Enhancing Student Employability

(A South-West Regional Conference sponsored by ESECT, LTSN-GEES and the University of Plymouth)

Held on Tuesday September 16th 2003 - The Robbins Conference Centre, University of Plymouth

Contents

• About the conference
• What is ESECT
• Programme including presentations to download

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About the conference

Why was this conference important?

Enhancing student employability is a key priority for higher education. The government and employers are looking for an increased supply of graduates capable of making an effective contribution to the nation's economic welfare. Students expect to acquire the skills to enhance their employability in a competitive and rapidly changing labour market.

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Programme

09:45-10:15 Registration and coffee

10:15-10:20 Welcome from Prof Roland Levinsky (VC, University of Plymouth)

10:20-10:35 Introduction to the event and ESECT (David Gosling, ESECT principal)

10:35-11:20 Keynote 1: Dancing with gorillas - Graduates, employability and the future of work (Paul Redmond, Head of Career Development Unit, Liverpool Hope University College)

11:20-12:30 Workshops (choice of 1 from 3):

1. Conducting employability audits (Brian Chalkley, Director & Sharon Gedye, Research Fellow, LTSN-GEES)
2. Approaches to employability in the curriculum (Peter Watton, Educational Development, University of Plymouth)
3. Employer-led approaches to employability (Jeff Goodman, Director, University of Bristol Careers Advisory Service)

12:30-1:15 Lunch

1:15-1:30 Introduction to the regional dimension
(David Noyce, SW Regional Consultant, HEFCE)

1:30-2:00 Keynote 2: The SW Regional Context
(Emily Bird, Lifelong Learning Manager, SW-RDA)

2:00-3:15 Workshops (choice of 1 from 3):

1. Student Union-led Approaches to Enhancing Employability (Kassie Bath, Student Development Co-ordinator, University of Exeter Guild)
   
2. Widening Participation and Student Employability (Vanessa Fitzgerald, Aim Higher Peninsula P4P Manager)
3. Working in the Graveyard of Ambition - Developing regional policy to improve graduate employment in the SW (Sean Mackney, Head of Secretariat, HERDA-SW)

3:15-3:45 Gradsouthwest - helping students and graduates find jobs in the South West (Marc Lintern, Head of Careers, University of Plymouth)

3:45-4:00 Plenary: Creating sustainable employability networks
(David Gosling, ESECT principal)

4:00 Close and Tea