This paper introduces an approach to developing student employability through existing academically rigorous curriculum by surfacing, articulating and assessing more intentionally the transferable skills innate to every academic subject. “Employability” is often considered only to be relevant to and developed through subjects and programmes which are aligned to professional careers and outcomes. But students of all disciplines should graduate from higher education with a strong sense of the value of their academic learning to their future working lives, beyond their subject knowledge gain. The paper will draw on my approach to surfacing and articulating the transferable skills originally developed from academically rigorous and research-led curriculum (known as “extracted employability”, Daubney, 2021) which has been adopted by a number of UK and international universities. It will outline briefly how higher education institutions can develop their own taxonomies of transferable skills that are academically appropriate, relevant to employers and accessible to students. This paper will explore the implications for learning design through reimagining learning outcomes, and approaches to teaching and assessment. It will also explore how we can reconsider authentic assessment and experiential learning, both traditionally associated only with professionally-aligned subject areas. It will conclude with some suggestions about how this impacts universities’ ability to prepare students for an uncertain future of work.

Authors:
Kate Daubney, Independent Scholar, United Kingdom

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Kate Daubney has worked in higher education for 30 years and in careers education and employability development for 20 years. She consults to global universities and educational organisations on education strategy, including skills and curriculum.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/katedaubney/

Additional website of interest
http://www.katedaubneycareers.com/

See this presentation on the full schedule – Friday Schedule

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