1. Sarah Etchells Dr Sebastian Rasinger Department of English and Media
Implementation of an Employability based Personal Tutoring system: A pilot
Sarah Etchells
Dr Sebastian Rasinger
Department of English and Media

2. Background
Undergraduate courses in the Department of English and Media have seen a considerable decrease in employability amongst our graduates.
In the most recent DLHE survey, 5 of the 6 courses with returns have seen a drop in graduates in work or further study, with all drops exceeding 1% from the previous year

3. Background 2
Conversations with final year students employability activity often seen as a ‘distraction’ from their core studies.
Students not perceiving Personal Tutor meetings as having a purpose – an issue that has been repeatedly raised during the last round of SSLCs, but also by staff.

4. Employability Tracker
Allow students to track their employability activities throughout their course.
It is closely linked to the Personal Tutor system, in an attempt to enhance both systems and make them more purposeful

5. Employability skills definition:
A set of attributes, skills and knowledge that all labour market participants should possess to ensure they have the capability of being effective in the workplace – to the benefit of themselves, their employer and the wider economy (CBI)
Employability Skills
Do you have this skill
Yes No
If YES score (with 1 being less skilled and 5 being most skilled) How can you evidence this skill? How can you improve on your existing score?
If NO, how could you gain this skill? Consider and list potential opportunities within your degree study, campus services, paid/unpaid work, extra-curricular activities
Self -Management
Readiness to accept responsibility, flexibility,
readiness to improve own performance based on feedback/
resilience, self-starting, appropriate assertiveness, time management,
reflective learning
Teamwork
persuading, contributing to discussions, and awareness of interdependence with others
Respecting others, co-operating, negotiating/
Business & Commercial Awareness
Basic understanding of the key drivers for business success - including the importance of innovation and taking calculated risks - and the need to provide
customer satisfaction and build customer loyalty
Problem Solving
creative thinking to develop appropriate solutions
Analysing facts and situations and applying

6. Communication & Literacy
Application of literacy, ability to produce clear, structured written work and oral literacy - including listening and questioning
Application of IT basic IT skills, including familiarity with word processing, spreadsheets file management and use of internet search engines
Numeracy Manipulation of numbers, general mathematical awareness and its application in practical contexts (e.g. measuring, weighing, estimating and applying formulae)
Project Management Planning, organising, motivating, and controlling resources to achieve specific goals
Languages & Cultural Sensitivity Everyday conversational ability can be useful, as can a general awareness of cultural differences
Social Responsibility  Awareness of current and future societal issues. Able to act for the benefit of others based in an understanding of social and civic responsibilities
References: Working Towards Your Future. CBI/NUS (2011) Brilliant Career Handbook. Harlow: Pearson. Done,J & Mulvey,R (2011

7. The Tracker
At the start of each academic year, students will use the tracker to identify their current skills levels, and, in consultation with their personal tutor, will agree a set of targets and actions to be completed throughout the year.
A mid-year review will allow for an evaluation of progress and, if required, the resetting and/or modification of targets

8. Advantages
The tracker will enable a systematic tracking of skills throughout their degree, and facilitate a purposeful and regular interaction with their personal tutors, making these meetings more than the simple box-ticking exercise it is perceived to be.
In turn, we would envisage the closer relationship between students and personal tutors to be beneficial in other areas, too, including progression, retention, and the achieving of good degrees.

9. Process
The initial project (phases 1 and 2) will include English Language and Linguistics, English Language Teaching students and English Language students.

10. Evaluation
Student feedback via face-to-face discussion and online questionnaire as well as SSLCs
Staff and stakeholder feedback
Attendance at personal tutor sessions

12. Tests and assessments