Investigating the impact of a careers development model

This research report investigates Solent Capital Compass - a holistic model of career development used by careers advisers at Solent University - by analysing data from 5,797 students who completed an online questionnaire based on the model

Key findings:

• Statistical analysis identified seven psychometrically robust factors (My Career, My Experience, My Opportunities, My Network, My Creativity, My Attitude and My Communication) which were used to explore predictive potential of the revised career development model.
• Students' responses to the employability self-assessment questionnaire were, on the whole, not able to predict graduate employment destinations.
• Interaction with the 'My Career' tool was slightly positively correlated with going into further study - it is logical to assume that students with a stronger sense of career direction use this awareness in choosing to enter further study.
• Interaction with 'My Network' tool was slightly negatively associated with going into further study - perhaps networks have a slightly stronger tendency to support people into work rather than further study.
• The research generated a readiness/competence model of career development and includes suggestions for further investigation.

About the report

This HECSU-funded research explores how Solent University's career development model Solent Capital Compass impacts graduate employability. It is hoped that sharing the process of developing, applying and refining Solent's employability model, as well as a practical way of measuring it, will help colleagues in the university sector to find the methods best suited to them.

Both authors work at Solent University, David Whistance as a careers adviser and Sian Campbell as a senior lecturer in business management.