links with the labour market

8/7/2019 Links with the Labour Market

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Links with the Labour MarketInstitutional Responsiveness to

the Workplace

NadiaNadia MirelesMireles--Torres & Jason McBrideTorres & Jason McBride

University of CalgaryUniversity of Calgary

EDEREDER 719.10719.10

JulyJuly 23,23, 20102010

Dr.Dr. Duffie VanBalkomDuffie VanBalkom


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Overview

Framing the problem

International & domestic perspectives

Employability issues Opportunities and barriers to responsiveness


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It is not the strongest of the

species that survive,nor the most intelligent,

but the one most

responsive to change.

Charles Darwin


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Framing the Problem

Todays graduates will have to continually

update their skills to gain and retain

employment in the new knowledge-based

economy.

Employability discourse is common, but there

is still a disconnect between graduates and

the workplace.


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HOWHAVE YOU SEEN LABOURMARKET PRESSURES AFFECT

YOUR ORGANIZATION?

QuickWrite


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Canadian Perspective

Employability skills required are not well

developed in graduates or well taught by

university faculty (Evers et al., 1999) Skills most in demand by employers are typically

the least in supply soft skills vs competencies

(Atkins, 2001) Three sources of stress: employer, student and

university


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International Perspective

OECD, WB, UNESCO, EU highlights

Old challenges:

C

overage, equity, quality, governance, funding. New challenges

Growing role of knowledge, value added,knowledge-based industries

ICT revolution, access Political and social changes

Global labour market


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HEIs changing education needs:HEIs changing education needs:

InternationalInternational

recognition ofrecognition of

qualificationsqualifications

Building upBuilding upcapacitycapacity

AdaptedAdaptedInfrastructuresInfrastructures

LifelongLifelonglearninglearning

New Programs/New Programs/new clientsnew clients

More/flexibleMore/flexiblepedagogicalpedagogical

methodsmethods

Rethink teachingRethink teachingprofessionprofession

New abilities:New abilities:discipline,discipline,analytical,analytical,attitudeattitude


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Strengthening Ties with the Labour MarketStrengthening Ties with the Labour Market

Over-supplyof graduates

Labourmarket

demands?

Appropriate to

the demands of

working life?

Studying right typesof subjects?

ismatch betweenthe courses they study

and the needs of theeconomy?

Skills andcapabilities


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WHERE IS THE DISCONNECT?Global Labour Market


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Skills Expectations


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Employability Skills

Employability skills = foundational academic,

personal and teamwork skills (Conference

Board ofCanada, 2000)

Effectively taught through work experiences or

employer-assisted course design, not in

classes imbedded or standalone (Mason et al.,

2003)


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Employability Skills 2000+

Were you prepared?

Self-assessment of yourself as

new graduate


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Responsive Or not?

Public authorities

National

Qualifications

FrameworksDegrees are further

distinguished in terms

of the knowledge and

skills required Labourmarket

demands

Studentexpecta-

tions

HEIsofferings


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Bologna Process

London 2007: How to improve employability?

Employability of graduates: one of the most

important focal points of HE Legislation obliging HEIs to involve employers

and stakeholders in curriculum development,

QA, governance


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Bologna Process Advances

Bergen Communiqu 2005

80% have NQFs

18 formal decisions to approve NQF proposals andbegin NQF implementation

7 fully implemented NQFs by end of 2009

9 very early stage of implementing NQF 10 not yet started implementation of NQFs


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Institutional Barriers

Changing role of faculty, competing demands

for time and loyalty.

(Adapted from Kerr, 1994)

1.1.InstitutionalInstitutional

2.2.DepartmentalDepartmental

3.3.DisciplinaryDisciplinary

4.4. ExtramuralExtramural

5.5. ProfessionalProfessional

6.6.PersonalPersonal


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HOWHAVE YOU SEEN LABOURMARKET PRESSURES AFFECT

YOUR ORGANIZATION?

QuickWrite Revisited


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References

Atkins, M.J. (1999, April). Oven-ready and self-basting: Taking stock

of employability skills. Teaching in Higher Education, 4(2).

Conference Board ofCanada. (2000). EmployabilitySkills 2000+

Toolkit. Ottawa: Author.

Evers, F. T., Rush, J.C. & Berdrow, I. (1998). The Bases of

Competence: Skills for Lifelong Learning and Employability. San

Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Global University Network for Innovation, GUNI. (2008). Higher

education in

the world 3. Higher Educa

tion: New challenges and

emerging roles for human and social development

Kerr, C. (1994, January/February). Knowledge Ethics and the New

Academic Culture. Change, 9-15.


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References

Mason, G., Williams, G., Cranmer, S. & Guile, D. (2003) How much

does higher education enhance the employability of graduates?

Higher Education Funding Council for England. Available online at:

http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/rdreports/2003/rd13_03/default.asp

(accessed 21 July 2010).

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2008).

Tertiary education forthe knowledge society. Paris: OECD.

Rauhvargers, A. (2010). Achieving bologna goals: Where does

Europe stand ahead of 2010.3(14)

Rauhvargers, A., Deane, C., & Pauwels, W. (2009). Bologna process

stocktaking report2009. Stocktaking Working Group, European

Union.

World Bank. (2002). Constructing knowledge societies. World Bank.

Washington D.C.

links with the labour market

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