Our seminars address issues related to employer engagement in education, including youth unemployment, career aspirations and school-to-work transitions. They are attended by a diverse range of individuals working within the field of education, including teachers, school leaders, employers, policy makers and academics. Seminars are free to attend, and slides, audio and video footage from each one are available below for public download.
September 19, 2012
September 19, 2012
This seminar focused on the way in which school to work transitions can be successfully managed in the current economic climate. Abstract: All over Europe, headline figures for youth unemployment have been reaching record and deeply worrying levels. But how far is this a result of financial crisis and recession? And how far does it […]
Read moreApril 26, 2012
April 26, 2012
This seminar investigated the benefits of university students taking a year out of their degrees for work placements. Abstract: People say that placement students are different when they come back from their year at work for the final year of their degree. Is this true? If so, why? If placements are so good, why don’t […]
Read moreMarch 15, 2012
March 15, 2012
This seminar provided a synthesis of knowledge and experience to date in the fields of employer engagement with young people. Abstract: Using a strategic HRM perspective, this discussion looked at the strengths and shortcomings of practice at present and over the recent past, and proposed ways in which engagement can and ought to become institutionalised among all […]
Read moreFebruary 27, 2012
February 27, 2012
This seminar focused on the relationship between employer engagement and employment outcomes for young people. Abstract: What is the relationship between participation in school-age (14-19) employer engagement activities (work experience, careers advice from employers etc) and labour market outcomes among young adults (aged 19-24)? Drawing on a sample of 987 young Britons, the seminar presented new data, […]
Read moreJanuary 24, 2012
January 24, 2012
This seminar focused on the problem of work experience favouring those with social capital rather than promoting social mobility. Abstract: Work experience has the potential to make a real difference in the lives of young people. Unfortunately, according to research carried out by Hatcher & Le Gallais in 2008, all too often work placements tend powerfully […]
Read moreNovember 16, 2011
November 16, 2011
This seminar discussed the useful insights that can be learnt from studying young people’s aspirations. Abstract: Drawing on an ongoing, five year longitudinal study (funded by the ESRC) of young people’s science aspirations from age 10-14, the paper highlighted some of the key factors that influence and shape young people’s aspirations. Examples were drawn from the first […]
Read moreSeptember 7, 2011
September 7, 2011
This seminar focused on the lessons to be learnt from vocational education programmes in Canada. Abstract: What makes a course vocational? This seminar discussed the vocational aspects of the curriculum of five work-related programmes in a school board in Canada. Central to the seminar was a consideration of the concept of vocationalism and the work-related […]
Read moreJuly 22, 2011
July 22, 2011
This seminar focused on the role of employer engagement in independent schools. Abstract: The seminar addressed three questions: 1) to what extent do high-performing independent schools engage with employers to support pupil learning?, 2) why do they do it? and 3) how do they go about it? It drew upon data generated from a range of sources: […]
Read moreJune 24, 2011
June 24, 2011
This seminar focused on the benefits of employer engagement in a governing capacity in schools. Abstract: The 2010 Education White Paper confirmed the importance of school governing in England and explicitly stated an intention to work with the Education Employer Taskforce and others “to encourage business people and professionals to volunteer as governors”. The seminar […]
Read moreMay 24, 2011
May 24, 2011
This seminar examined the policy proposals of the Wolf Report. Abstract: The Wolf Report puts forward both strong criticism of and radical proposals for VET in England. Alison Wolf’s analysis of staying-on becoming the norm and the proposal that there should be a heavier emphasis on WRL and WBL at 16-18 rather than 14-16 prompts us […]
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