Hi Samantha,
Nes! That is ...
No - we have not used an audit tool, but
Yes - we have embedded many aspects of employability within our curriculum. See, for example http://maths.shu.ac.uk/MSOR/2009/Skills_Waldock.pdf - 1 short 6-slide summary of the skills element of our course, used as part of a talk at last year's subject centre conference.
We are also currently involved in revalidating the BSc Mathematics degree, so are reviewing all of these issues at the moment. In terms of 'reviewing and developing skills provision' I'd be happy to talk to you about our ideas. (and you already know about the 'developing skills in Maths curricula' project).
Best wishes
Jeff
Dr Jeff Waldock
Principal Lecturer in Mathematics and Faculty Lead for Employability
Sheffield Hallam University, Department of Engineering and Mathematics,
Howard Street, Sheffield, S1 1WB
Tel: 0114 225 3279
Email: [log in to unmask]
Web: http://maths.shu.ac.uk
-----Original Message-----
From: List for UK HEI employability developers [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Samantha Pugh
Sent: 13 October 2010 12:31
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Update + Interesting research + Subject centre resources
Hello
I have recently joined this group and I am already finding it incredibly useful, so thank you.
I am currently working with the School of Mathematics on reviewing and developing skills provision, and wondered if anyone else has experience of working with Mathematics? Has anyone used an "audit tool" like the one discussed with Mathematics?
Many thanks
Samantha
Dr Samantha Pugh MRSC FHEA
Learning & Teaching Enhancement Officer
Faculty of Mathematics and Physical Sciences
School of Mathematics (Room 8.18d)
University of Leeds
Leeds LS2 9JT
(please note the change of address)
0113 34 32985
[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
www.maps.leeds.ac.uk<http://www.maps.leeds.ac.uk/>
________________________________
From: List for UK HEI employability developers [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Anna Clare Hunter [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 13 October 2010 12:25
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Update + Interesting research + Subject centre resources
Hi everyone,
I was so disappointed to miss the meeting on Monday - it sounds like it was productive!
We have developed our own employability audit tool which is (hopefully) going to be used with all the academic Schools within the university, which attempts to address graduate attributes as well as employability. The format is inspired in part by the Bioscience audit tool, although it has a qualitative rather than a quantitative focus, with the aim being to make it into a partnership exercise to be carried out between employability and subject staff, rather than an audit - hence it is called a 'mapping tool' rather than an audit tool. Ideally, employability and subject staff should sit down together with a copy of the mapping tool and the programme spec for a given degree course and work through the questions as a discursive exercise, with the aim of opening up a dialogue about employability provision. We are only just starting to use it now, but I thought I would share it (attached) in case anyone is interested in discussing further - do get in touch!
Ruth - I wonder if BCU's research on sandwich degrees might link up with some research carried out by my colleague Francesca Walker. She has been researching the significant drop in the number of students taking up sandwich placements when they have the opportunity to do them.
Hope to see you all soon!
Anna
Dr Anna Hunter
Lecturer in Employability and Enterprise
Moss Building MO104
University of Central Lancashire
Tel: 01772 893869 or ext. 3869
Email: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>>> Ruth Lawton <[log in to unmask]> 13/10/2010 09:28 >>>
Hello all
Rose makes a good point about calling it a 'Development Tool':) Like Anita my groups are usually random academics - and exactly as Rose and Anita say it is a great tool for identifying and sharing existing practice and identifying some future actions. I leave the point scoring down to the individuals preference to do that or not. Although I have often been told that we should not use the word 'audit' I have never encountered a problem with it - maybe because it is introduced as something useful for generating ideas rather than punitive or accounting.
We did also try using it as a pilot survey tool of what was going on in across the university but not particularly successfully (that was not the audits fault!)
I did ask a few years ago if I could adapt it and they were fine with that as long as I acknowledged the source so I am sure that will apply to all of you
Best wishes all
Ruth
Ruth Lawton
University Teaching Fellow for Employability
Centre for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching
Birmingham City University
0121 331 5126
http://www.bcu.ac.uk/futureproof
http://www.bcu.ac.uk/celt/employability-personal-development
From: List for UK HEI employability developers [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Norcott, Anita
Sent: 13 October 2010 09:12
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Update + Interesting research + Subject centre resources
Hello all
Like Rose, am sorry not to have been able to be at this week's meeting and hope to be able to do so in future.
I also use the Biosciences 'audit' tool, using the same methodology as Rose describes, during staff development sessions for academic staff including sessions for those undertaking the PgC in HE at UWIC. Find it helpful to introduce the USEM model first. Having reflected on their current practice in mixed subject groups, participants then do some action planning in their specific School groups (if appropriate) and this process always sparks new actions/different ways of embedding employability.
Anita
Anita Norcott FHEA, Chartered FCIPD
Employability Development Adviser
UWIC Career Development Services
Room A0.17, Cyncoed Campus
t: 029 2041 6333
www.uwic.ac.uk/careers
From: List for UK HEI employability developers [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Rose Watson
Sent: 13 October 2010 09:04
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Update + Interesting research + Subject centre resources
Dear all,
I'm sorry that I missed the meeting this week - sounds like a useful one! Thank you to Ruth for sending through the research about the value of work placements - powerful stuff, and please let us know when the report is finally published!
I have also found the Biosciences audit tool really useful. Last week, I used an amended version with course leaders from our Education department, and they have reported that it was really helpful to reflect upon what they were already doing and to trigger new ideas. We completed the exercise in pairs from different teams, then drew together action points in their own teams. One important point though - we called it a developmental tool rather than an audit!
Best wishes,
Rose Watson
Employability Development Officer
University of Worcester
01905 542257
From: List for UK HEI employability developers [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ruth Lawton
Sent: 12 October 2010 17:10
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Update + Interesting research + Subject centre resources
Hello everyone
Great to see people at yesterday's meeting in Liverpool - thanks very much for being a bostin' host Trish and thanks for the support from Judy and Laila from HEA.
I came away with a 'to-do' list the first one of which was to let you know about some useful things
* Birmingham City University has undertaken some research over the summer - 'Does a placement add value to a degree' - comparing those who did 4-year degrees including a one year sandwich placements with the rest of their cohort who chose to do a 3 year degree. The results are wonderful in terms of showing the benefit of doing a placement (thank heavens - that was my anecdotal belief and this confirmed it). This is not published yet so please don't go mad with this just yet but thought you would like to see the attached presentation:)
* English Subject centre has produced the brill 'Work-Related Learning in English Studies: a Good Practice guide' which you can download here: http://www.english.heacademy.ac.uk/explore/resources/careers/report.php
* One of the things our jiscmail group could do is recommend / review resources. One resource was mentioned yesterday more than once by more than one person - the excellent 'Employability Audit' from the BioSciences Subject Centre. They have produced a number of audit tools - I have used the employability and enterprise ones with lots of staff - and you can find them here: http://www.bioscience.heacademy.ac.uk/resources/audit.aspx I would like to invite people to share via the jiscmail how they would/have used this resource, who with, how it was received etc
Feb/March 2011 was favoured for a next meeting - location tbc
Best wishes everyone
Ruth
Ruth Lawton
University Learning & Teaching Fellow for Employability
Centre for the Enhancement of Learning & Teaching
Birmingham City University
City North Campus
(0121 331) 5126
http://www.bcu.ac.uk/futureproof
http://www.bcu.ac.uk/celt/employability-personal-development
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