Professor Ian Oakes Pro Vice-Chancellor 27 th June 2012 Rich Exchanges: Employability and Enterprise Conference 2012

The graduate class of 2012 has made a record number of applications and begun looking for jobs earlier than ever Just 12% of graduates intend to take a year off following graduation – an all time low Volume of applications for graduate level jobs has risen by 40% in two years A record 42% of students made applications for a graduate job by the end of October 2011 in their final year and 61% had applied by the end of February 2012 More than a third of students started researching their career options in the first year of studies Source - ‘The Graduate Market in 2012’ High Fliers Research Survey, London March 2012 Graduate jobs – intense competition

Graduate skills and attributes that are valued by employers: Team working Problem solving Self-management Knowledge of the business Literacy and numeracy relevant to the post ICT Knowledge Good interpersonal and communication skills Ability to use own initiative but also to follow instructions Source – ‘Employers’ perception of the employability skills of new graduates’. Research commissioned by Edge Foundation 2011 Employers needs have changed…..

‘Higher Education must be transparent across Course Information, Cost, The Students Union and.....’ Source - Higher Education White Paper: Students at the Heart of the System presented to Parliament (June 2011) by the Secretary of State of Business, Innovation & Skills, Employment: Destinations of students six months after completing their course (e.g. employment or further study) Proportion of students employed in a full-time ‘graduate’ job six months after completing course Salary for course six months after graduating Salary for that subject across all institutions six months after graduating Salary for that subject across all institutions forty months after graduating... and that effects how Higher Education is measured

Publication of Key Information Sets:

Traditionally high proportion of our graduates in employment following graduation, or undertaking a further programme of study, but the 2009/10 DLHE survey results show a decline in the employability of our graduates as well as an improvement in the employability of graduates from other regional competitor universities. 2010/11 results to be announced later Current performance:

Enterprise and Employability Sub-Strategy

Vision To improve the employment levels of our graduates (undergraduate and post graduate) such that we will be placed in the top half of universities in the region by 2017 as defined by the DLHE survey. Mission ….a University-wide initiative involving all students, all staff engaged with students which will ensure that we produce eminently employable graduates with the skills to proactively navigate the world of work and self-manage the career building process…. engagement of our students will be led by the Students’ Union

Provide all of our students with the opportunity to undertake an element of structured, credit bearing work experience as part of their course: How we will achieve this:

Provide all of our students with the opportunity to undertake an element of structured, credit bearing work experience as part of their course: -full-time, part-time, paid, unpaid, internships, volunteering, -charity work and consultancy opportunities with University partners, suppliers and tenant companies -self-employment opportunities -the University will develop increasing opportunities to employ our own students and graduates. How we will achieve this:

Enable increasing numbers of our students to participate in mentoring opportunities (including e- mentoring) provided by our employer contacts and University alumni.

Proactively engage the University’s alumni network in providing employment and mentoring opportunities and developing employability skills for our students.

Enable increasing numbers of our students to participate in mentoring opportunities (including e- mentoring) provided by our employer contacts and University alumni. Proactively engage the University’s alumni network in providing employment and mentoring opportunities and developing employability skills for our students. ‘Employability Award’ to demonstrate to potential employers the work experience, employability skills and the extra curricular activities they have undertaken including involvement in student societies.

Following graduation - all our students will be offered the opportunity to receive further support to assist in gaining employment and will have the opportunity for an internship with an employer. Promote enterprise and entrepreneurship in our curricula providing opportunity for those graduates wishing to start their own businesses through a specific ‘Graduate Incubation Programme’ of support drawing on resources at the University’s Science Park and e- innovation Centre. Provide necessary development and support for our academic staff (including Personal Tutors) so that they can provide effective employability and employment advice to our students

Develop a centralised university system which will: –provide accurate and timely information in order for us to be better informed and able monitor our progress –collect, monitor and analyse our employability data –coordinate our enterprise and employability activities across the University

Resource Implications: Central coordination of staffing resources Development of centrally co-ordinated systems and processes for - Organisation of work placements - Organisation of employment opportunities - Organisation of mentoring/e-mentoring scheme Development of an extensive programme of guest lecturers KPI: Employment levels of graduates as defined by the DLHE survey and other appropriate metrics

Thank you for listening ……