Embedding Innovative Practice: Employers as partners in ensuring graduate employability

1. Tanya Miles-Berry Nichola Cadet LCCJ Embedding Innovative Practice: Employers as partners in ensuring graduate employability

2. Context University employability strategy Revalidated degrees Ad-Hoc/informal engagement with employers

3. Where were we? • Practitioners in the staff group • ALs • 1 module where students could gain credit for their experience (as special constables) • volunteer/employability fair • Staff precious about contacts? • Diversity of "the sector"

4. Where did we need to be? • Employability embedded throughout the degree • Strategic partnerships with key partners established • Consistency and credibility in the field • Meaningful engagement for students

5. What did we need to do? • Identify what the market is • Ascertain the level of interest • Collaborate within the subject group and across the department • Identify appropriate resources • Identify a wider range of potential partners

6. Group discussion • Where are you at? • Where do you need to be? • What do you need to do to get there?

7. What have we done? Identified 7 key strands where employers were needed throughout the course: • Developing simulation modules (at L5& 6) • Delivering 1-off, content specific lectures within modules • Offering "placement" opportunities/recruiting and training volunteers • Delivering career mentoring/assisting with enhancing employability skills • Describing career journeys • Delivering talks to the Hallam Criminological Society • Offering "prizes" at graduation

8. What's in it….. • Up to date knowledge of the CJS and their associated agencies • Value added to the subjects • Opportunities for students to consider employability from Level 4 • Enhanced skills development • Access to the next pool of graduate "talent" • Better partnerships to aid the delivery of their organisational goals • Cold, hard cash! For us? For them?

9. Successes to date: • Networking event • Practitioners signed up to deliver elements of simulation modules • Students aligned to "placement" opportunities for which they can gain academic credit • Increased interest in career mentoring • Offers of help for developing interviewing skills and techniques • Site visits to local CJS agencies, e.g. HMP Doncaster

10. Challenges that remain….over to you! • Resourcing this area year on year • Developing simulations • Ensuring academic quality of practitioner involvement • Removing duplication of effort • Ensuring that students develop "professional" as well as academic skills • Staff support to develop, maintain and grow employability partnerships at strategic and operational levels • Maintaining the integrity of the student experience • ……….any others we've not anticipated?

11. Draw your own conclusions!