To bridge the professional attainment gap in higher education, particularly for underrepresented and international students, it's crucial to integrate real-world industry experiences within the academic curriculum. This demands a concerted effort from both academia and the industry, fostering a culture of participatory learning and cultural inclusivity. Educational leaders are increasingly recognising the importance of embedding employability within the educational framework, yet there is often a gap in translating this into actionable strategies.
Collaborative Development Fund 2023-24
Check out the other Collaborative Development Funds projects.
Aims and objectives
The “Student Knowledge Exchange Re-Imagined” project is aimed at enhancing student employability through innovative pedagogic KTPs. This project is set to address the unique challenges faced by both marginalised and international students, leveraging their cultural capital and mitigating barriers.
The initiative will catalyse the formation of Pedagogic Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (PKTPs), promoting meaningful industry interactions that are critical for developing student employability. By conducting extensive research and fostering dynamic university-industry collaborations, the project aims to develop strategies that not only improve student career readiness but also enhance pedagogic responsiveness to industry needs.
Project outputs
The project will yield multiple outputs in line with the design research methodology, and include:
Focus groups
Through targeted focus groups, we explored the diverse experiences of international and marginalised students regarding career support and opportunities. The aim was to discern students’ specific employability needs and challenges, in order to refine and enhance existing support mechanisms within the educational framework.
Roundtables
Convening in two strategic roundtable discussions, educators, and other key stakeholders will collaboratively dissect and streamline student knowledge exchange processes.
Roundtable 1
Date: 3 May 2024
Time: TBC
This session will address challenges and strategies for overcoming professional attainment gaps, with a particular focus on underrepresented and international student populations.
Booking link available soon.
Roundtable 2
Date: 13 May 2024
Time: TBC
This roundtable will focus on integrating industry-led projects into academic programmes. The goal is to stimulate debate about, and foster a cohesive approach between education and industry, enhancing student employability and driving pedagogical innovation.
This will focus on professional attainment gaps and explore challenges and barriers related to employability and career progression for underrepresented and international students. Identification of strategic priorities and ways to measure success.
Booking link available soon.
Roundtable 1
Date: 3 May 2024
Time: TBC
This session will address challenges and strategies for overcoming professional attainment gaps, with a particular focus on underrepresented and international student populations.
Booking link available soon.
Roundtable 2
Date: 13 May 2024
Time: TBC
This roundtable will focus on integrating industry-led projects into academic programmes. The goal is to stimulate debate about, and foster a cohesive approach between education and industry, enhancing student employability and driving pedagogical innovation.
This will focus on professional attainment gaps and explore challenges and barriers related to employability and career progression for underrepresented and international students. Identification of strategic priorities and ways to measure success.
Booking link available soon.
Framework for Pedagogic KTP consultancies and collaborative models
A streamlined framework for Pedagogic KTPs and University-Industry collaborations will be developed, aimed at enhancing student employability through effective educational and industrial alliances.
Impact Measurement Tool
This initiative introduces an Impact Measurement Tool to quantify the outcomes of student-industry engagements, focusing on metrics like employability, collaboration, and institutional development. This tool is crucial for evaluating student knowledge exchange efforts and guiding data-driven improvements in educational strategies and policies.
Report
A summary report will be shared with the sector later this year. This document will serve as a vital resource for future educational strategies, offering a blueprint for aligning higher education practices with evolving industry demands and ensuring a resilient, future-ready educational framework for students across demographics.
Project team
Loretta Anthony-Okeke
Co-Director of the BSc Education and Lecturer in Education at Manchester Institute of Education (MIE)
,
The University of Manchester
