Graduate employability
Why employability matters to students
Research shows that ‘getting a better job’ is a prime motivator for students coming to university and especially for those who are first generation in higher education. The 2011 CBI/National Union of Students survey of 2,614 students revealed that the majority of students (79%) decide to go to university to improve their job opportunities. Over half (57%) want universities to do more to help them understand employability skills, such as customer awareness, team working and self management and two thirds (66%) would like more support in developing these skills.
The 2011 CBI/EDI Education and Skills survey also revealed that employability skills are the single most important consideration for 82% of businesses when recruiting graduates. However 70% of employers said that university students need to do more to prepare themselves to be effective in the workplace.
Some universities already embed the teaching of employability skills into course structures, but the CBI is calling on all institutions to follow this best practice.The National Student Forum (NSF) has also focused on universities’ responsibility for developing employability particularly in relation to the removal of the fee cap.
Why employability matters to Brunel
Brunel’s pioneering approach to applied learning and sandwich course degrees are well known to employers and the wider community while developing ‘confident, talented and versatile graduates’ remains central to our mission. Universities are now being asked to provide more data on how they contribute to students’ employability and on the employment outcomes of their new graduates.
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