Higher Education
Vocational Training
Employability
Vendor Certification
Research
Richard Hill
University of Derby
Derby, UK
Employable or Vulnerable?
learn how to learn
emerging
technologies
latest
approaches
managing
research
understanding
process
understanding what
'global' means
learner
autonomy
being critical
answering my
own questions
developing
technical skills
gaining some experience
"getting ready"
for the
workplace
"getting the badge"
demonstrate proficiency?
memory test
focus on specific area
measure against a benchmark
industry recognised
understanding professionalism
tolerance
being in a culture of enquiry
defending ideas
qualitative evaluation
Issues
Vendor training considerably improves first-job application success rate
What happens then?
What do employers really want?

Recruitment checklist
MUST be a team player
MUST be a leader
MUST have broad technical knowledge
MUST have real-world experience
MUST be effective communicator
MUST be a problem-solver
NEED to be young enough to 'shape' to our way of working
anything else?
Employers want certificated skills
...but students with technical badges can't progress their careers
Potential students focus on immediate job prospects
...creating a market for degrees with vendor training
The training model is opposed to the HE model
...curriculum gets based upon training materials
Students display lack of creativity
...they react only to instruction
Issues that (should) concern Universities
One approach
Policy
Curriculum
Practice
place value on professional skills, culture of enquiry, employer engagement
shift emphasis towards enquiry
use vendor systems as case studies
devote more time to thinking and application
assess process over content
mimic workplace and manage small groups
develop solutions to open-ended problems
develop knowledge of the processes of enquiry
give the students room
facilitate peer reviw and evaluation
align assessment with industry
what are we doing to our students?
A Case Study with SAP
Students study equivalent of 15 days training over 26 weeks in enquiry-based academic modules
80% first time pass rate, 100% after second attempt
More importantly they can apply their skills to a range of scenarios
They can sell ideas and manage groups
They can reason critically between compromised solutions
Vast improvement in interview performance
Provide evidence of real experience
These students are employable
How can we make it happen?
start with policy
develop research-active staff
start enquiry activities on `day one, semester one'
design space into the curriculum
focus assessment on process, not content
engage with industry and integrate content, reject `bolt-on' concept