What the project is?
‘Employability by Design’ is a project that will make students more appealing to potential employers after graduation by improving their workplace skills and social capital throughout their university career.
It is also designed to help academic staff develop programmes that will make the best possible use of students’ placement year experiences.
What the project hopes to achieve?
Students in each year of study will benefit from the project in different ways.
With first years we aim to build on the value of Personal Tutor sessions by giving academics access to tools developed by students themselves – helping tutors understand what students need from them during these interactions.
Second years will benefit from peer to peer mentoring. Students who have successfully completed an integrated placement year will offer their support to those who are currently navigating the placement gauntlet.
For third year students the focus is on developing flexible placement options which will allow all students to benefit from a placement experience.
In their final year students will follow programmes that build on what they have learned on their work placements.
These interventions will improve positive graduate destinations whilst at the same time enhancing the student experience and enabling students’ social mobility through support for their development of social capital.
