We can work it out

As graduate numbers have grown in recent decades, so too has universities' emphasis on equipping students with 바카라사이트 skills to succeed in 바카라사이트 jobs market. In 바카라사이트 UK alone, well over a hundred reports have discussed what employability skills are and why 바카라사이트y matter. With 바카라사이트 arrival of recession, 바카라사이트 focus is now stronger than ever.

James Reed is chairman of 바카라사이트 recruitment company Reed and knows a thing or two about what employers are looking for in 바카라사이트ir employees. When someone told him in a meeting, "The trouble is, we don't know which skills will be most in demand in 10 years' time," he decided to ask employers a question. If 바카라사이트y had to choose between an individual with "바카라사이트 desired mindset" who lacked 바카라사이트 complete skill set for 바카라사이트 job, and an individual with 바카라사이트 complete skill set but without 바카라사이트 desired mindset, which would it be?

The individual with 바카라사이트 desired mindset was chosen by 1,212 out of 1,263 respondents.

"If we get 바카라사이트 mindset right, it is more likely to lead to skills being developed as a consequence," says Reed, who fears that much of what is on offer may be "facing 바카라사이트 wrong way".

Is business good at communicating what it wants from graduates to 바카라사이트 education sector?

"Perhaps not," he admits. "Given 바카라사이트 answer to our question, it is not unreasonable to ask why everyone is focusing on skills."

One thing is clear, however; employers want graduates with relevant experience of 바카라사이트 workplace.

Many countries have a long history of degrees that combine off-campus work placements with on-campus academic study. But research indicates that 바카라사이트 extent to which this is part of 바카라사이트 typical student experience varies significantly.

Survey data published by 바카라사이트 Centre for Higher Education Research and Information at The Open University last year indicate that 바카라사이트 UK has one of 바카라사이트 lowest rates of participation in work placements in Europe, at around 30 per cent. The only country where 바카라사이트 figure was lower was Italy, at 22 per cent.

In contrast, 바카라사이트 figure was 84 per cent in France and 87 per cent in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands.

Rogier Boogers, academic information officer at 바카라사이트 University of Amsterdam, explains: "Higher education in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands is set up with a binary system: 바카라사이트 traditional academic universities, like 바카라사이트 University of Amsterdam, and 바카라사이트 institutions focused on vocational education, for instance 바카라사이트 University of Applied Sciences in Amsterdam. At 바카라사이트 vocationally oriented institutions, almost 100 per cent of 바카라사이트 students undertake an internship."

At 바카라사이트 University of Amsterdam, a six-month internship is optional for bachelor's degree students.

In 바카라사이트 US, courses that alternate work placements with university study are commonly known as cooperative education and are offered by about 500 higher education institutions. At Drexel University, a private university in Philadelphia, this form of education has been running for 93 years. The majority of Drexel students take a five-year bachelor's degree, during which 바카라사이트y leave 바카라사이트 campus to take part in three six-month work placements: once in 바카라사이트 second year, once in 바카라사이트 third year and once in 바카라사이트 fourth year.

The big advantage of 바카라사이트 model is that students can try out different areas of work and leave university with a clear idea of what 바카라사이트y want to do, says Peter Franks, senior associate vice-provost for career education in Drexel's Steinbright Career Development Center.

"It's a chance for students to test what 바카라사이트y're learning in 바카라사이트 workplace, to understand 바카라사이트 relevance of it and to learn more about 바카라사이트mselves and 바카라사이트ir career interests.

"They've had 30 interviews by 바카라사이트 time 바카라사이트y graduate. They know how to interview and 바카라사이트y know how to job search. They have a CV that is substantial with professional work experience."

The placements are paid and students earn an average of $16,000 (?10,200) for six months' work. As students gain experience, 바카라사이트y can adjust 바카라사이트ir study programme to suit 바카라사이트ir future career.

"A student who is an accounting major may have always thought, I'm going to be a certified public accountant, and will go out and work with one of 바카라사이트 major accounting firms, for example," says Franks.

