Research Supervisor: Marianne Savory - People, Work & Employment Department - University of Leeds
Project Outline:
In an increasingly competitive global job market, graduates must confidently communicate their competencies to successfully enter and progress in the world of work. Often, graduates are able to articulate the gains of extracurricular activities, but less so the degree itself.
In attempts of rectifying this, the Leeds University Business School have implemented Skills Mapping outlining the surface skills that are being built by each module of study, designed to actively support students in recognising, developing and showcasing the skills that undertaking a degree at the University of Leeds will give them. This research project investigates how embedding skills maps into academic programmes directly enhances employability due to it’s intended impact on student confidence and career readiness.
Motivation:
Debates on the true value of a degree is a divisive issue, now more than ever. This project provides the opportunity to respond to the question of whether universities actually make individuals more employable, with a plan to ensure that degrees are having the desired outcome - making graduates qualified, confident and career-ready employees.
As a student within the Leeds University Business School, I look forward to contributing to actionable improvement for, and on behalf of, my peers.
Output:
A combination of survey outcomes and qualitative data gained from focus groups with relevant students will be analysed to produce a literature review and research poster. These outputs will aid the improvement and provision of tools to support students in their abilities to recognise, surface, and articulate the skills that they have gained from their respective courses, with the aim of enhancing job acquisition long term.