Working together to bring real employer challenges into the classroom
Published: 7 July 2026
In May, academics from across the University joined employers from large organisations, small and medium-sized enterprises and local charities for a networking event: 'Working together to bring real employer challenges into the classroom' as part of the Student Skills & Futures initiative.
In May, academics from across the University joined employers from large organisations, small and medium-sized enterprises and local charities for a networking event: Working together to bring real employer challenges into the classroom.
Delivered as part of the Embedding Employability Framework within the Student Skills and Futures initiative, the event aligned with the Enhance stage by supporting colleagues to connect learning with the world beyond the University through experiential learning. Participants heard examples of successful academic-employer collaborations and explored how live employer briefs can be used to enhance student learning and engagement.
The event created opportunities to share perspectives, discuss common challenges, establish new connections and identify areas of mutual interest. Evaluation feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with 95% of respondents reporting a greater understanding of how employers and academics can work together within the curriculum and 97% making new connections, with many anticipating these could lead to future collaborations.
The event also reinforced an important principle for university-employer engagement. Effective collaboration is not simply about responding to immediate recruitment needs or securing one-off contributions to teaching. Instead, it is about developing mutual understanding, creating a shared language around skills and building long-term partnerships that benefit students, employers and the University. This approach is particularly important as we continue to prepare students for an increasingly complex and rapidly changing labour market.
Building on the success of the event, Careers, Employability & Opportunity plans to deliver a series of academic-employer engagement opportunities during the next academic year. Shaped by participant feedback, future sessions will focus on areas such as meaningful assessment, guest speakers and workplace-based learning, supporting colleagues to further embed employability within the curriculum and develop meaningful partnerships with employers.
To find out more, explore the Embedding Employability Framework or contact the Careers & Employability Manager for your College.
First published: 7 July 2026