VALUE Conference Ankara, TR 8-9 June 2011 Employability Subgroup Session Volunteering as a sustainable factor in personal development and employability VALUE Conference Ankara, TR 8-9 June 2011 Employability Subgroup Session Volunteering as a sustainable factor in personal development and employability 1

Introduction Within the context of volunteering- University Lifelong Learning (ULLL) interaction, the wide range of stakeholders that the ‘employability’ theme can cover includes: Volunteers Employed managers of volunteers Employers who encourage their own employed staff to engage in volunteering Discussion led us to adopt the following definition of Employability: “The combination of factors which enable individuals to progress towards or get into employment, to stay in employment and to progress during their career.” Introduction Within the context of volunteering- University Lifelong Learning (ULLL) interaction, the wide range of stakeholders that the ‘employability’ theme can cover includes: Volunteers Employed managers of volunteers Employers who encourage their own employed staff to engage in volunteering Discussion led us to adopt the following definition of Employability: “The combination of factors which enable individuals to progress towards or get into employment, to stay in employment and to progress during their career.” 2

Opportunities Not all volunteers will be interested in ULLL or employability as part of their volunteering. However, economy-wide there is an increasing emphasis upon skills development and the accreditation of these skills. Many volunteers will want to accredit and validate the skills they have developed in their volunteering roles. Crucially ULLL offers transferable, recognisable and highly valued accreditation and validation for this learning. Opportunities Not all volunteers will be interested in ULLL or employability as part of their volunteering. However, economy-wide there is an increasing emphasis upon skills development and the accreditation of these skills. Many volunteers will want to accredit and validate the skills they have developed in their volunteering roles. Crucially ULLL offers transferable, recognisable and highly valued accreditation and validation for this learning. 3

Diversity of learners with a diversity of needs Demographics (the ‘usual suspects’ of age, gender etc) Motivations for volunteering and ULLL Stage of career and previous experience of education Type of volunteering Diversity of learners with a diversity of needs Demographics (the ‘usual suspects’ of age, gender etc) Motivations for volunteering and ULLL Stage of career and previous experience of education Type of volunteering 4

Beyond just employability There is more to volunteering and ULLL than employability The relationship between volunteering and employability is complex and multifaceted Volunteering can be an alternative to employment Beyond just employability There is more to volunteering and ULLL than employability The relationship between volunteering and employability is complex and multifaceted Volunteering can be an alternative to employment 5

1.Empowerment refers to the expansion of freedom of choice and action to shape one’s life. 2.‘Raising awareness’ is the first step: why bother valuing volunteering? 3.Next step is building up a portfolio: how to formulate learning outcomes? 4.3 rd step is valuing one’s portfolio: linking to standards. 5.Example: quick scan of value volunteering related to HE-standards 1.Empowerment refers to the expansion of freedom of choice and action to shape one’s life. 2.‘Raising awareness’ is the first step: why bother valuing volunteering? 3.Next step is building up a portfolio: how to formulate learning outcomes? 4.3 rd step is valuing one’s portfolio: linking to standards. 5.Example: quick scan of value volunteering related to HE-standards Empowering volunteers 6

Linking volunteering, employability and ULLL 1.Teaming up: articulated standards from university and from voluntary organisations 2.Validation of Prior Learning as a linking pin 3.Matching standards for: I.Qualification II.Personal development III.Career steps in volunteering IV.Transfer to paid work Linking volunteering, employability and ULLL 1.Teaming up: articulated standards from university and from voluntary organisations 2.Validation of Prior Learning as a linking pin 3.Matching standards for: I.Qualification II.Personal development III.Career steps in volunteering IV.Transfer to paid work 7

ULLL Current Practises Growing recognition of the demonstrated need for not just generic management style competences but very specific applicability of ULLL for those managing volunteers. E.g. in 2007 most management modules on offer in the UK to those in the voluntary sector were very generic type ‘business school’ style. Now some universities are developing more tailored modules with specific applicability to the voluntary sector Higher Education can encourage reflexive competences for volunteers – allow them to value learning, and there seem to be more opportunities for this now in the UK and NL. Community learning and the different contexts for volunteering are increasingly appreciated and being accommodated within ULLL provision ULLL Current Practises Growing recognition of the demonstrated need for not just generic management style competences but very specific applicability of ULLL for those managing volunteers. E.g. in 2007 most management modules on offer in the UK to those in the voluntary sector were very generic type ‘business school’ style. Now some universities are developing more tailored modules with specific applicability to the voluntary sector Higher Education can encourage reflexive competences for volunteers – allow them to value learning, and there seem to be more opportunities for this now in the UK and NL. Community learning and the different contexts for volunteering are increasingly appreciated and being accommodated within ULLL provision 8

Employability Questions How much do employers and other external stakeholders value (recognize, accept and build further on) the resultant academic achievement from participation by volunteers and their managers in ULLL? Are funding bodies pushing towards professionalization of the sector? Employability Questions How much do employers and other external stakeholders value (recognize, accept and build further on) the resultant academic achievement from participation by volunteers and their managers in ULLL? Are funding bodies pushing towards professionalization of the sector? 9