Employability and High-Level Skills
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Swansea University Singleton Park Swansea EMPLOYABILITY AND HIGH-LEVEL SKILLS SA2 8PP EQUIPPING STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS Telephone +44 (0)1792 205678 www.swansea.ac.uk 03 Foreword 05 The importance of higher-level skills to the knowledge-based economy 08 Aerospace engineering 10 Skills for the printing and coating industry 13 Skills for the law profession 16 Translator training 18 The Welsh aquaculture sector 20 Business management and leadership 23 Developing the skills to address ageing issues 26 Meeting the demands of the Digital Age 29 Skills for tomorrow’s doctors 33 Skills for healthcare professionals 37 High-level engineering skills – the Engineering Doctorate (EngD) programme 41 Employer study partnerships EMPLOYABILITY AND HIGH-LEVEL SKILLS 43 Entrepreneurship, leadership, team working and communication skills 46 Professional Practice for Sustainable Development 49 Diploma Supplements CONTENTS 50 Next steps The embedded culture of working with business and industry has resulted in Swansea University being at the forefront of support for the development of the Knowledge Economy. 03 “We want to see all universities treating EMPLOYABILITY AND student employability as a core part of HIGH-LEVEL SKILLS their mission. So we believe it is reasonable to expect universities to take responsibility for how their students are prepared for the world of work”. Source: Higher Education at work - High Skills: High Value. Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills. A FOREWORD FROM THE VICE-CHANCELLOR Swansea University has a proud history of working closely with business, industry, and commerce. This dates back to the foundation of the University in 1920 and the University continues to be influenced by the strong industrial legacy of the region. What is now referred to as “employability” is therefore intrinsic to the Swansea ethos. This brochure uses examples from across the University to explain what this means in practice. We share with all research-led universities a commitment to developing students’ generic analytical skills and engendering flexibility of thinking and a love of scholarship, which shall empower them to face the varied and uncertain challenges of the future. But Swansea goes further, with a notable emphasis on the teaching of professional and high-level skills. The brochure shows how this teaching is progressive and forward-looking, informed by research underway in the University and by interactions with professional bodies and employers. But we are not complacent and have developed an innovative and ambitious strategy to ensure that Swansea graduates will be able to thrive in an increasingly competitive world. This strategy focuses on the soft and hard skills required by a successful Knowledge Economy and is summarised at the end of this brochure. Professor Richard B Davies Vice-Chancellor THE IMPORTANCE OF HIGHER LEVEL SKILLS 05 TO THE KNOWLEDGE-BASED ECONOMY The UK and Welsh Assembly Governments have identified the vital importance of higher level skills to the Knowledge Economy, and are encouraging higher education to maximise responsiveness to employer demand and engagement in the development of new courses. Since its inception, Swansea University has had close links with industry. Historically these links were with the copper, steel, mining and petrochemical industries, however the embedded culture of close working with business and industry has resulted in Swansea being at the forefront of support for the development of the Knowledge Economy. THIS SUPPORT IS SET AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF THE CONCLUSIONS OF SEVERAL REPORTS THAT ENCOMPASS SKILLS PROVISION: December 2006: the Leitch Review of Skills, Prosperity April 2008: The UK Innovation Survey shows that the for all in the global economy – world class skills, showed most innovative businesses are those employing the most that there is an urgent need for the UK to raise graduates. A single percentage point increase in the share achievements at all levels of skills if it is to compete in the of the workforce that has a degree could increase changing global economy. productivity by 0.5%. May 2007: In their London Communiqué, Towards the July 2008: in Skills That Work for Wales: A skills and European Higher Education Area, the Ministers responsible employment strategy and action plan, the Welsh Assembly for Higher Education in the countries participating in the Government sets out a reform agenda for education and Bologna Process urged “institutions to further develop training at all levels, with the aim of achieving full partnerships and cooperation with employers in the employment in Wales and helping to sustain economic ongoing process of curriculum innovation based on growth. learning outcomes.” The strategy addresses high-level skills explicitly, noting that: October 2007: the Sainsbury Review of Science and Innovation, The Race to the Top, is clear in its view that a “higher education is vital to the successful economy must depend on skills development in One Wales vision of a strong the workforce. It states ‘The challenge for the UK... is to continue to upgrade our knowledge and skills and move and enterprising economy into new high-value-added goods and services and new with high-quality jobs”. high-value-added industries’. 