Employability Skills for Full-Time Students
Supporting placement learning
Carrie de Silva, Principal Lecturer, Harper Adams
Carrie outlined some of the developments that have been made at Harper Adams to assist students, employers and tutors to make the most from the placement period. Aspects covered include the use of a VLE, web-based support for employers, health and safety aspects, overseas placement, preparation for placement, disability and disclosure.
Carrie outlined a programme of professional development for placement staff that has been developed, through an Aspire secondment fellowship.
Learning from our American cousins on employability
Abi Smith, Head of School for Learning Services, Shrewsbury College
Abi shared the lessons learned from a recent trip to a group of community colleges in Connecticut, USA, as part of an Aspire secondment fellowship. She used a range of input from colleagues in the US, outlining approaches to developing employability skills in students, to meet the needs of the regional economy, that might export to the UK.
- Shadowing in Connecticut - Abi Smith's Blog
- International Further Education - facilitating international discussion and sharing of good practice in post compulsory education
So what do employers really want from us?
Maria Simpson, Career Advisor, Harper Adams University College
Maria gave an overview of Harper Adams' graduate recruitment. A panel of employers: Rob Seeley, HSBC Agricultural Banking Manager; Dani Shaw, MDS General Manager; Dave Gardner, Co-operative Farm Head of Business Development, then shared their views on what we should be doing to prepare our graduates for their organisations.
Aspire: as-pir', v., to aim at or strive for higher things
