As the global workforce changes, helping students gain the skills, experiences, and flexibility they need to succeed has never been more important. Boosting student employability is a major priority for educators, especially in higher education.
This guide, insightfully crafted by Practera, dives into pragmatic and constructive strategies to improve higher education learner employability in 2024-25. The guide also provides insights and solutions from proven programs and case studies from various global employability programs implemented by Team Practera.
The guide is easy to read and has many action points for you to implement in your institutional environment. You can also reach Team Practera at any point in your journey to help you with your student employability needs.
Why Improve Student Employability?
Employability isn’t just about landing a job—it’s about preparing students to thrive in today’s complex workplaces. Employers are looking for people who are skilled, adaptable, collaborative, and creative.
The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report shows that skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and self-management are increasingly essential. By adding employability-focused strategies to education, educators can bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world needs, helping students succeed in their careers.
Strategies to Boost Employability
1. Hands-On Learning Programs
Hands-on learning connects classroom knowledge to real-world experiences. Examples include internships, industry projects, and teamwork challenges.
How Practera Helps
Practera’s platform helps educators design and manage hands-on learning programs. It supports collaboration with industry partners, gives real-time feedback, and offers insights into what’s working.
Case Study: King’s Business School Global Industry Project
King’s College London worked with Practera to run team-based consultancy projects for 50 employers and 300 students. The experience was remote but made a big impact.
2. Teach Skills Beyond the Classroom
Employers care about skills like teamwork, problem-solving, and communication—just as much as technical know-how.
Practera’s Solution
Practera supports skill-building through project-based learning. Its tools give students personalized feedback to help them improve in real time.
Case Study: LSE Skills Accelerator
The London School of Economics (LSE) and Practera created a virtual program that helped students grow their professional skills through hands-on modules and real industry projects.
3. Build Industry Connections
Strong ties with industry partners give students real-world exposure and a better understanding of workplace expectations.
Practera in Action
Practera connects educators with a network of industry professionals for real-world industry experiences for their learners, mentorships, and collaborative projects.
Case Study: Study Australia Industry Experience Program
In collaboration with Practera Study Australia, built a low-cost Industry experience program that paired international students with local organizations for two-week business projects. Discover more about the Practera-powered initiative.
4. Use Data to Improve Outcomes
Data can help educators adjust programs to better meet industry needs and fill skill gaps.
Practera’s Analytics
Practera offers detailed analytics on student engagement, skill growth, and program success, helping educators make smarter decisions.
5. Promote Lifelong Learning
Preparing students for a dynamic job market means encouraging continuous learning and adaptability.
How Practera Fits In
Practera’s tools help educators add the latest trends and technologies to their programs, keeping students ready for what’s next.
6. Career-Readiness Workshops
Resume workshops, interview practice, and networking events can help students feel more prepared for the workforce.
Practera’s Role
Practera makes it easy to include career-readiness activities in broader employability programs.
Additional Tips for Educators
Encourage Networking: Create events where students meet professionals.
Share Success Stories: Highlight students who’ve grown through employability programs.
Engage Alumni: Tap into alumni networks for mentorship and advice.
Practera’s Role in Student Employability
Practera offers flexible, scalable solutions for educators to create programs that work for both students and industries. With Practera, you can:
Deliver real-world learning experiences.
Track results with data-driven insights.
Help students build the confidence to succeed in their careers.
Wrapping Up: Supporting Educators and Students
The workplace is evolving, and helping students become employable is key for educators. By adding hands-on learning, industry connections, skill-building, and lifelong learning, educators can make a real difference.
Practera is here to support you every step of the way. When students graduate not just with knowledge but with experience and confidence, they’re set up to succeed in any job market.
Start improving your students’ employability today. Explore Practera’s Solutions.