Involving students to promote employability of higher education Anita Līce European Students’ Union CEDEFOP peer learning event, Thessaloniki, 20 November 2007.

European Students’ Union Promoting the educational, social, economic & cultural interests of students at the European level towards all relevant organisations & institutions for 25 years 47 members 36 countries Over 10 mill. Students Formerly ESIB – The National Unions of Students in Europe

The development and policy level work that ESU is doing to promote young graduates´ entry to the labour market

Policy ESU policy focuses on the higher education and related issues to promote students’ interests What does it mean to be employable? (from students’ WS) At the Higher education institution: Adapt to emerging societal needs Explain the value of the degrees (communication, learning outcomes, involvement of the stakeholders) Reputation Career guidance services Taking into account the market needs Promoting the transversal competences and soft skills Good quality education For the Individual: Be able to apply knowledge, skills and competences in different contexts Adaptability to the workplace environment Self-aware of the capacities; self- confidence Ability to be self-employed and to develop and achieve a life project

Policy Employability – process and concept rather than a mere mathematical relationship between completion rates and employment statistics. ESU continues to believe that “the main goals of education are personal development, promotion of and education for active citizenship, developing and spreading knowledge and humanity as well as fostering of critical thinking and learning to learn. And education system must work towards the aim of a democratic society with equal opportunities for all that puts the interests of all people in its centre and educates them for their activity in the labour market.” (ESIB 2004, 2006)

Policy The trend towards articulation of learning outcomes (in terms of knowledge, skills, competences, most notable in the context of the development of QF), outcomes based, student-centered models of (higher) education – welcome and acts as a transformation of narrower, utilitarian notion of employability. Employability and issues of work is not the issue of HE system alone, but incorporate many factors (e.g., social security, labour legislation, economic models and regional disparities)

Policy Potential of HE to enhance employability ACADEMIC Quality education SOCIAL Equal opportunities Increasing social cohesion  Diverse society take advantage of education & Increasing efficiency of HE system  Students do participate in and takes full advantage of education Student centered education: curricular reform qualifications frameworks skills and competences

Which channels does ESU use to consult the national student unions to find out expectations of new graduates towards the counselling services?

ESU Board (the national unions of students in Europe) ESU committees Dialogue & information (discussion, WS, trainings, publications) Policy Representation ESU Board (the national unions of students in Europe) Work towards specific services for students Representing HE and/or VET students Recognized; cooperates with various stakeholders Involved in HE governance, QA process

Co-operation with the national unions of students ESU collects information from its members and provide them with information: - ESU policy making by members in the board meetings; - gathering information from students; - providing unions with reports, articles, information papers. National unions of students have different ways of policy-making (representing ) Student unions are not about “consumer protection”, but are NGO’s, which are developing opinion and lobby for it.

What negotiation fora does ESU use to influence other relevant actors and policy/decision-makers in order to bring to their attention the actual information and guidance needs of students making the transition from education to working life?

Negotiating employability Majority of students in Europe work already before graduation. Integrated policy approach is needed to ensure that all students can take the best advantage of the best possible quality education and - in transition from education to the labour market - can take the best opportunities available to make use of the outcomes of their education. National policy actors – through the national unions of students Promote employability ideas within the Bologna Process through participation in the working group on employability, various conferences, talking directly with labour unions Major concerns/priorities: Employability of bachelor degrees has become one of our major concerns by now; link between VET and higher education and access from on study programme to other; promoting mobility and internationalisation European working groups (Expert group on entrepreneurship)

Good practices on employability (from WS) Employers Offer placements, internships, and coaching Support HEI and also have agreements with HEI to train employees HEI Communication with society on the relevance of the education provided Promoting mobility Career guidance services Stakeholder involvement in HEI governance Research-based and up to date education Ensure lifelong learning programmes Government Government should increase access to HE Promote students’ and staff mobility Set minimum standards in terms of salaries Ensure autonomy of HEI’s Students Willingness to continue further studies Involvement in student unions, academia, participation Develop soft skills apart from core academic work

Thank you! www.esu-online.org