Motivating Chinese Students in UK Higher Education Through Constructivism to Help Improve Their Employability

Many studies have shown the enhancement of competitive advantage is one of the main reasons Chinese students study in the UK, but most of them do not have clear career goals, and the demand of the labour market have become stringent. In this context, Chinese students need to be helped to carefully assess and reflect on their employability during their studies. The Graduate Capital Model, which categorises the skills that graduates need to acquire into five capitals; Constructivism, a theory that promotes student autonomous learning and co-operative learning, has been effective in helping Chinese students to develop a sense of reflection and improved employability. This study explores the importance of employability and Constructivism through a literature review and research comparison; and discusses the combined application of Constructivism and the Graduate Capital Model in practice. To provide Chinese students and UK universities and educators with the opportunity to think more creatively about learning and teaching, rather than continually following previous experiences.