Student Experience Portfolios
The higher education sector is operating in an ever-increasing competitive environment due to complex forces such as internationalisation, privatisation, technological advancements and funding constraints. Universities within the higher education sector are acknowledged for equipping students with disciplinary knowledge, intellectual curiosity and critical analysis leading to the acquisition of tertiary qualifications. However, the higher education sector and universities are also constantly criticised for not preparing students’ adequately in pursuing graduate employability opportunities (Berrett, 2015).
Increasingly, the government funding allocation for the universities is also changing by taking into consideration student outcomes and industry engagement patterns rather than mere student enrolment numbers. Consequently, student graduate employability and employer satisfaction are considered to be important metrics of university performance. Despite rapid increases in higher education participation over the past few decades, employability of graduates seems to remain as a central concern for students (Norton & Cakitaki, 2016). The problem seems to be intensified due to skills mismatch, over or under qualification and poor career choices as university graduates in record numbers are employed in non-graduate jobs (O’Leary & Sloane, 2016).
Therefore, focus on engaging students with mentoring networks (both academic and industry) in an inclusive environment creates a mosaic for student experience portfolios specifically targeting the development stage of the students involved (Dobrow et al., 2012). Existing literature highlights that the quality of partnerships that mentoring networks create are dependent on the frequency of interactions between students and various stakeholders of relevance (Aikens et al., 2017). The trust and relationships developed between mentors and students will foster effective student experience portfolios that feed into sustainable graduate employability framework.
Student Experience Portfolios presents four Modules and the information and activities covered in these Modules helps students to create student experience ePortfolios critical to your career success.
"Being part of the Student Experience Portfolios Project has given me the chance to meet and interact with excellent academic and professional people. We shared experiences from our academic life, our work and career with the students enrolled in the project. The project gave us the opportunity to reflect on each other‘s contribution in both video and written conversations. What a great opportunity for university students to be part of such an initiative!" "The Student Experience Portfolio project is of great benefit to students where ever they are in their career trajectories. As mentors we support, encourage, guide and assist students in any areas they want help: resume development, job applications, interview preparation, confidence-building and networking. It is great to have a sounding board when putting your UNE education to good use, considering job opportunities and/or switching careers." "I had the privilege of being part of UNE’s Student Experience Portfolio Project (SEPP) in 2020 and 2021 as a mentor. SEPP is an excellent initiative by UNE which allows students to interact with academic and professional leaders. As part of the mentoring team, it was an enlightening experience and encouraging sight to see many students from diversified backgrounds seeking advice from industry and academic specialists to gain insights and guidance on career progression. It’s a great initiative by UNE for organising such valuable projects for their students." "Being involved with the Student Experience Portfolios project was a fantastic opportunity as mentor and coach. It was inspiring to connect with students seeking to build successful careers. It was a privilege to help participants reach even greater heights through deeper self-awareness and stronger self-confidence. Ultimately, clarity of identity and clarity of future career goals is a highly prized outcome of this program." "Being involved with the Student Experience Portfolios project was a very interesting and valuable experience. Not only was I able to offer my knowledge and experience to new graduates, I was also able to learn from my peers and understand more about the challenges participants faced as they attempt to enter or re-enter the workforce. This is a well thought out and well-run program and should be an essential inclusion for those approaching graduation." "The Student Experience Portfolios Project is excellent. I can see the value the project brings as it connects Almost-Graduates with a network of Recent- and Former-Graduates who are now in hiring positions across industry. The nature of the support offered enables the often ambitious and forward-thinking Almost Graduates to brand themselves in the workforce and proactively seek out the support they’ll need to achieve more for years to come."Testimonials and overview videos from the mentors involved in the project
