In this Magna 20-Minute Mentor, Russell Carpenter, Assistant Provost and Professor of English, Eastern Kentucky University, explores how faculty can effectively teach essential employability skills—such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking—within the constraints of the existing curriculum.

Employers today are looking for graduates who can not only excel in their field of study but also communicate effectively, work well in teams, think critically, and solve problems. These essential employability skills are critical for success in any job, yet faculty often face difficulties in integrating them meaningfully into their courses. With limited class time, a crowded syllabus, and few opportunities for real-world practice, it can be tough to teach these skills in a way that truly prepares students for the future.

This 20-Minute Mentor program explores how faculty can effectively teach essential employability skills within the constraints of the existing curriculum. Designed for faculty and instructors teaching in any modality, this program identifies three common challenges to incorporating employability skills and presents evidence-supported strategies to address them. Viewers will learn how to create intentional learning experiences that foster the development of essential workplace skills, such as using real-world projects, mapping skill development across the curriculum, and promoting reflective learning.

LEARNING GOALS

After viewing this Magna 20-Minute Mentor, participants will be able to:

• Identify common challenges to teaching and integrating essential employability skills in college courses
• Describe key employability skills that are transferable across workplace contexts
• Apply evidence-supported strategies to teach employability skills within existing curriculum constraints
• Design learning activities that align with real-world scenarios and promote essential skill development
• Evaluate opportunities for reflection and engagement that support the transfer of employability skills beyond the classroom

TOPICS COVERED 

• Identifying and defining essential employability skills
• Challenges to integrating employability skills in the curriculum
• Evidence-supported strategies for teaching employability skills
• Curriculum mapping and alignment with workforce needs
• Student engagement and reflective practices