Many colleges and universities recognise they need to adopt a whole-institution approach to equip students with the skills, confidence and experience they need for the modern workplace. This workshop will showcase current practice from colleges and universities that are realising the benefits of working with students as active partners in strategy development and change initiatives. It will also explore how technology is supporting students in gaining the digital skills they need to effectively communicate, influence and engage with employers.

1. Welcome

2. Working in partnership to develop
students’ employability

3. Presenters
»Sarah Knight
Senior Co design manager, Student experience, Jisc
»James Kieft
Group learning and development manager, Activate Learning
»Peter Chatterton
Educational consultant, Daedalus e-World
2/03/2016 Working with students to make the most of digital

4. Context: employability
“Businesses look first and foremost for
graduates with the right attitudes and
aptitudes to enable them to be effective in
the workplace – nearly nine in ten employers
(89%) value these above factors such as
degree subject (62%)”
CBI/Pearson Education and Skills Survey 2015
(CBI / Pearson, 2015)
“Managers, entrepreneurs, and business
executives must have e-competences to
grow, export and be connected to the global
digital markets. In a digital economy,
e-leadership skills are essential.”
Michel Catinat, Head of Unit ’Key EnablingTechnologies
and ICT’” at DG Enterprise and Industry, European
Commission (European Commission, 2015)
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5. Context: employability
» Technology for employability report
http://bit.ly/employabilityproject
Also:
» Technology for HEAR project:
http://employabilityproject.jiscinvolve.org
» e-Portfolios
www.jisc.ac.uk/guides/getting-started-with-e-portfolios
» Assessment and employability http://bit.ly/jisc-assess
» e-Portfolios and assessment case studies (2008):
http://bit.ly/1PMa72T
» Digital Literacies http://jisc.ac.uk/guides/developing-digital-literacies
» Curriculum Design http://bit.ly/jisccdd
» Lifelong Learning and Workforce Development
http://repository.jisc.ac.uk/5993
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6. Context: student-staff partnerships
as:
» change agents
» resource creators
» experts / advisors
» researchers
» mentors (students and staff)
» trainers (staff and peers)
» evaluators/reviewers
Students, working in partnership
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7. Context: student-staff partnerships
» Face-to-face networking activities
» CAN monthly webinar series
» CAN case studies http://bit.ly/Cancasestudies
» Student partnership toolkit
http://bit.ly/jisc-partnership
» Journal of Educational Innovation, Partnership and
Change http://bit.ly/CANjiscjournal
» SEDA accredited Jisc Institutional Change Leader
course
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http://can.jiscinvolve.org @CANagogy

8. Context: student-staff partnerships
» Student technology solutions to improve
education, research and student life
› jisc.ac.uk/rd/projects/summer-of-
student-innovation
» Examples:
› https://potential.ly/
› https://www.callforparticipants.com/
› https://elevator.jisc.ac.uk/e/4-
apprentices-ideas
Summer of Student Innovation
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9. Context: student-staff–employer partnerships
» Working on real employer problems
» Mentoring students
» Programme design and delivery
» Examples:
› Mission employable (University of
Southampton)
› https://journals.gre.ac.uk/index.php/st
udentchangeagents/article/view/207
Extending student-staff partnerships to include employers/alumni
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10. Discussion
» What is the key challenge you face with
employability in your context?
» How are you using technology to address this?
» Feedback using:
› http://padlet.com/sarahknight/employability
› Or Send a text to 0207 183 8329 starting with
digiQ1
› NOTE - if you don’t start the text with digi it
won’t go to our inbox
2/03/2016 Working with students to make the most of digital

11. HE case studies
» Co-curricula experiential learning: final year UG arts students
» Learning outcomes set – include employability
» Students design learning activities and plan how learning outcomes will be evidenced
» No formal lectures – supervisory model with induction workshops
» e-Portfolio used for reflecting, dialogue, evidence, show-casing
» http://repository.jisc.ac.uk/6317/
Student-Led Individually Created Courses
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12. HE case studies
» Created content for a compulsory UG employability module (yr 1)
» Developed/launched the “Mission Employable” brand, an alumni network and external
advisory board
» Developed a faculty-wide peer mentoring scheme to support new students and to
develop student mentoring skills
» Development of a reflective tool for use by students
» Research and evaluation
Humanities students driving change to enhance employability
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“Mission employable”
Knowing, growing and showing the skills for career success