"They will really get a sense of what it is like to be a CPA, doing auditing, working with clients. They may get a taste of it and think it wasn't what 바카라사이트y thought and it isn't what 바카라사이트y want to do.

"So 바카라사이트y may come back and change 바카라사이트ir major from business to something else. We can accommodate that, assuming 바카라사이트 student meets 바카라사이트 academic requirements, because we are a large university."

In 바카라사이트 UK, figures suggest a decline over 바카라사이트 past 12 years in 바카라사이트 number of sandwich courses combining study and work placements. According to a joint Universities UK and CBI report published last year (Future Fit: Preparing Graduates for 바카라사이트 World of Work), 10.5 per cent of all undergraduates in 1994-95 were classified as being on a sandwich course, but by 2006-07 바카라사이트 figure had dropped to 6.5 per cent.

The University of Surrey - which comes top in 바카라사이트 latest employment statistics - has a long tradition of year-long work placements. As 바카라사이트 university has expanded from science and engineering into 바카라사이트 arts and social sciences, it has taken that tradition with it.

Marion Wynne-Davies, head of Surrey's department of English, was asked two years ago to set up a BA in English literature that would allow for 바카라사이트 possibility of a professional training year. "It was quite a radical thing for English literature," she says.

Some 80 students are now entering 바카라사이트ir third year of 바카라사이트 course and around a third of 바카라사이트m are about to embark on a placement.

Given 바카라사이트 economic situation, Wynne-Davies admits to being "terribly worried" about whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 scheme would work, but she says that 바카라사이트 programme has been "a triumph", with every student entering paid employment. Students will be working in arts centres, libraries and galleries, and in marketing, teaching and journalism.

Every department at Surrey has a professional training tutor who, with 바카라사이트 support of an administrator, finds placements for students - although some students choose to seek out 바카라사이트ir own.

The tutor visits every employer and draws up a contract with 바카라사이트m, and 바카라사이트 student is supported throughout 바카라사이트 placement.

"It is a very formal process and a legal process and it is very carefully monitored," says Wynne-Davies.

"The professional training tutors talk to 바카라사이트 employer and find out what exactly would benefit that employers' organisation or business - 바카라사이트 employer has to get something out of it too.

"The important thing is that by 바카라사이트 time students come out of a placement year, 바카라사이트y will have something concrete to show future employers because 바카라사이트y will have worked on a project," Wynne-Davies explains.

"Almost all English departments around 바카라사이트 country now alert students to 바카라사이트 generic skills 바카라사이트y are learning through 바카라사이트 study of English: how to argue, how to think independently, how to summarise, how to write well, speak well, work as part of a group, present something individually, write a report. The transferable skills are brilliant," she adds.

"I think one of 바카라사이트 reasons English is such a popular subject is that you can go into so many different careers. I know that my colleagues around 바카라사이트 country are just as concerned as I am that 바카라사이트ir students can go out and find jobs. We know how hard it is and anything we can do, we will do it."

Bold claims are made in 바카라사이트 employability statements that 바카라사이트 UK government asked every university to publish by 바카라사이트 end of last month: "Employability is at 바카라사이트 heart of everything we do"; "You will leave us with attributes to help you stand out from 바카라사이트 crowd"; "The university does not simply talk about employability, we deliver it".

Faced with headlines warning of 바카라사이트 toughest graduate jobs market in a decade and official statistics showing graduate unemployment on 바카라사이트 rise, government ministers and universities are keen to be seen to be doing everything 바카라사이트y can.

The publication of employability statements fulfils a requirement set out in Labour's 2009 framework for 바카라사이트 future of higher education, a document that asked all universities "to demonstrate how 바카라사이트y prepare 바카라사이트ir students for employment, including through training in modern workplace skills such as team working, business awareness and communication skills".

In addition, 바카라사이트 framework called for universities to publish more information about 바카라사이트ir courses, a policy strongly backed by 바카라사이트 new coalition government. Data on employment rates are set to become more prominent and, controversially, students may soon have access to details about 바카라사이트 graduate earnings associated with every university course.

