The Dean’s AwardDesigning and Implementing Faculty Based Employability Workbooks

Barbara S Becker Technologies for Learning, Libraries and Learning Innovation, Leeds Beckett University

PebbleBash 2016

Leeds Beckett University

2016

-17

2012

-13

2013

-14

2015

-16

2014

-15

2011

-12

2010

-11

Pilot Project ! Production

6K L

icen

ses

Turn

itin

Dua

l Pla

tform

v3 &

v5

Dua

l Pla

tform

Cla

ssic

& v

3

Cla

ssic

5K

Lic

ense

s

Mig

rate

d to

v3

Employability

“A set of achievements – skills, understandings and personal attributes – that makes graduates more likely to gain employment and be successful in their chosen occupations, which benefits themselves, the workforce, the community and the economy.” 

Knight, P and Yorke, M. (2003) Employability and Good Learning in Higher Education Teaching in Higher Education, Vol. 8, No. 1

Graduate Attributes“A graduate attribute is an amalgamation of skills, knowledge and attitudes, built up through a student's time at university, which they are capable of articulating and demonstrating to the wider world, for example when seeking employment and when working.”Internal Guidance Document

Graduate Attributes

Enterprising

Global Outlook

Digitally Literate

Student Focus Groups

Embedded in every:

CourseLevel

Module

Current Dean’s Prize• Four Faculties across the University• Each Faculty Dean awards a number of prizes each

year: Highest Academic Achievement Outstanding Academic Progression

• Only to L6 students

In 2013-15 Employability used to be embedded in every Course curriculum using PDP modules

It started with Deb…

Scope

Faculty

School School School

Business & LawStudents: 8000Schools: 3

Faculty

School School School

Arts, Environment & TechnologyStudents: 10,500Schools: 5

School of Cultural Studies & HumanitiesStudents: 2,800

Technology AdopterGood employer engagement High levels graduate employment

‘Thinker Philosophy’‘Worker Philosophy’

Aim & ObjectivesAim:To develop employability skills and the defined graduate attributes of our students to enhance their learning experience and their employment aspirations.

Objectives:• Combine ‘soft skills’ with academic skills & engagement• Encourage academic skill development, through reflection• Co-Curricular activity with continuous support by Career

Consultants & Academics• Rewards offered for progression and achievements

Project TeamsAssociate Director: Employability & Student ProgressionFaculty Dean / Head of SchoolAcademic LeadCareers Consultants Learning Systems Advisor

Teams set up by August 2015

Pilot Launch: March 2016

Top Down

And then…

Common Design1st Touch point VLE module created for each Award Students can self-enrol on module

2nd Touch Point Module LTI Link to PebblePad (SSO)

Common Design• Students can self-enrol onto Workspace • Given guidance to ‘collect the resource’ in

module• Academic & Careers staff manually enrolled

onto workspace• Act as Approvers and mentors

Business & Law Design• PebblePad nested workbook• Three levels of achievement• Bronze – Silver – Gold not aligned to year of study• Each Award level contains 5 skill topics

Soft Skills Personal Development Social Action / Volunteering Work Experience & Preparation Academic Skills

• Tasks within each Skill separated into Essential Stretch

Business & Law Design• Students initially only see Bronze Award• Approval tools used to verify each award level• Next level is released following approval• Incentives offered to complete each level• Final Award process

Dean’s Comments Digital Badge Grand Prize!

https://v3.pebblepad.co.uk/v3portfolio/leedsbeckett/Asset/View/qrmZhG8RwrmM4yzmzczbH3fZ8Z

Cultural Studies Design• Lowest graduate employment• Low understanding of marketable employment skills• PebblePad nested workbook developed• 3 stages: Plan, Engage & Achieve• Emphasis on mapping existing skills to employment

agenda• No academic skills element to award• No corporate ‘branding’ so owned by student

https://v3.pebblepad.co.uk/v3portfolio/leedsbeckett/Asset/View/qrmZhGddrmpkjGxn3g384fbkHh

Monitoring Success PlanPotential students = 11,000Project duration = 3 years

Numerical• No of students who enrol on module and workspace• No of students who complete each level • No of students who Achieve award (target 20%)

Empirical• Student feedback via survey and follow up Focus

Group

So what happened?Business & Law• 130 Students identified for pilot• March 2016 deadline launch postponed to June 2016• Lost Academic Lead June 2016

Cultural Studies • postponed to Sept 2016• Difficulty in finalising design / text / task decisions• Requested to design ‘themselves’

University reshaping to School business units

FutureLeeds Business School• Dean of Business School on board• Redeveloping workbook in v5• Launching to L4 (1st Years) in 2nd Semester (Jan)• Incorporating video heads up from Dean/Employers• 1st Results expected Summer 2017

Cultural Studies• Revisiting• Include digital badges for core skill achievement

Thank You!