Early engagement with employers and employability

The inclusion of an industrial placement year as part of an honours degree is highly beneficial to students. Placement typically occurs after two year of academic study however, early engagement with employability issues can act as a motivator for students and also ensures they are in a better position to gain maximum benefit from the placement opportunity itself. This paper discusses two pilot schemes namely Placement Shadowing and Video-Based Snap Shots which demonstrate ways in which some of the benefits of placement can be achieved earlier in a student’s experience. That is, without requiring them to physically undertake an extended period of work-based learning in advance of having the necessary skills to enable them to be successful within the employment opportunity.