Faculty of Law Business and Social Sciences

1. Faculty of Law Business and Social Sciences Law Accountancy Business and Management Central and East European Studies Economics Economic and Social History Politics Sociology and Anthropology Urban Studies LBSS

2. Faculty Survey Skills Identified by Faculty staff • effective oral and written communication skills • the ability to think critically and creatively • planning and organising • effective time management • the ability to work with others to achieve common goals • the ability to solve problems • the ability to learn and continue learning LBSS

3. Questions to Departments • Which of the above identified skills does your Department already provide? • Which of the identified skills that are not already taught or assessed could be addressed or developed within the Department? • Which of the skills do you believe would require external or centrally provided input? • Is there scope to teach and/or assess courses in a different way if it would help to develop the identified important skills? • Is this explicit enough to students? Can students recognise that employability skills are included in the teaching or assessment of courses? • What specific resources would be needed by your Department to develop the identified employability skills within your courses? LBSS

4. Which of the above identified skills does your Department already provide? All of the above skills are contained within the degree, however, not all are necessarily taught or assessed. There was concern about the notion of ‘teaching’ skills in a research-led institution where the emphasis has historically been towards independent learning. LBSS

5. Which of the identified skills that are not already taught or assessed could be addressed or developed within the Department? Effective oral communication skills: however, a substantial reorganisation of tutorials would be required, including additional teaching resources to permit appropriate reduction of Level 1 & 2 tutorial sizes LBSS

6. Which of the skills do you believe would require external or centrally provided input? Most of the employability skills available though our courses are acquired incidentally, but acquisition could probably benefit by the central provision of explicit training by those appropriately trained to do this LBSS

7. Is there scope to teach and/or assess courses in a different way if it would help to develop the identified important skills? There are a number of individuals who have used and are developing alternative methods of assessment e.g. reflective diaries, work related learning and peer assessment. Therefore over the the degree students may (if they select certain courses) experience different methods. LBSS

8. Can students recognise that employability skills are included in the teaching or assessment of courses? Students probably are not aware of the skills contained within courses. A detailed skills map is currently being undertaken within the department and subsequently a student document will be written outlining skills explicitly. LBSS

9. What specific resources would be needed by your Department to develop the identified employability skills within your courses? The main inhibitor to developing these types of employability skills is staff time and research pressure. LBSS

10. The Business and Management Model • integrate employability within academic curriculum • introduce personal development planning (PDP) for reflection of academic achievement, personal and career development • increase work-related opportunities • deliver effective careers education, information and guidance • prepare for work in the global and local economy LBSS

11. The BEST Skills (Business Education Support Team) • Knowledge of organisations and how they are managed, external environment and the future of organisations • Critical thinking analysis and synthesis • Effective problem solving and decision making • Effective oral and written communication skills using a range of media which are used in industry e.g. preparation and presentation of business reports • Numeracy and quantitative skills • Effective use of information and communication technology (ICT) • Effective self management (e.g. time management, self starting) • Appetite for learning • Self awareness, sensitivity and openness to diversity • Effective performance within a team • Interpersonal skills including listening and negotiating • Abilities to conduct research into business issues • Address issues at the European and international level LBSS

12. Business and Management level 1 LBSS

13. Business and Management Honours Entrepreneurship and Business Planning LBSS

14. Business and Management Honours Small Business Placement LBSS

15. Business and Management Honours Students’ Assessment of Transferable Skills Developed LBSS

16. Business and Management Evaluation of Results • Subject understanding is well developed • Communication skills are well covered • “Soft Skills”, Team working, Self management and Interpersonal Skills, are generally well covered • Self Awareness is less well covered • “Hard Skills”, Numeracy and ICT are less well developed • “Appetite for Learning” is not measured LBSS

17. Business and Management Discussion Points • To what extent are competences built up from level 1 to senior honours • To what extent do students actually have the competences, i.e. can they be assessed • Do students recognise these competences • How do we measure the success of an employability strategy LBSS

18. Accountancy and Finance Developing Employability & Learning Skills in 1st Year Classes A positive effect on thinking about skills Most effect on Communications and Presentations Less effect on problem modelling and solution Some impact on responsibility for their own learning LBSS

19. Accountancy and Finance Evaluation Methods Used Questionnaires Still awaited Focus Groups Best source of feedback Reflective Journals Ineffective Course Assessments Problematic LBSS

20. Accountancy and Finance Methodology Two Courses Identified, Business Statistics 1 and Management Accounting 1 A Focus on Tutorials Create a degree of ambiguity Use of case studies LBSS

21. Urban Studies Values in Action An Honours elective An Introduction to the Theory of Experiential Learning Work Placement Opportunities in Welfare Agencies Tutorials with Reflective and Critical Thinking LBSS