It is widely accepted that students who achieve good employability outcomes after they graduate do so because they have more to offer than just a strong academic record. Employers are looking to employ graduates who have experience to offer beyond good grades because through these experiences, students can offer and evidence a wider set of important attributes such as commitment, resilience, independence, leadership etc. There are rich opportunities for students to get involved with extra curricular activities because of the wide range of options available.
As academic staff, we have a role to play in supporting students engaging in extra curricular activities. We can motivate and encourage students to take up opportunities by showing students that we value the extra curricular things they do, by highlighting its importance, and by signposting students to opportunities. Milner et al, (2016) provide useful evidence on the value of extra-curricular activities; they discuss how academic staff can support and encourage extra-curricular involvement; and they also ask that inclusion issues, for students from less-privileged backgrounds be considered.