Employability initiatives in undergraduate education and application to human nutrition: A scoping review

Abstract

<jats:p>Human nutrition is a growing field with an increasing job market and high demand for university study, yet graduates report feeling underprepared for and unaware of potential job opportunities. This scoping review aimed to identify employment initiatives used in undergraduate programs to support an evidence-based approach to the development of future initiatives for human nutrition courses. The scoping review following PRISMA-ScR criteria was initially conducted in October 2018 and updated in April 2020. Search terms were selected to identify studies that reported on employability or work-readiness embedded within the course curriculum for undergraduate students. Fourteen papers met the eligibility criteria. Papers included were from Australia (9), United Kingdom (2), United States (1), New Zealand (1) and Germany (1). Papers described initiatives fitting broad categories of placements, project-based industry collaboration, practice-based eLearning, mentoring and building graduate attributes. Placements were the most common type of initiative and project-based industry collaboration demonstrated the highest levels of student and employer satisfaction. The success of initiatives was often attributed to incorporating diverse approaches to real-world, problem-solving skills. Mentoring and eLearning were used to promote employability soft skills, while industry-based placements provided students with practical experience. Placement in specific workplace settings should be representative of the diverse job options for nutrition graduates. Human nutrition degrees should consider incorporating strategies that develop soft skills and project-based skills while exposing students to diverse workplace settings within industry.</jats:p>

An exploratory study of industry perspectives to inform undergraduate nutrition employability initiatives

“…Finch et al 15 also identified professional skills such as communication, interpersonal skills, and the ability to problem‐solve and employ critical thinking as the skills most desired by graduate employers, and recommended that universities include learning outcomes related to professional skill development in their programs. The scoping review by Murray et al 3 also concluded that employability skills development should be embedded within curriculum. However, during reflexive interviews, the research team academics involved in delivery of the nutrition curriculum reported experiences suggesting that students can be resistant to learning employability skills at university, perceiving that universities are designed to teach nutrition science rather than professional skills.…”

“…The Nutrition Society of Australia has established recommended national nutrition science competency standards to inform university education and ensure graduates are well prepared for these roles 2 . However, nutrition students and graduates have expressed anxiety and a lack of awareness of, and preparedness for, relevant employment opportunities 3,4 …”

“…Employability in undergraduate nutrition programs is an emerging area of interest, 3,5 with studies designed to inform discipline‐specific career readiness programs. A recent scoping review found that the most successful employability interventions are those that embed employability initiatives within the curriculum 3 . This may require support from individuals outside of the faculty, as a qualitative exploration of academic views found that those who have built careers as academics without relevant industry experience feel ill‐equipped to provide careers advice 3 .…”

“…A recent scoping review found that the most successful employability interventions are those that embed employability initiatives within the curriculum 3 . This may require support from individuals outside of the faculty, as a qualitative exploration of academic views found that those who have built careers as academics without relevant industry experience feel ill‐equipped to provide careers advice 3 . More research is needed regarding the views of other stakeholders including students, graduates and industry professionals.…”

“…2 However, nutrition students and graduates have expressed anxiety and a lack of awareness of, and preparedness for, relevant employment opportunities. 3,4 Formal and informal experiences during university education can shape students' awareness of, and preparedness for, future career opportunities. Employability in undergraduate nutrition programs is an emerging area of interest, 3,5 with studies designed to inform disciplinespecific career readiness programs.…”