions I have ever made … enabled me to focus on what
I do best and what I am interested in.”
11. “… first-hand experience of working with a company …”
12. “… I consider this assignment very important for my future career …”
13. “… chance to meet very interesting people … helpful for my own brand in the
future …”
14. “… apply my newly gained knowledge to real world issues … gained valuable
contacts and experience for my future career.”
Issues:
• Embedding PBL into the curriculum.
• Delivery via blend of academics and professionals.
• Cross-faculty working.
• Finding PBL opportunities.
• Working in groups, teams and as individuals.
• Output; reports and presentations