Employability: Real WoRLD Project Initiative

Employability at GCU: The Real WoRLD Project

Work-related skills for employability

Welcome to the website for the Real WoRLD project. Real WoRLD stands for 'Realising Work-Related Learning Diffusion'. Work-related learning is a key component of Glasgow Caledonian University's Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy. One of its strategic goals is to build students' competencies in the skills demanded by employers in a knowledge economy.

The project aims to raise the profile of employability across the university through encouraging all schools to embed work-related learning activities into their programmes, use innovative approaches in learning and teaching to enhance their students' professional skills and engage with employers on a regular basis.

News:

The Graduate Market in 2009 : the latest update http://www.highfliers.co.uk/download/GMUpdate09.pdf

New CBI Report: Stronger together: Businesses and universities in turbulent times , September 2009 http://highereducation.cbi.org.uk/uploaded/CBI_HE_taskforce_report.pdf

Real WoRLD's principles presented at the DECOWE conference at the University of Ljubljana http://www.decowe.com/en/conference-contributions/he-and-the-supply-of-competences/

Real WoRLD's principles of work-related learning featured in ESCALATE newsletter http://escalate.ac.uk/6415

Real WoRLD chosen as SFC case study for good practice in work-related learning: case study_gcu

Real WoRLD event - a resounding success
The Centre for Research in Lifelong Learning and the Caledonian Academy hosted an event on 25 February to discuss how the goals of GCU's new Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy can be embedded all across the university.

Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Pamela Gillies and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Learning Innovation, Professor Sue Scott, opened the event, which was hailed as a resounding success.

The day was delivered in two parts. In the morning, the Moving Forward Initiative which aims to enhance the first-year student experience and develop independent lifelong learners was presented.

The afternoon showcased the Caledonian Academy's Real WoRLD project. Under the title 'Work-related learning - a challenge for us all', staff and students discussed how work-related learning activities can better be integrated in the subject specific curriculum of all schools.

There were presentations from all stakeholders: students, staff and employers. view videos.

Sabine McKinnon who manages the Real WoRLD Project, provided an introductory overview of the policy context and the aims of the university's employability initiative.

Under the heading; "Recognising what employers want and need" Paul Foley, Council member, CBI Scotland and Director of the Glasgow based business consultancy company Kynesis, emphasized how much importance employers attach to graduates' transferable soft skills such as team working and communication skills.

Students Lisa Kerr (MSc Social Research), Darren Williamson and Kirsty Hughes (BA / Hons. Business Studies ) reported on their experiences with industry visits and placements.

Five academic colleagues presented good practice examples of work-related learning that is embedded in the subject specific teaching:

Dr. Kevin Grant and Dr. Peter Duncan, Caledonian Business School: "A healthy dose of reality - MSc students as consultants"

Dr. Liz Frondigoun, School of Law and Social Sciences: "The missing link: academic/community engagement"

Dr. Alec Wersun, Caledonian Business School: "Students as strategizers"

Bruce Wood, School of Engineering and Computing: "Engaging employers - MA Design Practice and Management"

Nicola James, Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Officer, rounded off the afternoon when she spoke about: "Employability - more than a CV".

(view What is employability? page)

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Real WoRLD Project email: realworld@gcal.ac.uk

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Employability at GCU: The Real WoRLD Project