1. EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS FOR DATABASE COMPUTING STEM Annual Conference 2012 Jing Lu and Al Monger Technology School Southampton Solent University

2. Outline 1. Introduction 2. Enhancing Graduate Employability 2.1 Work-Based Learning 2.2 Industry-Focused Learning 3.SFIA and Database Computing 3.1 Computing and Databases at Solent 3.2 Skills Framework for the Information Age 3.3 Database Computing Skills Map 4. Conclusion

3. Introduction Solents Strategic Development Programme E Plus project b.i.b. International College, Germany practice-oriented and transnational approach Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA) describing and promoting high-level IT skills BCS, IET, IMIS, itSMF and e-skills UK establish the categories and range of skills integrate these skills within taught units

4. Outline 1. Introduction 2. Enhancing Graduate Employability 2.1 Work-Based Learning 2.2 Industry-Focused Learning 3.SFIA and Database Computing 3.1 Computing and Databases at Solent 3.2 Skills Framework for the Information Age 3.3 Database Computing Skills Map 4. Conclusion

5. 2.1 Work-Based Learning SSU: traditional 48-week placements need for a range of more flexible placements 40-credit final year Honours project unit 20-credit Work-Based Learning unit opportunity for student to work 50% of the final year on an industry-based project Collaborating on Leonardo Mobility and Erasmus supported projects to provide transnational work experience opportunities in UK and Germany

6. 2.2 Industry-Focused Learning Professional Certification Oracle SQL Certified Expert certificate VLE-based Oracle Certification site (myCourse) 2-year plan in the context of membership of Workforce Development Programme Using the University as a Business Context Advanced and Distributed Databases unit Central IT services providing live data from the Universitys SIERRA data warehouse

7. SSU-b.i.b. Employability Development Project e-book: used for ease of reference to the initiatives, models and practices developed to enhance student employability VLE: innovative practice through myCourse Oracle Certification site Using Analysis of Data from the University SIERRA Data Warehouse as an advanced research topic for Year 3 Database teaching Whats On myCourse?

8. Outline 1. Introduction 2. Enhancing Graduate Employability 2.1 Work-Based Learning 2.2 Industry-Focused Learning 3. SFIA and Database Computing 3.1 Computing and Databases at Solent 3.2 Skills Framework for the Information Age 3.3 Database Computing Skills Map 4. Conclusion

9. 3.1 Computing and Databases at Solent Field groups within the Technology School Computing, Enterprise Systems and Entertainment Technology … Undergraduate degrees BIS, BIT, Computing, ICT, Software Engineering, Web Design and several networking courses School units organised according to different subject areas across the 3 UG levels

10. Year 3 Advanced and Distributed Databases Year 3 Advanced and Distributed Databases Year 2 Database Application Development Year 2 Database Application Development Year 1 Introduction to Databases Year 1 Introduction to Databases Unit Progression in Databases

11. Subject areas and units in Computing

12. Advanced and Distributed Databases Unit Advanced & Distributed Databases (ADD) Themes ADD Skills 1. Exploiting DBMS Data Models and Server Functionality Database Design, Data Exchange & Management 2. Modelling and Analysing Multi- Dimensional Data Data Analysis & Modelling, Decision Support 3. Mining Databases for Decision Support Business Modelling, Information Management 4. Distributing and Replicating Data Distributed Database Design and Implementation 5. Accessing and Manipulating Data Programmatically Programming, Web-based Development

13. 3.2 Skills Framework for the Information Age First published in 2000 as the National Information Systems Skills Framework Current release is SFIA version 5, late 2011 SFIA 5 defines 96 professional IT skills Gives employers a framework which they can use to measure the skills they have and need Tells education and training providers what the job market wants!

15. BCS SFIAplus Model Follow Assist Apply Enable Ensure, Advise Initiate, Influence Set Strategy, Inspire, Mobilise Background Work Activities Training Activities Knowledge and Skills Professional Development Activities Qualifications BCS IET IMIS itSMF e-skills UK

16. SFIA – Employability skills for Database Computing

17. 3.3 Database Computing Skills Map

18. Conclusion Categories and range of IT skills to be developed are clearly established, based on SFIA Employability skills are linked to specific unit or subject area in form of a skills map Skills maps can be consolidated to represent the big picture for a particular course Every picture paints a thousand words, improving accessibility of information and raising awareness Potential for cross-referencing with other skills across whole process of student learning

19. Whats Next? Modelling the wider range of employability skills derived from final-year projects in Computing through professional IT skills and the more generic (SFIA) skills those skills which can be achieved through (e.g.) research-based investigation Development of Transnational Work-Based Learning in the Curriculum – An Approach Informed by the Student Experience