The disrupted workplace: are the digital and group skills needs of employers being addressed by universities?

Bremner, Pauline A.M.; Laing, Audrey

Abstract

Upskilling moves quickly in today’s ‘disrupted’ workplace, and skill sets need to change to meet the needs of the digital economy (Gray, 2016), sometimes referred to as the fourth industrial revolution (4IR). Using a mixed methods approach and drawing on data from relevant stakeholders, the aim of this research is to explore, evaluate and identify any mismatch between degree learning outcomes and employability skills. The research also proposes specific strategies to address identifiable skills gaps. Focusing on the views of Fashion Management (FM) alumni, the study highlights gaps in digital skills as well as gaps in professional /group skills which some alumni felt were missing from their university education. The research also notes the importance of digital skills in the workplace from the employers’ point of view. This strengthens the argument for employers and universities to work more symbiotically to address any gaps between degree outcomes and employability skills in order to provide graduates who are ‘work ready’ for 4IR. Given the findings, the authors recommend that the data gathered be used not only to inform and enhance our FM degree, but perhaps more importantly, and in a broader educational and academic context, that universities be mindful that they fully address the changing skills requirements of future employers. While this research focuses on FM alumni and employers, because of the creativity and management which are core to this course, the findings are relevant across many related management and creative industries university courses.

Citation

BREMNER, P.A.M. and LAING, A. 2019. The disrupted workplace: are the digital and group skills needs of employers being addressed by universities? Journal of learning development in higher education [online], 16: special issue of articles from the 2019 Association for Learning Development in Higher Education conference (ALDINHE 2019), 15-17 April 2019, Exeter, UK, article 535. Available from: https://journal.aldinhe.ac.uk/index.php/jldhe/article/view/535

• Journal Article Type: Conference Paper
• Conference Name: 2019 Association for Learning Development in Higher Education conference (ALDINHE 2019)
• Conference Location: Exeter, UK
• Acceptance Date: Apr 15, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Dec 17, 2019
• Publication Date: Dec 31, 2019
• Deposit Date: Jan 7, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 7, 2020
• Journal: Journal of learning development in higher education
• Electronic ISSN: 1759-667X
• Publisher: Association for Learning Development in Higher Education
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Issue: 16
• Article Number: 535
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.47408/jldhe.v0i16.535
• Keywords: Employability; Groups; Skills; Digital; Future
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/823438
• Publisher URL: https://journal.aldinhe.ac.uk/index.php/jldhe/article/view/535