THE MOCK ASSESSMENT CENTRE: A CROSS PROGRAMME STUDENT LED LEARNING EXPERIENCE

Mason et al’s (2002) study showed that universities were beginning to emphasise the employability of their graduates and consider it as an essential curriculum element and graduate employability has subsequently become “An aim of Governments all around the world” p3 Yorke (2006) with higher education is seen as a key component in delivering on this agenda. However most work in this area focuses on transferable skills rather than either occupational specific skills or career management skills (Bridgstock, 2009). Where these are delivered they tend to be extra-curricular, not contextualised and consequently undervalued by students (Barkas, 2011). To address these issues for two cohorts of students I devised a course based intervention which allows both groups to develop specific skills. In this session I will outline a summatively assessed learning experience in which one cohort of students designs and delivers a simulated recruitment exercise for another allowing both to develop specific skills. One group is able to use experiential action learning as recommended by UKCES (2009) to build their skills as occupational psychologists whilst another benefits from experiencing real life recruitment exercises and receiving individualised feedback. This session will showcase the intervention and outline issues and their solution which developed during its evolution and delivery.

References:
[1] Barkas, L. (2011). ‘Teaching’ or ‘support’? The poisoned chalice of the role of students’ Skills Centres, Journal of Further and Higher Education, 35(2), 265-286.
[2] Bridgstock, R. (2009). The graduate attributes we’ve overlooked: enhancing graduate employability through career management skills. Higher Education Research and Development, 28(1), 3-44.
[3] Mason, G. Williams, G., Cranmer, S and Guile, D. (2002). How Higher Education enhances the employability of graduates. London: Institute of Education and National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) for higher Education Funding Council (HEFCE).
[4] UKCES (2009). The Employability Challenge Full Report, February 2009, UK Commission for Employment and Skills
[5] Yorke, M. (2006). Employability in Higher education: what it is and what it is not. York: Higher Education Academy.