I am looking at possible ways of enhancing higher education especially at the tertiary level, through collaboration from the industries. It is always stated that industrial needs are not met by graduates from higher learning institutions.
How far is this true? And how can we, as ESP course designers and teachers, overcome this issue?
The degree to which education meets market needs is a complicated subject. In terms of ESP curriculum design there are a few options for overcoming the gap. As with any curriculum endeavor the first thing to do is a needs analysis.
Specifically, you can contact your graduates and target employers (universities should do this anyways, and sometimes documented evidence of such is required for accreditation). Ask your graduates, preferably after they have been working for a few years: what things they have learned which were useful, what did they learn which was not useful, and what did they not learn but wish they had. Similarly, you can ask employers what specific language (such as industry specific vocabulary), language skills (like memo writing), and/or other skills (like problem solving, leadership, etc.) they want in people they hire. If possible, course designers can collect primary data by visiting the workplace and seeing what tasks employees engage in, doing discourse analysis, and so forth.
Once you have a good idea of what the students need, preferably based on data and not only the personal opinions of the course designers, the next step is to collect materials and go through the process of course design. Looking at the front of any quality commercial coursebook (think Cambridge or Oxford English books) you will see examples of how to map out target language and skills together with contextual topics.
I have attached a useful pdf on tracer studies, and you can find a pre-print of a paper I wrote on a related subject here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/255704515_English_and_Integrated_Water_Resources_Management_A_Training_Program_for_the_Mekong_River_Commission
Curriculum and materials design is something I find to be a lot of fun and an important part of being a professional educator. I think students recognize the extra effort that goes into making something specific for them and it motivates them to try a little harder. Best of luck to you in designing teaching/learning opportunities that your students benefit from for years after graduation :)
Article English and Integrated Water Resources Management: A Trainin...
Thank you so much Tylor Burrows. I really appreciate your feedback. Very useful insights indeed.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Education
- Higher Education