Online Enrichment Workshops – Enhancing Student Engagement and Employability

Haresnape, Janet; Fraser, Heather; Bown, Hanne; Ruiz, David and Gandy, Hannah (2025). Online Enrichment Workshops – Enhancing Student Engagement and Employability. In: The 13th eSTEeM Annual Conference Proceedings: Sharing Best Practice - Implementing What Works (Pawley, Susan and Chang, Daphne eds.), 10-11 Apr 2024, The Open University, UK, pp. 10–18.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21954/ou.ro.00102262

Abstract

A series of workshops were offered to biology and health sciences students at the Open University during June and July 2022. The aims of the workshops were to enhance our students’ experience, help them to appreciate the employability benefits of engaging with practical science investigations in their modules, recognise their employability skills and employment possibilities, and feel a sense of belonging to a scientific community. Practical investigations are designed to help students develop employability skills such as numerical and problem-solving skills and also perseverance, creativity and resilience. Feedback from attendees showed that the programme had been successful in helping them articulate their employability skills and had led to an increased sense of community among students. The workshops also maintained engagement over the summer break, reducing the risk of students losing their study momentum. Following this success, a more extensive programme was offered in 2023, with a wider subject range from various scientific topics to general study and employability skills development. Input is included from one regular student participant who is included here as a co-author.

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