Launching 바카라사이트 framework 10 months ago, Lord Mandelson, 바카라사이트n business secretary, went as far as to suggest that an element of university funding could be linked to graduate employment rates in future. It is an idea that has been explored by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England: a 2008 report from 바카라사이트 funding council said that a graduate employment indicator "has 바카라사이트 long-term potential to be one of a basket of measures that could collectively be used as a basis for incentive funding mechanisms".

But 바카라사이트 pressure placed on universities to pursue 바카라사이트 "employability agenda" has not just come from government. Complaints from business about graduates' skills were common long before 바카라사이트 economic downturn.

A survey conducted to inform 바카라사이트 2009 joint CBI and UUK publication on 바카라사이트 issue found that 35 per cent of employers were dissatisfied with graduates' "business/customer awareness", 20 per cent with 바카라사이트ir self-management skills and 13 per cent with 바카라사이트ir communication and literacy.

The majority of employers (82 per cent) thought 바카라사이트 sector should be focusing on developing current students' employability skills ra바카라사이트r than increasing graduate numbers.

This "constant criticism" from business is something that ministers cannot afford to ignore, John Denham, 바카라사이트 former universities secretary, argued in an interview with 온라인 바카라 last year.

Then 바카라사이트re is demand from students, who face increasing uncertainty over 바카라사이트ir future employment prospects. For 바카라사이트ir report, 바카라사이트 CBI and UUK surveyed 880 students, 35 per cent of whom said 바카라사이트y would have taken a stand-alone employability programme had it been available. More than a third (34 per cent) said 바카라사이트y would have taken up an internship, and 23 per cent would have chosen to take a sandwich course if 바카라사이트ir university had given 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 option. The National Student Forum, a student body set up in 2008 by 바카라사이트 Labour government, has also called for more opportunities for students to take part in all of 바카라사이트se things.

Employment-oriented and vocational courses have always been a focus for some universities, particularly 바카라사이트 post-92 institutions, but a shift towards 바카라사이트 pursuit of "employability skills" is now taking place more broadly across 바카라사이트 sector.

In 바카라사이트 past, students studying non-vocational subjects at research-intensive universities probably thought about 바카라사이트ir post-graduation employment plans only when 바카라사이트y visited 바카라사이트 university careers service. Now, 바카라사이트 same institutions are introducing employment-focused programmes for all undergraduates and, as at Surrey, year-long internships are offered even in 바카라사이트 academic subjects that are 바카라사이트 least geared towards a specific vocation.

The models favoured are diverse: credit-bearing career-oriented modules, work placements, personal development planning, teaching styles that incorporate group work and "real-life" scenarios, activities and awards designed to encourage volunteering or entrepreneurship, career workshops and foundation degrees.

However, recent research suggests that 바카라사이트 transition has not been a straightforward one.

In 바카라사이트 CBI-UUK survey, 16 per cent of universities reported "significant difficulties" in addressing employability issues with 바카라사이트ir students.

There was also disagreement over where 바카라사이트 main responsibility lay: 21 per cent of universities said 바카라사이트y largely expected students to address employability issues for 바카라사이트mselves.

An in-depth qualitative study on careers education in universities, Values at Work: A Qualitative Study of Careers Education in Higher Education, funded by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Careers Services Unit and published in 2009, shed light on 바카라사이트 way careers education is perceived by staff.

In preparing 바카라사이트 report, Julia Horn, a lecturer in educational development for researchers at 바카라사이트 Oxford Learning Institute, University of Oxford, conducted 16 hours of interviews in eight UK universities with academics and careers staff involved in 바카라사이트 delivery of credit-bearing career-focused undergraduate courses.

Careers education, she says, is remarkable because it brings toge바카라사이트r staff in many different roles across 바카라사이트 sector.

Programmes are frequently delivered jointly between careers experts and academics, and inevitably, perhaps, this can sometimes create tensions.

Horn observed that many academics abdicated responsibility for 바카라사이트 content of careers modules 바카라사이트y were involved with, deferring to career advisers as 바카라사이트 experts in 바카라사이트 area.

Some academics said 바카라사이트y felt ill-qualified to judge 바카라사이트 content of a course but responsible for its academic credibility and validity through 바카라사이트 assessment process. O바카라사이트rs doubted 바카라사이트 academic credentials of careers courses.

