[Amanda Henderson]

Thanks Dawn. I shall start with the first question. How do we come to a shared understanding about what employability is. Employability, similar to work integrated learning, is broad in its meaning and can be understood in many different ways. Understanding of learning, and employability, are journeys that we need to assist students travel. Both the university and industry have important roles in assisting student journeys in their path of understanding. Shared understanding as an absolute state is possibly elusive, rather shared understanding maybe seen to be achieved if there is mutual acceptance that employability is continually emerging and developing for any individual.

Curriculum is important in shaping student behaviours, in particular, behaviours that encourage students to take ownership of their learning that contributes to employability. At the University of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, the School of Nursing is implementing a process called ‘Check In/ Check Out’ (CICO).
The Fact Sheet that students receive explains that “The Check-in and Check-out (CICO) process supports high quality, engaging and relevant education in clinical practice spaces. The CICO process focuses on collaborative learning spaces where students engage as partners in their learning with teaching staff in nursing laboratories, simulation suites and clinical practicum. The CICO elements complement the course content, skills assessed, and clinical practice within all clinical courses. The expectations of teaching staff and students in collaborative learning spaces is informed by the USC Student Charter. The course co-ordinator and teaching staff are responsible for all aspects of a clinical course delivery. Students are expected to actively engage with the course requirements and learning resources to successfully complete a clinical course. In a collaborative learning space students are active partners with teaching staff in clinical learning activities.” The Amanda Henderson at the University of Sunshine Coast initiated and currently leads the implementation of this approach. The approach is successful in engaging students as partners which you have mentioned in your next point.

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