13. HE case studies
» Contributed towards a university wide initiative (OPUS) to showcase curricula, co-
curricular and extra-curricular activities and demonstrate student employability
» Using a range of social and multi-media technologies
» http://repository.jisc.ac.uk/6318/
Humanities students driving change to enhance employability
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“Mission employable”
Knowing, growing and showing the skills for career success

14. FE and Skills case studies
» http://bit.ly/1KpTuwZ
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15. Aligning technology with the
world of work.
@James_Kieft

16. Moving away from traditional VLE
VLE did not align with the way students used technology
Move towards browser based technology
@James_Kieft

17. Some of the benefits
Better reflected the modern way of working
Prepared students more effectively for the workplace.
Accessible anytime, anywhere any, device
@James_Kieft

18. Some of the challenges
Upskilling of staff and students
Change in mindset required in relation to how they
approached using technology and their willingness to
share.
@James_Kieft

19. Use of G+ communities
Extending Learning conversations beyond the classroom.
Safe space to develop professional use of social media.
Learners able to contribute the curriculum.
@James_Kieft

20. Use Google Hangouts
Highlighting the opportunities of video conferencing
Enabling learners opportunities to connect with other learners
and employers from around the world.
A platform for aiding them showcasing their skills
@James_Kieft

21. Working collaboratively with employers
BP worked with students on a live project in addition to
coming in and facilitating sessions they also contributed
feedback and support via Google + community.
@James_Kieft

22. Working with employers to shape the curriculum
Siemens Magnet Technology are working with staff and
students to highlight the importance of maths and its
relevance in being successful in a variety of careers.
@James_Kieft

23. FE and Skills case studies
2/03/2016 Working with students to make the most of digital
» http://repository.jisc.ac.uk/6320/

24. FE case studies
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» http://repository.jisc.ac.uk/6319/

25. Discussion
» From these examples of practice, what would
work for you in your context?
» Feedback using:
› http://padlet.com/sarahknight/employability
› Or Send a text to 0207 183 8329 starting with
digiQ2
› NOTE - if you don’t start the text with digi, it
won’t go to our inbox
2/03/2016 Working with students to make the most of digital

26. Jisc/NUS benchmarking the student digital experience tool http://bit.ly/digstudentbenchmark
2/03/2016 Working with students to make the most of digital
Jisc support for institutions: Developing students’
employability through technology and partnerships

27. Developing successful student-staff partnerships guide
jisc.ac.uk/guides/developing-successful-student-staff-partnerships
2/03/2016 Working with students to make the most of digital
Jisc support for institutions: Developing students’
employability through technology and partnerships

28. » Report: http://bit.ly/employabilityproject
› 20 case studies + vignettes (HE/FE/skills)
› Challenges
› 5 dimensional model – technology for employability
› Guidance:
– programme teams
– institutions
› Recommendations for sector bodies
» Blog: http://employabilityproject.jiscinvolve.org
Technology for Employability
2/03/2016 Working with students to make the most of digital
Jisc support for institutions: Developing students’
employability through technology and partnerships

29. 5 dimensions of using technology for employability
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Technology-
enhanced
authentic and
simulated learning
experiences
Technology-
enhanced lifelong
learning and
employability
Digital
communications
and engagement
with employers
Technology-
enhanced
employability skills
development
Employer-focused
digital literacy
development
Connected
curricula
Employer
engagement
Student personal,
professional and
academic
development
+

30. Enhancing the student digital experience
» Updated online guide available from:
http://bit.ly/digitalstudentguide
» Over 100 exemplars from HE and FE and
Skills on enhancing learners’ digital
experiences
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31. jisc.ac.uk
Except where otherwise noted, this work
is licensed under CC-BY-NC-ND
Contact
Sarah Knight
Senior Co design manager, Student experience
sarah.knight@jisc.ac.uk
Further info
2/03/2016 Working with students to make the most of digital

32. Keep the conversation going
»Your account manager
»Expert teams
»Social media - #digifest16 and @jisc
»Coming soon… Connect more… 7 regional practitioner
events… between May and July 2o16
»… and don’t forget your evaluation

33. Thanks
We’ve enjoyed Digifest 2016; and we hope you have too