Inclusion and employability: Supporting all students to become future-ready graduates through the curriculum

Abstract

Whilst the notion of inclusive curriculum has become increasingly important in UK higher education (Hockings, 2010), employability is still a neglected aspect of this discussion in most non-vocational disciplines, as it continues to be perceived as a secondary concern of the university, predominantly addressed through extra-curricular activity rather than being an integral aspect of teaching and learning. This paper argues that it is critical for these two areas to be considered together through the curriculum design process to best serve the increasingly diverse student population accessing higher education today.

The paper will discuss how we can support all students to become future-ready graduates and reflect upon a post-1992 university’s journey towards achieving this by integrating employability within the curriculum.