University-employer collaborations are vital to enhancing student career readiness. Tonia Galati at TG Consulting and Mike Grey at Gradconsult explore why particular attention should be given to curriculum-integrated activities.
Despite the evident need for employer-led experiences to enhance student employability, there remains a significant gap between student demand and the availability of placements and internships.
Universities and employers face their own resourcing constraints, making it essential to find innovative ways to engage students within the academic curriculum at scale.
Many employers are unaware of the diverse opportunities to integrate their expertise into the curriculum, missing potential opportunities to grow and diversify their talent pipelines.
This topic was explored at ISE’s Higher Education Conference. The interactive session explored key questions about curriculum-integrated employability, including:
- How can employers efficiently contribute to this work, and what support can universities provide?
- What successful initiatives have bridged the gap between education and employment?
- What are the key benefits for employers who engage in curriculum-based provision?
The power of curriculum-integrated employability
Universities across the country are implementing innovative employer engagement strategies that go beyond traditional placements and internships. Some of these initiatives include:
- Live industry projects: Students work on real-world business challenges set by employers, developing practical skills and gaining direct exposure to industry expectations.
- Employer-led workshops and case studies: Industry professionals co-deliver lectures or practical sessions, helping students bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and workplace application.
- Hackathons and innovation challenges: These events enable students to collaborate with employers on solving industry-specific problems, fostering creativity and critical thinking.
- Mentorship and networking initiatives: Programmes connecting students with professionals for guidance, career insights, and potential recruitment opportunities.
- Integrated work-based learning modules: Courses designed with direct employer input, ensuring that graduates possess the skills and competencies required by industries.
Good practice
Several institutions are already excelling in curriculum-integrated employability:
- Henley Business School has successfully partnered with employers to develop industry-led Masters Consultancy Projects that allow students to gain hands-on experience while earning academic credit.
- University of Lincoln runs an innovative Careers Readiness Programme in which industry professionals co-deliver employability content to final year students.
- University of Leeds have interviewed employers talking about how key skills are applied in their industry context to support academics designing authentic assessments that reflect the world of work.
- Birmingham City University academics are working with employers to co deliver curriculum content and apply theory to real world business scenarios and immersive experiences.
Why employers should engage
Employers who actively participate in curriculum-integrated employability can benefit in numerous ways while significantly enhancing the university experience for students:
- Improve brand awareness and raise the profile of their organisation among diverse student groups.
- Gain access to emerging talent early and shape their skill sets to better align with industry needs.
- Ensure the curriculum is teaching the most relevant skills, addressing gaps in emerging fields like AI, technology, and sustainability.
- Provide students with hands-on experience, bridging the gap between academic theory and practical workplace application.
- Help students build confidence in their abilities and understand how their skills are transferable to real-world scenarios.
- Seek new knowledge and fresh ideas for industry challenges by engaging with academic expertise.
- Enhance their own employer brand by positioning themselves as industry leaders committed to skills development and education.
The path forward
For early talent recruiters, engaging with universities in these less traditional ways presents a unique opportunity to identify and nurture talent at an earlier stage. However, for widespread employer participation, we need to further prioritise:
- Demonstrating the return on investment (ROI) of early engagement in terms of growing and diversifying talent pipeline development.
- Highlighting the role of employer involvement in curriculum design to deliver work-ready graduates.
- Creating scalable and sustainable engagement models that accommodate varying employer capacities and resources.
To truly bridge the gap between students, universities, and employers, we must prioritise impactful and scalable activities that integrate employer insights and experiences into the curriculum. There are already a host of innovative curriculum-based employer engagement examples, but broader employer participation is needed.
If you are an employer looking to enhance your talent strategy and engage with universities in meaningful ways, now is the time to act.
More than ever, employers and universities need to work together to redefine early talent recruitment and create more accessible pathways for students to develop the skills, knowledge and experience that will make them brilliant graduate hires.