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Engaging critically with developing student ‘employability’: reflections on introducing a volunteering module into the Sociology curriculum Dr. Andy Mathers (Department of Sociology & Criminology, University of the West of England)

Engaging critically with developing student ‘employability’: reflections on introducing a volunteering module into the Sociology curriculum Dr. Andy Mathers

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Page 1: Engaging critically with developing student ‘employability’: reflections on introducing a volunteering module into the Sociology curriculum Dr. Andy Mathers

Engaging critically with developing student

‘employability’: reflections on introducing a volunteering module

into the Sociology curriculum

Dr. Andy Mathers (Department of Sociology & Criminology, University of

the West of England)

Page 2: Engaging critically with developing student ‘employability’: reflections on introducing a volunteering module into the Sociology curriculum Dr. Andy Mathers

Policy Context• Future of Higher Education (2003), Lambert Review (2003), Leitch

Review (2006)

• Absence of statements regarding the wider ‘humanistic and social roles of universities’ (Robinson & Tormey, 2003: 20)

• New Economics Foundation (2008: 10) ‘it is the over-dominance of economic interests which is … fuelling an increasingly instrumental approach to higher education and crowding out the space for HEIs to fulfil other vital purposes for individuals and for the economy, the environment and society at large’

• Gaffakin & Morrisey (2008: 101) 3 stages of developing a new ‘engaged’ university mission of ‘engagement with disadvantaged communities’

• McLennan (2008) – against instrumental engagement

Page 3: Engaging critically with developing student ‘employability’: reflections on introducing a volunteering module into the Sociology curriculum Dr. Andy Mathers

Engaging with Engagement

• Levidow (2002: 1) ‘Universities represent the needs of the state and capital as the needs of society, while adapting the skills of professional workers to labour markets. Despite this role, often spaces are created for alternative pedagogies and critical citizenship’

• Lambert, Parker & Neary (2007) – critical engagement with entrepreneurialism

Page 4: Engaging critically with developing student ‘employability’: reflections on introducing a volunteering module into the Sociology curriculum Dr. Andy Mathers

Local Context

• Voluntary sector forum

• Project Manager for volunteering in the curriculum

• National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement

Page 5: Engaging critically with developing student ‘employability’: reflections on introducing a volunteering module into the Sociology curriculum Dr. Andy Mathers

The Module

• 30 credits at level two

• Year 1 = 13• Year 2 = 23• Year 3 = 16?• Not skill

acquisition, but critical reflection on experience

• NOT a placement

Learning Themes• The Life Course &

Personal Development• Communication &

Leadership• Working in Groups• Working in

Organisations• Managing and Working

in the Voluntary Sector • Equality • Social Responsibility &

Citizenship• Applied Research

Page 6: Engaging critically with developing student ‘employability’: reflections on introducing a volunteering module into the Sociology curriculum Dr. Andy Mathers

Assessment

Learning Journal:

- Outline of aspect of lecture/key reading

- Critical incident

- Reflections on experience

Presentation

Identification of key, pertinent sociological themes and issues

Page 7: Engaging critically with developing student ‘employability’: reflections on introducing a volunteering module into the Sociology curriculum Dr. Andy Mathers

Assessment• Extended Essay- Discuss the sociological explanations for homelessness in the context

of broader developments in welfare policy and provision.

- Outline and account for the formation and development of the hospice movement

- Assess the usefulness of the life cycle model in understanding the lives of people with disabilities

- Describe and analyse the main forms of resistance to the McDonaldisation of food.

- What are the advantages and disadvantages of increasing the role of

faith based organisations in the delivery of education and welfare services?

Page 8: Engaging critically with developing student ‘employability’: reflections on introducing a volunteering module into the Sociology curriculum Dr. Andy Mathers

Reflections on Community engaged learning

• Socialisation into dominant values of public service?

• Avis (2004) – learning for or learning about work/community service

• Workplace/community as contradictory places/spaces

• WBL and CEL as ‘deeply ambivalent’ (Avis, op cit)

• Strand (1999) tension in ‘service learning’: service v. social justice orientations

Page 9: Engaging critically with developing student ‘employability’: reflections on introducing a volunteering module into the Sociology curriculum Dr. Andy Mathers

Models of Community Engaged Learning

Based on Stier (2004)

• Instrumental Model

• Educationalist Model

• Idealist Model