Keynote presentation given at the International Week Conference, ‘The Roles of Erasmus Mobility for improving Multicultural Dialog’ Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey, June 2010. The presentation examines what a university is for and who makes up a university. It asks whether all the players have a common goal and concludes that in some respects they do not. The audience it is argued however do have a common goal to enrich the experiences of students (otherwise they wouldn’t be there at this Erasmus mobility event!). Certain disciplines benefit from practical experience (in the commercial, scientific & industrial world) whereas others do not. It is argued that all undergraduates should benefit from a work placement and presents data on the extent to which this happens in Europe and the benefits of such experience. It describes some of the things which can be done and the skills which employers look for in fresh graduates (and those they find lacking). Finally students talk about their experiences of work placements.

1. Helping Our Undergraduates to Become Global Players in the Job Market Dr Ray Wallace School of Science & Technology, Nottingham Trent University, UK 17 August, 2010 1 Suleyman Demirel University

2. 17 August, 2010 Suleyman Demirel University 24 What is a university for?

3. 17 August, 2010 Suleyman Demirel University 24 The traditional functions of universities are teaching and research

4. 17 August, 2010 Suleyman Demirel University 24 Who are the central players in a University?

5. The Pieces Academics 5 17 August, 2010 Suleyman Demirel University Students Administrators

6. The Pieces – and on the sidelines 6 17 August, 2010 Suleyman Demirel University Academics Parents Government Students Administrators Industry & Commerce

7. The Pieces – and on the sidelines 7 17 August, 2010 Suleyman Demirel University Academics Parents Government Students Administrators Industry & Commerce

8. 17 August, 2010 Suleyman Demirel University 24 Do they have the same priorities?

9. 17 August, 2010 Suleyman Demirel University 24 NO!

10. 17 August, 2010 Suleyman Demirel University 24 Students see the university as a place where they can gain a good education leading to a good job

11. 17 August, 2010 Suleyman Demirel University 24 Parents see the university much in the same light as the students

12. 17 August, 2010 Suleyman Demirel University 24 Government sees the university as the seedbed where young people will be educated to a high standard and where the nation’s wealth & advancement through research will stem

13. 17 August, 2010 Suleyman Demirel University 24 Administrators (hopefully!) see the university as a place where they can support the work of their academic colleagues

14. 17 August, 2010 Suleyman Demirel University 24 Academic staff see the university as a place where they teach and can conduct scholarly activity/research

15. 17 August, 2010 Suleyman Demirel University 24 ....and sometimes herein lies a tension because professional advancement is often achieved through research rather than teaching

16. RESEARCH TEACHING Balance 16 17 August, 2010 Suleyman Demirel University Tensions

17. 17 August, 2010 Suleyman Demirel University 24 ....with a result that academic staff lose direction and focus on their research rather than their students

18. 17 August, 2010 Suleyman Demirel University 24 ....but you ladies & gentlemen are here, I guess, because you believe in internationalisation and have the desire to enrich the lives of your students & therefore I can take you one step further

19. 17 August, 2010 Suleyman Demirel University 24 ....what I’m about to say will seem obvious on reflection but for many it is something they have never really thought about

20. Medicine - pieces fitting together Integrated Degree 20 17 August, 2010 Suleyman Demirel University Clinical experience Study Graduate doctor Clinical experience Study

21. Dentistry - pieces fitting together Integrated Degree 21 17 August, 2010 Suleyman Demirel University Clinical experience Study Graduate dentist Clinical experience Study

22. History 22 17 August, 2010 Suleyman Demirel University Study Study Graduate historian Study Study

23. Economics 23 17 August, 2010 Suleyman Demirel University Study Study Graduate economist Study Study

24. 17 August, 2010 Suleyman Demirel University 24 ....knowledge of the world of work (hopefully) but no experience of it!

25. 17 August, 2010 Suleyman Demirel University 24 ....does this make sense?

26. 17 August, 2010 Suleyman Demirel University 24 ....so why should we do one thing for the doctors & dentists and another for the historians & economists?

27. 17 August, 2010 Suleyman Demirel University 24 ....the answer of course is we shouldn’t

28. 17 August, 2010 Suleyman Demirel University 24 ....and this is where the idea of a ‘Placement’comes in

29. So what is a placement? 17 August, 2010 Suleyman Demirel University 29

30. European Data: Participation in Work Placements 30 17 August, 2010 Suleyman Demirel University Graduates who participated in work placements/internships (percent). Brenda Little, 'Squaring the Circle?', ASET Conference Proceedings 2007.

32. Academic Performance

34. 17 August 2010 33 Some of the things we do at NTU………….. Provide a repository of knowledge in the field of employment, student loans etc Support academic staff in their mentoring roles Keep a watching brief on national developments - ASET Endeavour to inculcate the ethos of professionalism in students, particularly by example Run a big student recruiting drive in year 1 Broadcast our activities outside of NTU Develop assessment methods and strategies Turn any setbacks into opportunities Capitalise on employer visits

35. 17 August 2010 34 Skills and Attributes ChecklistTHE TOP 10 DIFFICULT TO FIND SKILLS Commercial awareness Leadership Risk taking/enterprise Project management Managing own learning Second language Problem solving Customer focus Report writing Cultural sensitivity IMPORTANT SKILLS Motivation & enthusiasm Team working Oral Communication Flexibility Customer focus Problem solving Managing own learning Commercial awareness Planning & organisation

36. Finally I leave it to the students themselves to say what they think 17 August, 2010 Suleyman Demirel University 35

37. 17 August, 2010 Suleyman Demirel University 36 Acknowledgement: PowerPoint Template Philip de Kock Any Questions?

38. 17 August, 2010 Suleyman Demirel University 24

39. 17 August, 2010 Suleyman Demirel University 24