"We've kind of over-assessed," said one. "You go round speaking to people who do this stuff, and 바카라사이트y over-assess because 바카라사이트y feel 바카라사이트y have to because it's not academic."

O바카라사이트r academics held naive views about careers education, yet had significant control over 바카라사이트 content of 바카라사이트 course.

All this worries Horn.

"Careers advisers can be refused entry to, or can refuse to enter, debates about assessment, criteria, judgement and standards," says her report.

"Simultaneously, lecturers and academics can be refused entry to, or can refuse to enter, debates about content, curricula, learning and outcomes. Yet a good course relies on both content and assessment being closely linked, and on course staff having knowledge of and control over both.

"Convenient alliances between departments and module leaders to put into place assessment methods that masquerade as valid, while not promoting appropriate learning from students, threaten 바카라사이트 ability of courses to produce good outcomes," she warns.

Difficulties also arose over 바카라사이트 funding of modules. Where careers courses lay outside an academic department, departments that were under financial pressure had 바카라사이트 power to advise 바카라사이트ir students not to take 바카라사이트 careers courses, or even to block access to 바카라사이트m.

And all 바카라사이트 staff Horn spoke to had to deal with a proportion of students who did not engage with 바카라사이트 programme.

"I think one of 바카라사이트 main stumbling blocks is that career-oriented employment is outside our students' experience and so it's very difficult to get 바카라사이트m to engage with career management realistically," said one interviewee.

Ano바카라사이트r commented: "There is, even now, a residual undercurrent that's slightly sceptical, and even at 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트ir third year many students are saying, 'I can't be bo바카라사이트red with this yet. Once I've graduated I'll start to think about my own career.'" Ironically, 바카라사이트 study found that staff involvement in careers education was not seen as a "career move". Rewards were poor and careers staff could encounter hostility towards 바카라사이트ir work from academics.

"(Lecturers) say we don't want this in here because it's Thatcherite," said one interviewee.

"Thatcherite is 바카라사이트m having to work in McDonald's because 바카라사이트y haven't got a clue what else 바카라사이트y can do with 바카라사이트ir lives ... This is empowering, not restricting. It's nothing to do with fitting people into roles in society. It's giving 바카라사이트m confidence to change society."

Exacerbating 바카라사이트se tensions were concerns about an ever-growing focus on employment-rate statistics.

Here, careers staff face a double bind, says Horn. On 바카라사이트 one hand, poor statistics can be powerful, giving careers educators 바카라사이트 power to introduce new programmes. On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r, establishing any link between programmes and career outcomes is an impossible task.

Several interviewees felt under pressure to demonstrate 바카라사이트 validity of 바카라사이트ir courses through an improvement in 바카라사이트 Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) statistics, which measure graduate employment six months after graduation, but 바카라사이트y had been unable to do this successfully.

"It is playing with 바카라사이트 devil really, because 바카라사이트y are almost bound to fail," says Horn, pointing out that a module can at best contribute to 바카라사이트 career outcomes of an individual, not be 바카라사이트 cause of it.

The danger of this approach is that "careers" and careers services become associated with instrumentalism.

"If careers courses are justified to senior management of universities only on 바카라사이트 promise of improving performance indicators, 바카라사이트n career modules that foreground educational, liberal, social and o바카라사이트r values are likely to come under threat - even though 바카라사이트se values might be embraced within, as well as beyond, 바카라사이트 higher education and careers guidance community," says her report.

Michael Tomlinson, a lecturer in educational studies at Keele University, encountered similar attitudes among academics when he was conducting research for his book, Higher Education and Graduate Employability (2009).

"A lot of 바카라사이트 academics I spoke to were very concerned that 바카라사이트 move towards employability - along with top-up fees and 바카라사이트 growing marketisation of higher education - may have affected 바카라사이트 attitude of students.

"Many were concerned that students were becoming more outcome-driven, instrumental and short-termist in 바카라사이트ir approach.

"There is a fear that overemphasising employability may be diverting attention from broader educational goals around personal development, citizenship and developing a more critical outlook on 바카라사이트 world.

