Globally, increasing attention is being given to how universities should enhance graduate employability. Although it is risky to generalise about universities in a single country let alone globally, universities are often perceived as insular and disconnected from the organisations that ultimately employ their graduates.
Surveys and research on employers’ views of higher education consistently identify concerns that graduates do not have the skills that employers are looking for. Strengthening engagement between academia and employers can help ensure that the curriculum is relevant and students are better equipped for employment or to pursue their own entrepreneurial objectives.
The Strategic Partnerships for Higher Education Innovation and Reform (SPHEIR) programme is designed to help transform the quality, relevance, access and affordability of higher education in targeted low income countries.
Published in September 2020, this paper explores varieties of employer engagement within the SPHEIR projects – looking at the approaches, challenges and learnings. The paper draws on the experiences of SPHEIR partners, and reviews employer engagement within the following contexts:
- Employer input into curriculum design
- Strengthening the relationship between the university and community
- Employer interaction with students and academic staff
- Influencing the university as an employer.
Please download the paper via the link below: