Strengthening, extending and embedding employer engagement across the undergraduate STEM curriculum SW Spoke Legacy Project11th May 2012

4th Legacy Group MeetingIoP, London

Legacy project

• Each spoke has Legacy funding• Institutional project

– Long term change– Real impact across the university– Good practice in employer engagement

within:• Current undergraduate curriculum or• Workforce development

Project aimsIncrease and embed employer engagement (EE) in undergraduate STEM provision:

1. Encouraging and enabling more employers to provide ‘real world’ experiential learning for STEM students• Placements• Employer-defined collaborative projects

2. Building upon and embedding existing good practice• extending the range of ways in which EE is embedded within the ug

curriculum

3. Enabling equality of access and encouraging more students to become involved in these opportunities

Project progress: More employers• Current EE surveyed & analysed• Employer interviews• Increasing employer-access to

information on EE– hardcopy– online

• Employer networking

Project progress: Buildingand embedding• Employability skills sessions

– >150 students– TurningPoint – feedback system

• Mahara – e-portfolio• 20 alumni mentors• Industry Team Projects within

curriculum

Project progress: Buildingand embedding• Evaluating placements

– Learning objectives• Guidance document• Frameworks• 2 staff CPD workshops

Project progress: Access

• Varying opportunities available• Increasing no. opportunities• AS project lead change

– Survey extended - pre-entry; current; recently graduated disabled students

– Barriers and enablers for placements– Staff CPD

Dissemination• Internal

– Legacy group meetings– Institutional seminar 30th Jan– Staff training– Relevant committees

• External– Employability & WFD event 18th June– Linking with other projects– Sharing good practice – involving external experts– Engaging employers– Papers– www.hestem-sw.org.uk

Sustainability• Good timing• ‘Buy-in’ at all levels

– VC Group– Central Services– Faculty level– Departmental level– Placement Tutor Forum

• Building on current good practice– Working closely with relevant staff

• Staff CPD

Internal Advisory Group:Pro-Vice Chancellor for Learning & TeachingDirector for Lifelong LearningDirector, Learning & Teaching EnhancementHead of CareersHead of Student ServicesAssistant Dean, Learning & TeachingChair, Placement Tutors Forum

Thank you!

Questions?