Page 85 - A Handbook for Academia, Industry and Policymakers: Reinforcing the Innovation-Employability Nexus in the Mediterranean

84 REINFORCING THE INNOVATION-EMPLOYABILITY NEXUS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN REINFORCING THE INNOVATION-EMPLOYABILITY NEXUS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN 85

Due to the complex nature of the situation in contributes to the gap between the supply and
the Mediterranean region, the approaches that demand for skilled labour since science and
can be appropriately adapted are multi-faceted, technology offers greater employability options
highlighting areas where co-operation between for graduates .
2
HEIs, business and policymakers can together
facilitate real progress in employability in the region. Increased accountability is prevalent in Career
Services today. Most students believe that their
Career Services university has a responsibility to help them
find employment and university leadership
have elevated Career Services to a higher level
of influence and support coordination and
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partnerships outside the institution . Many HEIs
globally set employment targets and expect
he Mediterranean region, with particular reference to the Career Services leadership to demonstrate
Southern shore, has experienced a combination of economic, Provisions and approaches success through measured results in terms
of graduate employability rates. Transparency
T political, socio-cultural and educational factors which have and measured outcomes can help an HEI gain
had an impact on the development of career guidance services. Slow Recent trends in Career Services show that support and resources from governments.
centres are increasingly adopting standard
economic growth and political considerations coupled with gender frameworks in their organisational structures To achieve success, it is essential that Career
roles and elitism embedded in social norms and education systems and establishing links to common platforms Services have institutional support. Career
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need to be considered when empowering Career Services . A general with other institutions since the focus of most Services is moving towards connecting
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work is external with respect to the HEI and can
model of Career Services may not fit perfectly, however elements therefore benefit from shared resources and communities across industry, region and
culture. Targets must be transparent and
of successful models can be adapted to support employability in information. These standard Career Services evolve in reaction to the marketplace. The
the region. Due to their objective of optimising graduate transition structures provide guidance for adopting an complexity of the world of work requires an
operational style and can promote interaction
into the labour force, Career Services are closely linked to industry across universities to share information, interactive approach with external influencers in
industry and government. In many areas in the
and can play a key role in realising government policy towards connections and provide additional pathways Mediterranean region, the role of the government
improved employability. for students and businesses in the Southern is even more important due to the high level of
Mediterranean region. public employment compared to industry.

Access to youth enrolled in university means Benefits of career services
that Career Services can act as an intermediary
Background and context in supporting government policies by educating Universities educate students to help them

students on skills required in the labour market get a job. Career Services are a key part of this
Career Services has been a standard part of a service that works for students and can be and degrees that are in demand. Most youth in process, smoothing the transition from academia
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many university’s structures throughout the measured by employability . the region choose to study humanities rather to industry. An example of a national approach
world since the 1980s . As higher education has The more recent evolution in the Southern than science, technology or research which to career support is the Career and Competency
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developed and economies have grown, the need Mediterranean now sees Career Services well Certification Centre (4C) in Tunisia which aims to
for connecting graduates with business through established in most higher education structures improve the employability of students through
job placement also grew and Career Services offering a range of support to increase graduate counselling, support, training and openness
has become an important part of university employability. The terminology varies – ‘career programmes on the socio-economic environment.
services, taking over the role of counselling service(s)’, ‘career counselling’, ‘career centres’, A concern about liberal arts education is -economic. The ‘4C’ centre is a structure present
students in transitioning to the work force. With ‘career development’, ‘career coaching’ are some that it can be ‘out of touch’ and does not in multiple university campuses and constitutes
the global economy and competition for talent, of the names used for these services that support immediately relate to a specific job. Howe- the link between academia and socio-economic
Career Services have similarly evolved into higher education institutions (HEIs) through ver, the liberal arts curriculum can streng- actors. Arguably, Career Services, like education
professional networking, connecting students assisting students (and alumni or others) in then soft skills that bring about successful or health care, are a public service that
with employers looking for specific skills. After developing, evaluating, and implementing career, transitions to the labour force. This needs contributes to the public good, which puts them in
to be emphasised by professors during
the recent economic downturn, there has been education, and employment decisions and plans . class activities and can be integrated with a unique position to bring together stakeholders
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increased pressure on Career Services to address further skills and trainings in science and in academia, industry and government. Figure
employability, which has led to cooperation with Career Services contribute significantly to a technology study programmes 12, p. 86 illustrates a selection of Career Services
business partners and governments to build university’s efforts to address employability. activities that span these three perspectives.