“Languages in the workplace”: embedding employability in the foreign language undergraduate curriculum (original) (raw)

The employability advantage: embedding skills through a university-wide language programme

In an ever unstable job market, improving the employability skills of graduates comes very high in the priorities of languages departments. As the employment of graduates appears among the performance indicators of institutions in higher education, universities are focussing more and more upon the development of employability related skills to enhance students’ prospects in the job market. All UK universities are measured on the first jobs that their students acquire after graduation. In response to this, Coventry University implemented numerous new strategies to emphasise and stress the importance of education for employability

Language in the workplace: combining academic study with work experience

Employability for languages: a handbook, 2016

T he newly formed Linguistics and Modern Languages subject area at University of Huddersfield sought to revamp our curriculum to embed employability into our teaching so that students could understand the relevance of their subject to life outside and after university. To this end, we decided to adapt and specialise the generic placement module that was compulsory in the School of Music, Humanities and Media for our particular students to service their specific needs and linguistic skillset. The result is an innovative second year placement module called Language in the Workplace. With the help of funding from the Higher Education Academy (HEA), we carried out a research project to ensure our placement module is as effective as possible. This involved assessing our students' employability skills and needs, gathering the opinions of placement providers and employers, and putting together case studies on our graduates' employment experience.

Foreign Languages: The Key Factor in Employability

Management, 2020

The globalization of knowledge, and of higher education itself, is contributing to an increasing use of foreign languages. Nowadays, labour markets worldwide demand employees and graduates who possess foreign language proficiency and good communication skills. The aim of this article is to show that possessing foreign language skills offers graduates and employees the opportunity of a better job, career success and promotion. This study investigates the role of foreign language skills in the employability and success of Kosovo citizens. In addition, an international review of the effects of language skills on effective communication is provided in order to make a national and international comparison. Our findings support the hypothesis that foreign languages constitute a good amount of knowledge management which generates success for both graduates and employees. We will try to prove this hypothesis through a relevant literature review and others' research. This article's objective is to explore the benefits of learning foreign languages. The results show that the use of foreign languages is crucial for employment, career success, knowledge sharing and cross-cultural communication.

Improving Students' Employability Chances - Foreign Language Trainers' Role

Diversitate si Identitate Culturala in Europa, 2013

This article discusses the need for educators in business schools to become more involved in discovering and cultivating not only hard skills, but also soft skills, in order to prepare students to meet the requirements of their potential employers. At the level of business undergraduate studies in Romania, educational activities focusing on soft skills (such as intercultural communication, positive attitude, flexibility) become essential for increasing students' employability chances. Foreign language teachers who use a communicative teaching method are specifically involved in such activities. But do these courses cover the entire range of top soft skills required by business executives? What is done in the classroom and what can be improved? The present study will attempt to find the answers to these questions and to formulate suggestions for a more focused approach to soft skills development through foreign language courses.

Innovative language teaching and learning at university: enhancing employability. Edited by Carmen Álvarez-Mayo, Angela Gallagher-Brett & Franck Michel

A peer reviewed volume with a selection of papers from last year’s Conference - including a foreword by Jocelyn Wyburd and her opening paper - which in 2016 was held at the University of York on June 17th. In the 21st century, technology develops fast and we all need to learn, adapt and evolve faster than ever to keep up with times. To maximise their potential, students need to be exposed to different technologies and feel comfortable doing so. They need to be able to effectively and efficiently access, produce, edit and share information appropriately, being able to work collaboratively and independently. Now more than ever, with the high increase in university tuition fees, language students – and everyone else – need not only to be able to develop but also to evidence a wide range of skills to compete in the current job market. As educators, we must be aware of what employers look for in graduates to be able to openly discuss this with students helping them become aware of their development needs. Throughout the book, authors share good practice drawing on research, like the British Academy's Born Global project, and reflecting on their experience to promote student engagement, inclusivity and collaboration, fostering a successful learning environment while developing employability skills, reviewing the course content and assessment, and developing new modules to promote intercultural competence, inclusivity, critical thinking, collaborative work, digital skills, and employer engagement, etc. Whatever the language – or subject we teach – there are a number of skills, behaviours, attributes and attitudes which staff and students should be aware of in order to enhance teaching and learning to maximise student potential and their employability prospects. ‘Students who now fund more of the cost of their higher education demand higher quality, transparency and value for money. Employers want highly skilled graduates who are ready to enter the workforce. And the country needs people with the knowledge and expertise to help us compete at a global level’ Green paper: Fulfilling our Potential: teaching excellence, social mobility and student choice BIS November 2015 ‘Employability is complex, therefore, no single area of focus is the solution’ HEA, Framework for embedding employability in Higher Education (2015)