I very much agree. For most academics, as important as employability is, it is likely to come across as yet another sector or institutional initiative. As has been said, they're already doing 'it'. The first step is to support staff in identifying how what they are already doing maps to an employability framework. This places an emphasis on an embedded approach to innovation in this area. This leads to the second step of considering how a course can be strategically modified with minor effort to make more specialist employability interventions.
If a further stage is needed it is likely to involve more major development, but by that time clarity and purpose, as well as buy in, should have been achieved.
Finally, thinking about engaging those who are usually slower to come forward requires presenting an easy and low risk step, albeit one that may not make a huge impact. This can be evaluated and evaluation should lead to more developed interest. 
A staff development event therefore benefits from a good framework and some clear and simple first steps. Too much input from traditional innovators may indeed be off putting. 
I hope this helps
Andrew Middleton


On 3 Apr 2012, at 12:14, "Ruth Lawton" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Hello
> 
> I agree with Liz about 'what are you already doing' - that is how I introduce tools like the Employability Audit http://www.bioscience.heacademy.ac.uk/ftp/employability/empaudit.pdf 
> 
> Also sharing their experiences and ideas in cross -subject tables - accountancy would have a technique that nursing could use. But what also comes out of the cross subject fertilisation is a real 'can-do' momentum often spurred on by the realisation that the 'I thought we weren't allowed to do that?' issue is often local to a faculty / dept and not a formal university protocol or policy. It gives people permission to make changes
> 
> Best wishes
> Ruth 
> 
> 
> Ruth Lawton
> University Teaching Fellow for Employability
> Centre for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching
> Birmingham City University
> 0121 331 5126
> [log in to unmask]
> 6th Floor Edge Building
> 
> My ePortfolio: http://portfolio.bcu.ac.uk/view/view.php?id=130820
> Creating Future-Proof Graduates: http://www.bcu.ac.uk/courses/employability/futureproof
> Co-author of Pedagogy for Employability http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/resources/detail/employability/pedagogy_for_employability_update_2012
> 
> 
>  
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: List for UK HEI employability developers [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Liz Coombs
> Sent: 03 April 2012 11:57
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Design for a conference on employability
> 
> Hi John
> I think all of Arti's suggestions make a lot of sense and would fill an interesting day.  I just wanted to add one more thought which is that when we have held events with academics from across a range of disciplines, we have found it useful and productive for them to identify what they are already doing to address employability in the curriculum.  There are often some fantastic ideas and activities, many of which have not been developed specifically for employability and which often the academics themselves have not identified as such.  It is a good way to show them that employability is not just an 'add on' to what they are already doing in their disciplines and can be a way to share practice without making people feel that they are being told what to do within their own disciplines.  The recently updated HEA document 'Pedagogy for Employability' can be useful as a way to help academics to start to identify where they are already including enterprise and employability.
> 
> Liz
> 
> Liz Coombs
> Director
> Centre for Workplace Learning
> St Mary's University College
> Waldegrave Road
> Twickenham TW1 4SX
> 020 8240 4015 / 4152 / 4252
> www.smuc.ac.uk/cwl
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: List for UK HEI employability developers [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Dean, John P
> Sent: 03 April 2012 09:47
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Design for a conference on employability
> 
> Hi
> 
> I'm a relatively new member of this group so an apology if something like this has come up before. A small group of us - a mix of academics and careers staff - have been asked to help design a one-day conference for academic staff to promote interest in employability. Such a conference hasn't run here before and certainly not for the university as a whole. Does anyone have any ideas on what the design and content of such a session might include given that it is only for one day?
> 
> Many thanks
> 
> Dr John Dean
> Employability and Careers Service,
> GD12 Technopark,
> London South Bank University,
> London SE1 0AA
> 
> Tel 020 7815 6427
> Email:[log in to unmask]   
> Web: http://www1.lsbu.ac.uk/learningsupport/careers/
> 
> 
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