ATTRACTING EQUIPPING YACHT DESIGN AND PRODUCTION GRADUATES FOR EMPLOYMENT IN TODAY'S YACHT DESIGN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY

摘要

Southampton Solent University (SSU) has been at the forefront in delivering courses in Yacht Design and Manufacturing for 40 years. Currently two courses are offered, namely the B.Eng(Hons) Yacht & Powercraft Design and the B.Eng(Hons) Yacht Production and Surveying degrees. Both parents and potential students are becoming increasing vocal about what they expect from a degree course. Not only are they expecting to learn key technical skills related to their chosen course, but they expect courses to focus on the softer 'employability' skills which give graduates an edge when applying for work. Employers are also demanding an up to date skill set from newly qualified graduates. The paper firstly outlines the views and wishes of prospective students and parents currently seen at course 'Open days'. Secondly, SSU commissioned a survey of employers in the yacht design and manufacturing industry to help update and focus future courses appropriately to improve graduate employability. A key outcome of this paper was that both prospective students and employers are demanding more employability skills from their degree program. Finally, the paper illustrates how students are gaining 'employability' skills within the course units studied by completing a series of honed practical academic exercises. Also outlined are various work placement opportunities which are taken up by current students which are of benefit to both student and potential employer.