2020 APP Research: The Student Skills Project

Abstract

In 2019, the University of Cambridge conducted a self-assessment of undergraduate admissions as part of the development of the current 2020-21 to 2024-25 Access and Participation Plan (APP). The following paper relates to this research. In October 2019, CCTL initiated a project, working with students, staff, academics and employers, to identify, develop and support the skills, capabilities and capacity of students to realise their potential in their studies and to learn throughout life. This work is undertaken in collaboration with the Careers Service and a number of providers of cross-Cambridge skills support, including the Disability Resource Centre, University Libraries, and the Colleges. This report presents a working framework for a skills strategy which will encompass 'academic', 'life' and 'employability' skills and 'transition into, through and out of Cambridge’. The report also summarises work that will be undertaken between May and October to develop an action plan, with indicative costing and potential sources of funding, for 2020-25. Also included are summaries of the main actions taken over the course of the academic year 2019-2020, which include the following:

convening a Skills Advisory Group, constituted with students and staff members and including academic and professional staff of the University and Colleges identifying the themes to explore in order to move toward drafting a skills strategy undertaking a review of literature and leading practice in a sample of higher education institutions scoping of the existing skills provision across the Collegiate University interviews with key figures in the development of skills provision on-going analysis of a student survey on skills provision conducted by the Cambridge University Student Union (CUSU) drafting of the premises and proposed actions of a skills strategy for 2020-2025 consultation with the Skills Advisory Group on this draft of premises and actions