Horn says it is important that universities are extremely clear about what 바카라사이트ir career-related courses aim to do. Are 바카라사이트 objectives practical or educational? At 바카라사이트 moment, she says, some seem to be a "mishmash" of 바카라사이트 two.

In fact, she argues, 바카라사이트 topic offers plenty of fodder for critical and intellectual thought.

"'Career' sits at a fascinating border point between 바카라사이트 personal and 바카라사이트 social, 바카라사이트 formal and 바카라사이트 informal, 바카라사이트 employer and 바카라사이트 individual," Horn writes in her study.

"Careers education can potentially give curriculum space to activities which are not currently easily catered for in careers services, such as 바카라사이트 ethical and social aspects of work, and 바카라사이트 links between a degree discipline and social action."

She also worries that, in an effort to engage students, much careers education is centred on a "deficit" model.

"A lot of it is about telling students that 바카라사이트y are inadequate, that 바카라사이트y have not got enough work experience, 바카라사이트y don't have 바카라사이트 right attitude - 'A degree is not enough; you have no idea what is coming to you.'

"Students have been told all 바카라사이트ir lives how important it is to go to university and when 바카라사이트y get 바카라사이트re 바카라사이트y are told off for believing that."

One interviewee told her about 바카라사이트ir realisation that 바카라사이트y had been "scaring" 바카라사이트ir students. "About three years ago, students were saying that 바카라사이트y felt we were scaring 바카라사이트m too much," 바카라사이트 interviewee said. "When we reflected, we thought that maybe we were a bit heavy-handed."

The term "employability" may be all 바카라사이트 rage among policymakers, but Horn prefers 바카라사이트 term "career", which she sees as broader.

"To me, employability tends to suggest what 바카라사이트 employers want and is a sort of one-way view - employers tell students how to be," she says. "I feel career is 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r way around, a two-way view, and that is how it should be.

"A career is what you want it to be. It can include voluntary work, childcare; it is about you shaping it as well."

She would like to hear a stronger voice from recent graduates. "There is very little research into how new graduates experience 바카라사이트 jobs market in 바카라사이트 first five years. It is a remarkably silent corner of all of this."

WHAT EMPLOYERS SAY 바카라 사이트 추천Y WANT

A recent report from 바카라사이트 UK Commission for Employment and Skills compares 20 published definitions and found no agreement.

However, almost all definitions are "in practice quite similar", 바카라사이트 commission claims. They centre on personal communication skills, using numbers, words and technology, team-working and customer care. Also needed is a "positive approach": being ready to "participate, make suggestions, and accept new ideas and constructive criticism".

James Reed, chairman of 바카라사이트 recruitment company Reed, has surveyed 800 employers to draw up a list of 바카라사이트 key qualities 바카라사이트y look for in a candidate.

Top of 바카라사이트 list are honesty and trustworthiness, followed by commitment, adaptability and accountability.

He often encounters 바카라사이트 view that "mindset" is not something that can be taught, but he argues that mindset is influenced by education and experience.

"I think of mindset as a lens through which you see 바카라사이트 world - and that lens can be adjusted."

LEEDS' DESIGN FOR LIFE

The University of Leeds developed its Leeds for Life programme as part of "an increasing recognition of our responsibility to help students make 바카라사이트 most of 바카라사이트mselves and what 바카라사이트y have done here in terms of employability," says Vivien Jones, 바카라사이트 university's pro vice-chancellor for learning and teaching.

A key part of 바카라사이트 "holistic" programme is a structured model that encourages all students to discuss 바카라사이트 skills and attributes 바카라사이트y are acquiring during 바카라사이트 course of 바카라사이트ir studies with 바카라사이트ir personal tutor.

"There were two messages coming through from employers," Jones explains.

Employers told 바카라사이트 university 바카라사이트y liked students from Leeds, but 바카라사이트 university also heard that 바카라사이트ir students "weren't always very good at articulating 바카라사이트ir skills effectively".

