Introductory description

The Employability and Career Development Learning module enables participants to develop knowledge and understanding in the design of employability and career development courses in curriculum-based and non-curriculum-based contexts. The module is designed to develop reflective practice in employability and career development learning by focusing on: theories and definitions of employability and career development learning, the learning alliance, course design, negotiation, assessment, and evaluation.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Acknowledging participants’ prior experience and learning in employability and career development learning.
Learning alliance.
Roles and institutional context.
Defining employability and career development learning.
Linking learning theories and programme design.
Session design tools and writing learning outcomes.
Creating a positive learning environment and the learning alliance.
Models of programme design.
Programme assessment and evaluation.
Implementing an employability and career development learning programme.
Critical pedagogy and equity in relation to employability and career development learning.
Case study.
Links with core modules (institutional and professional issues, theoretical perspectives and values relating to employability and career development learning).

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Systematically describe the theoretical basis of employability and career development learning e.g. career theory, social learning, experiential learning, transformative learning, critical pedagogy, cultural learning.
• Comprehensively identify definitions of employability and career development learning, models of programme design and their underpinning rationales, strategies for programme implementation, examples of delivery in practice, and relevant institutional contexts.
• Critically evaluate existing employability and career development learning provision and make innovative suggestions for enhancement in relation to a range of contemporary issues e.g. career influences, career information, education and labour markets, recruitment practices, career management, equity, diversity, workplace behaviour, technology, lifelong employability, career and identity.
• Creatively design learning outcomes, teaching methods, topics and content, assessment strategies, and evaluation methods suitable for a contemporary employability and career development learning programme.
• Systematically plan to agree and develop a positive and supportive learning environment via a clear learning alliance.
• Communicate verbally by effectively sharing and disseminating good practice in the design of employability and career development learning programmes; and in clear written form by designing a programme using the current course guides to presentation and referencing.

Indicative reading list

Crafting the present for future employability: an AHECS employability module - AHECS
Concept mapping to support university academics’ analysis of course content - Cheryl Amundsen, Cynthia Weston, Lynn McAlpine, 2008-12
Enhancing Teaching through Constructive Alignment - John Biggs, 1996
Re-designing work-related learning - Gill Frigerio, Richard Mendez, Phil McCash, May 2012
Structural foundations in the learning process - D Kolb
Designing a generic career studies module: A practical example developed for the Centre for Career Management Skills - Phil McCash
Contemporary theories of learning: learning theorists -- in their own words - Knud Illeris, 2009
Enabling Participation in Academic Discourse - Andrew Northedge, 2003-04
Adaptation of Kirkpatrick’s four level model of training criteria to assessment of learning outcomes and program evaluation in Higher Education - Ludmila Praslova, 2010-8
Understanding Careers - C.M. Reynolds, 2011
The interpersonal relationship in the facilitation of learning, C Rogers
The Working Alliance in Teaching and Learning: Theoretical Clarity and Research Implications - Daniel T. Rogers, 2009-07-01
E-tivities: the key to active online learning - Gilly Salmon, 2013
Self-Assessment: Changing Circumstances, Changing Selves - R Simon

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Subject specific skills

By the end of the module, students should have developed professional skills in the design and delivery of employability and career development learning.

Transferable skills

By the end of the module, students should be able to communicate verbally in the effective delivery of employability and career development learning; and in clear written form by critiquing employability and career development learning practice using the current course guides to presentation and referencing.