1. DEVELOPING UNDERGRADUATE CAPACITIES:The continuum of school to university Kenny McIntosh Lecturer in Language Education and Employability (University of Aberdeen)

2. SYMPOSIUM TOPIC ‘Curriculum for Excellence‘ and its implications for recruitment, teaching and assessment of students at the University of Aberdeen. Three key web links: • http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/thecurriculum/howdoyoubuildyourcurriculum/curriculumplanning/whatisbuildingyourcurriculum/btc/index.asp (Building the Curriculum) • http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/thecurriculum/whatiscurriculumforexcellence/keydocs/cfebriefings.asp (CfE Briefings) • http://www.abdn.ac.uk/graduateattributes/ (U of A Graduate Attributes)

3. Curriculum for Excellence

4. Building the Curriculum 4(The Scottish Government, Edinburgh, 2009, p10)and skills for work Skills for learning, skills for life and skills for work: literacy, numeracy and associated thinking skills skills for health and wellbeing personal learning planning career management skills working with others leadership physical co-ordination and movement skills skills for enterprise and employability. These skills will be relevant to all children and young people and will be the responsibility of all practitioners.

5. U of A Graduate Attributes

6. Graduate employability • “21st century graduates need to demonstrate to employers that they can hit the ground running. In addition to working hard to gain a good degree, students should engage in extra-curricular activities and obtain work experience in order to develop skills that will make them better prepared for the world of work.” Carl Gilleard, Chief Executive of the Association of Graduate Recruiters, cited by Trought (2012) See also articles in the Telegraph (Jan ‘12): • http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/9036281/Third-of-companies-struggling-to-recruit-skilled-graduates.html • http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jobs/9016557/One-in-five-firms-prefer-school-leavers-to-graduates.html

7. Overview of Learning from Work course (ED1520) • Level 1 • 15 credits: 150 notional student hours • Blended teaching and learning through MyAberdeen • Experiential learning • Learning with and from others • Focus on the student and his/her skills development • Informed choices and discussion • E-portfolio • Regular self-reflection • Giving and receiving constructive, formative feedback • Essential reading

8. ED1520 Aims and Learning outcomes • Critically reflect on your development of a selection of Aberdeen University graduate attributes • Analyse skills used in a work-place setting in relation to self and others • Evidence the use of interpersonal, communication (written, oral and electronic communication), problem-solving and team-working skills, through collaborative planning and oral presentation of your experiential learning in the workplace • Undertake an enquiry into cultural and environmental elements of a work-place setting

9. ED1520 Placement Expectations • 35 hours in a work setting • Part-time work or voluntary setting • Maintain a record of activity • Reflect on your engagement in this setting and the skills developed • Evidence your development • Employer / supervisor confirmation • Support from AUSA and U of A Careers Service

10. Course assessment in ED1520 How can students can be encouraged to analyse and evidence the skills and attributes gained through the entire student experience? In ED1520 (Learning From Work): • Collaborative Group presentation (40% weighting) • 2000 word reflective account (60% weighting) • Details in MyAberdeen • Evidence: • Course reading • Self-directed study (further investigation) • E-portfolio • Connections between graduate attributes, employability skills, and your experiences • Peer feedback (as aspect of Collaborative Group presentation)

11. The way ahead???: CfE and U of A In the context of developing/supporting/building on Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) some considerations emerge for the way ahead in University of Aberdeen: • To what extent, if at all, might a focus on U of A Graduate Attributes and CfE capacities, attributes and capabilities contribute to partnership discussions between University of Aberdeen, schools and local Authorities? • Is there anything in the ED1520 (Learning From Work) approach to teaching and learning (i.e. linked to CfE core concepts and features) that might support teaching and learning in other areas of University of Aberdeen? • In the context of Higher Education should/could formative assessment, a key feature of CfE, be more deeply embedded across teaching and learning in University of Aberdeen? • Should/could the continuous development of skills for learning, life and work be a necessary facet of the teaching of tutors/ALL tutors in University of Aberdeen?