Scholarship Seminar - Embedding employability in SPS modules

Dates

Thursday, May 4, 2023 - 14:00 to 15:00

Speaker: Marcelo Montemurro (The Open University)

Abstact: Across the higher education sector, there is an increased emphasis on incorporating transferrable skills development into the curriculum. At the OU, the Employability Framework was put in place with the aim of embedding employability skills development within all OU qualification pathways. Besides, accreditation institutions like the IMA and IOP have upgraded their criteria for employability skills development.

The topic is very relevant and timely for Mathematics and Statistics in view of the upcoming IMA accreditation review of some of our curriculum pathways. The featured talks will give an overview of how different aspects of employability skills development were embedded within modules in SPS.

Embedding employability in SM380: Quantum physics

Dr Silvia Bergamini SM380 “Quantum Physics” Module Chair

Abstract: I will review employability skills embedded in SM380 and discuss the delivery methods, challenges and successes.

Interview videos as employability resources in SM381

Dr Andrew James SM381 “Electromagnetism” Module Chair

Abstract: OU students often already have a very clear idea of what they want from their degree and don’t appreciate having explicit employability tasks foisted on them, or even just ignore them. Instead in SM381 Electromagnetism we took the approach of interviewing scientists and asking them to explain how they use their physics training (and understanding of electromagnetism) in their current roles. We used these interviews to point out the skills the module teaches, the range of roles physical scientists can work in and their diversity of backgrounds, and how to progress from the undergraduate stage.tract: