Enhancing physics graduate employability through curriculum development: enablers, barriers, and opportunities

A joint WRIPA & SEPnet Workshop, supported by the Institute of Physics

Chaired by Professor Sir William Wakeham

To create a more productive economy the UK government has recently published its Industry Strategy. The government’s vision for a transformed economy is based on 5 foundations, including "people" and "places". "People" and "Places" emphasise a number of challenges such as tackling particular shortages of STEM skills, developing skills to take advantage of new technology and implementing Local Industrial Strategies to drive productivity.

To meet these business needs (and others!) for talent, skills and innovation i.e., “innovation diffusion” through people, university physics departments will need to consider how this will be achieved via curriculum development, work-based learning and employer engagement.

The aim of this one-day workshop is to understand better the enablers and barriers to curriculum development, the opportunities for physics departments with respect to the Industrial Strategy and to share best practice of embedding employability within degree programmes.

The workshop also provides the opportunity to build a wider network of employability focused academic and professional staff. The programme will include presentations and case studies from Institute of Physics and a number of physics departments.

The event is aimed at heads of physics departments, academics responsible for employability, programme managers, heads of teaching and learning, industry representatives and representatives with responsibility for developing physics graduates employability skills.

PROGRAMME

10: Arrival and Coffee

10.30: Welcome and Housekeeping – Dr Olga Fernholz, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham

10.35: Chairman’s introduction – Prof. Sir William Wakeham, Chair, SEPnet

MORNING SESSION

10.45 – 11.25: What are the opportunities for university physics departments in the Government’s Industrial Strategy? Prof. Richard Jones FRS, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield

11.25 – 12.05: Changes in the HE sector and impact on curriculum development and embedding employability. Dr. Catherine Hack, Higher Education Academy / AdvanceHE

12.05 – 12.45: Putting skills at the heart of accreditation: What is the IOP vision for accreditation in light of an increased Government focus on employability? How can departments ensure thier programmes are likely to meet the IOP expectatations of an increased emphasis on skills? Robyn Henriegel, Accreditation and Professional Standards Manager, Institute of Physics/Dr David Sands, Chair of Institute of Physics Accreditation Committee

LUNCH: 12.45 – 1.45

AFTERNOON SESSION

Case Studies: ‘Embedding Employability at Programme Level’

1.45 – 2.15: Title - tbc, Prof. Ian Morrison, University of Salford

2.15 – 2.45: Title - tbc, Dr. Andrea Jimenez Dalmaroni, School of Physics and Astronomy University of Cardiff

2.45 – 3.15: Title - tbc, Dr. Alastair Buckley, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield

3.15 – 4: Discussion and Wrap-Up