Across the Anglo-American world, universities are focussed on improving the graduate outcomes of their students through diverse strategies that include work-integrated learning programs, study abroad experiences, mentoring, and career development services. Employability is defined as a set of achievements (skills, understandings and personal attributes) that makes graduates more likely to gain employment and be successful in their chosen occupations. Previous research, however, highlights that employability is not a neutral concept, and that some student groups benefit more than others from tr
... Show more
Across the Anglo-American world, universities are focussed on improving the graduate outcomes of their students through diverse strategies that include work-integrated learning programs, study abroad experiences, mentoring, and career development services. Employability is defined as a set of achievements (skills, understandings and personal attributes) that makes graduates more likely to gain employment and be successful in their chosen occupations. Previous research, however, highlights that employability is not a neutral concept, and that some student groups benefit more than others from traditional institutional strategies. This project investigated the extent to which a range of higher education employability strategies are accessible and relevant to diverse student cohorts. The study was funded by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training.
With a focus on how universities are addressing student equity within their employability strategies, the research included: an analysis of employability policy in higher education across the UK, US and Australia; a desktop analysis of Australian university websites; and a survey of both career managers and student union leaders within Australian public universities. This approach enabled both managerial and student views to be captured. While focussed on Australia, the comparative contextual analysis enabled an understanding of important similarities and differences across Anglo-American contexts. The findings revealed increased institutional activity as expected but also serious limitations in the way that universities are developing and implementing strategies. Alarmingly though, student equity is not a systematic part of most strategies. The report highlights the need for cultural change at institutional level, as well as substantive changes to process and strategy. One of the most important employability strategies is to focus on retention and completion.
Edited excerpts from publication.
Show less