06 EMPLOYABILITYHIGHER LEVEL SKILLS AND HIGHER LEVEL SKILLS 07 “Entrepreneurship refers to an individual’s ability to turn ideas into action and is therefore a key competence for all, helping young people to be more creative and self-confident in whatever they undertake”. SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS ENGINEERING AND MATHS September 2008: The Developing The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has Entrepreneurial Graduates report, prepared jointly warned that, unless the decline in the study of by the National Endowment for Science, science, technology, engineering and mathematics Technology and the Arts, the National Council for (STEM) subjects is halted, Britain will struggle to Entrepreneurship, and the Council for Industry and compete in the global market. Higher Education, stated that to achieve a more competitive economy in which enterprise, “The UK cannot compete with the developing entrepreneurship and innovation are the drivers of world on low-skilled jobs, so to thrive in the global growth requires graduates with entrepreneurial market we must excel in the higher-skilled roles that and innovative mindsets, behaviours and skills. The demand expertise and innovation. Employers tell need for a combination of innovative, creative, us that the demand for STEM graduates is likely to collaborative and risk-taking skills applies to a grow significantly over the next few years.” wide range of disciplines. (Confederation of British Industry) “...entrepreneurship is not for business alone. • STEM graduates offer skills and knowledge that Addressing the major social challenges of our are highly valued in the labour market. century requires public bodies and social ventures to recruit graduates with skills to transform such • The CBI has suggested that consideration be challenges into opportunities for change.” given to providing financial incentives to undergraduates to study STEM subjects, and March 2008: This theme was also developed in thereby help deliver the 2.4 million STEM-qualified the European Commission’s report, staff needed by 2014. Entrepreneurship in Higher Education, especially in non-business studies, which states that • Science and engineering companies are already RESEARCH AND KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER struggling to fill posts: it is estimated that 80 per “Entrepreneurship refers to an individual’s ability to In business, the development of new products, processes and services is essential for creating cent of engineering or industrial companies, and turn ideas into action and is therefore a key competitive advantage. In the economy generally, there is evidence to demonstrate a link 67 per cent of energy, water or utility companies competence for all, helping young people to be between innovation and business growth. had a shortfall in overall graduate recruitment in more creative and self-confident in whatever they 2007. undertake”. The Sainsbury Review argued that the best way for the UK to make the most of globalisation is to support the restructuring of British companies so they can compete in markets for high-value goods and services. The Higher Education sector in Wales has a vital role in establishing the foundations for an innovative Knowledge Economy. HE institutions carry out cutting-edge research, are sources of new business ventures, provide a strong supply of highly-skilled people, and attract investors. 08 AEROSPACE ENGINEERING AEROSPACE ENGINEERING 09 THE AEROSPACE INDUSTRY • Six of the world’s top ten aerospace and defence firms operate in Wales, • The UK is the world’s number two complementing the region’s 180 other market leader in the aerospace and companies in the aerospace and defence industries. aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul sectors. • The sector makes a significant AEROSPACE ENGINEERING – These facilities enable industry relevant project work to be carried contribution to the UK economy through • Manufacturing is concentrated in North AN INDUSTRY-FOCUSSED DEGREE SCHEME out by students. Where possible, students undergo placements manufacturing and research into new Wales, with South Wales focussing on This is an example of higher level skills provision developed directly within companies to experience real life work environments. It is this technologies. research design