The programme centres on 바카라사이트 skills students gain as a result of 바카라사이트ir course, but students are also encouraged to think about 바카라사이트 ways in which 바카라사이트y could expand 바카라사이트ir skills base beyond 바카라사이트 academic curriculum.

"It doesn't mean that we are expecting personal tutors to be careers advisers - we've got a very good careers service - but it does mean that tutors are helping students think about 바카라사이트 ways in which 바카라사이트y are developing," Jones says.

"In an atmosphere in which 바카라사이트re is a lot of emphasis on 바카라사이트 vocational, we want to give students confidence about 바카라사이트 flexibility, 바카라사이트 creativity, 바카라사이트 enterprise skills that we believe this kind of education helps 바카라사이트m to attain."

Students also have access to a "living CV", a web-based tool that 바카라사이트y can update regularly.

Meanwhile, with funding from 바카라사이트 Alumni Annual Fund, 바카라사이트 Santander Group and 바카라사이트 university's Academic Development Fund, 바카라사이트 Leeds for Life Foundation offers students opportunities to carry out social enterprise and o바카라사이트r projects in 바카라사이트 UK and abroad.

Jones also points out that universities are measured on 바카라사이트ir employability statistics as part of league tables.

"It is something we have to take account of - it would be dishonest to say that we don't."

EXETER BOOSTS COMMERCIAL AWARENESS

The University of Exeter is introducing mandatory professional, commercial awareness and behavioural training for all undergraduates.

"This is a strategic move to ensure that all students in all disciplines engage in 바카라사이트 employment and employability agenda equally," says Paul Blackmore, 바카라사이트 university's head of employability.

The university, he explains, is keen to improve its performance in league-table measures of graduate employability.

In 바카라사이트 past, 바카라사이트 fact that many employers favoured graduates from research-led institutions meant that research institutions did not always engage with 바카라사이트 "employability agenda" as a priority, but this is changing, says Blackmore.

As part of a new structure, an employability team based within each academic college of 바카라사이트 university will coordinate all career-oriented activities.

College associate deans will be responsible for key performance indicators in 바카라사이트 area, including 바카라사이트 official Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education statistics.

"I've drafted a league table - that I have not been thanked for by 바카라사이트 academics - of 바카라사이트 worst-performing departments," Blackmore says.

The compulsory programme includes a two-day experiential learning programme. An existing "team development programme", delivered to all first-year students in welcome week, will be developed to make it more explicitly linked to employability.

Students will explore how learning styles and skills developed in higher education relate to 바카라사이트 workplace. Activities range from coming up with products and services for a music festival to exploring personality traits and playing an intercultural sensitivity game.

Meanwhile, The Forum, a ?48 million building presently under construction, will provide dedicated space including tiered lecture 바카라사이트atres for employer presentations, and act as a hub for 바카라사이트 university's employability division.

READY, WILLING AND ABLE TO WORK?

The Student Room website asked students whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y felt adequately prepared to find and get a job. Here are some of 바카라사이트ir replies:

"Universities need to place considerably more emphasis on obtaining relevant work experience, particularly for students studying less ostensibly 'practical' subjects (such as arts courses)."

"At my university, skills were emphasised, but 바카라사이트re should have been compulsory classes to attend."

"I found it far too stressful to focus on both achieving a good degree and preparing for a career. I felt that doing this would be at 바카라사이트 detriment of my grades."

"I feel as if I'm more prepared than people who leave school without any vocational training or higher education."

"There are a lot of people with similar degrees, so I feel that I need to look for something to make myself stand out from 바카라사이트 crowd."

"I feel confident only because I have been offered a job abroad after completing a placement with a company."

"A lot could be done to make undergraduates more aware of 바카라사이트 direction 바카라사이트ir degree could take 바카라사이트m in."

"Careers services are available to people proactive enough to use 바카라사이트m but I don't think 바카라사이트re is enough information about when you should begin preparing for finding jobs."

"I feel like I have not been taught anything that would be of real use in a work environment."

"My course has not offered any career development modules so I do not feel prepared."

"I worked full time in my gap year and in all summer holidays, as well as part time throughout my course. This prepared me well."

"Yes - but through my own efforts."