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USING YOUR CAREERS CENTRE TO CREATE A VIBRANT ECONOMY
By linking Government strategy, University objectives, and the labour market to students and graduates
11 April 2015
Sue BennettDirector, Student Careers & Skills, University
of Warwick
This session will coverLinking Careers Centre work to Government policy, University objectives, labour market knowledge and employers
Foundations of your service
The Careers Centre’s work with students and employers
Your next steps
UK Government policyEconomic growth is responsibility of the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS)
Invests in skills and education to promote trade, boost innovation and help people to start and grow a business
UK FundingThe Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) distributes public money for teaching and research to English universities and colleges (most are public, not private)
Students pay tuition fees, currently £9,000 p.a. for UK and EU students, (loans repayable after graduation) = 2,475,000 KZT p.a.
50% of UK students work part-time during study
Completion rates for undergraduates at all UK universities is 91.4%, Warwick 94.2%, total student pop. of 388,915
Linking to Universities
In return for funding, the UK Government expects universities to contribute to society and to the economy by:
Educating students at the undergraduate and postgraduate level;
Undertaking world class research;
Enabling students to become suitably qualified graduates in the labour market
And in Kazakhstan?
What are the Government’s expectations of universities in Kazakhstan?
How does your University translate Government policy into its objectives?
Why does this matter? Because to be effective and to secure staff and resources you must link your Careers Centre’s work to the University’s strategy
E.g. University of WarwickOur vision is to be a world-class university. One with a dynamic, enterprising approach to solving global challenges; one that enables students to create their place in the world; one that defines the university of tomorrow
Our mission is to produce graduates who are global citizens, who are equipped to make an important contribution to the economy and to society in our inter-connected world; to serve our local region, academically, culturally and economically
University objectives
Our values: pursuit of excellence; ambition and drive; enterprising; making a difference; community; accessible; global perspective; independence
Our goals: enable students to succeed; deliver world class research; secure global position; engage our communities; champion social, cultural and economic growth; secure financial sustainability
Links to our work:Enable students to succeed and create their place in the world; be global citizens; serve local region
Ambition and drive; enterprising; making a difference; global perspective; independence
→SCS’s mission: to enable students to become successful students and employable graduates
“we prepare graduates for jobs that don’t yet exist, who will have to solve problems we don’t yet know about” → future proofing graduates
And your Careers Centre?
What is the mission of your Careers Centre?
Why does this matter? Because you will have to work hard to secure the resources you need to provide a high quality, impactful and impartial service. Clarity about your purpose will give you determination and drive
UK labour market
Historically low unemployment at 5.7% of working age population
Broad range of sectors, inc. service industries and knowledge economy
Recovering well from the financial crisis
Increasingly buoyant labour market; some sectors struggling to recruit suitably qualified graduates → but still fiercely competitive to enter
70-75% of employers want “graduate skills and expertise” rather than a particular degree
Know your labour marketRole of Government and relevant ministries
Sectors: extractive industries; agriculture; construction; teachers; medics, health
Which are stable, growing, declining + causes?
Do you understand the expectations of local, regional and international employers?
Segmenting labour market: e.g. by turnover; by number of employees; by market share; how many of your graduates are of interest to them, and are interested in them
Define your labour marketWhat sectors of the economy do your graduates enter/want to enter?
What labour market do you serve?
How would you segment your employers and what is the rationale for this segmentation?
Why does this matter? You must know to be able to provide impartial, informed advice to your students
Employers want graduates with:Good degree from a good university
Work experience
A record of achievement, e.g. sports, societies, volunteering
Ability to understand what is right for them, and how to tell their unique story, and adapt it for different audiences
The skills to succeed in recruitment
Employers* will not recruit graduates who Cannot work with, and get things done, through others
Are not practical enough to think through problems clearly and deliver outcomes
Cannot show a passion for chosen career or industry
Are not flexible or resilient enough to work in a challenging, changing environment (or prepared to sometimes do dull work that needs doing)
Cannot work with people from different cultures
Have no interest in what is happening in other countries and cultures
*Stephen Isherwood, Chief Executive, Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR), with 300 members, Recruiters’ Club forum, May 2014
Link to CareersEmployer views and labour market data are historical. So be well informed to ensure advice to students is current and impartial
Aim to be one step ahead of emerging labour market trends
Be informed not led by employers
Have careers staff qualified in guidance, with sector knowledge. Consider AGCAS
Establish and maintain excellent employer relations
What is AGCAS?*
The professional association for Careers Centre staff
International membership of 2,500, 150+ institutions, with access to 2m+ students
Conferences, training, and qualifications
A welcoming network of professionals
*Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services
Helping your students to succeedEmbed employability in curriculum
Enable and promote work experience, internships, placements
Help them to meet employers
Interpret the labour market for them
Encourage and expect independence
Aid them to reflect and Tell their Story
Help them succeed with the recruitment process
Work experience – it’s all goodEarly access to graduate job / application process
Try without committing
Contacts useful for career ? ?
Appreciation of the higher level skills gained via study
Unique experience for reflection and future reference
Self reliance & self understanding
Employability skills – teamwork, communication, customer skills
Expectations, understanding, feel & culture of the workplace
Developing application and interview skills
Broad category of placement, experience or internship
‘Non graduate’ work
experience
Experience in any graduate
field
Academic work, e.g.
URSS
Experience in chosen graduate
field
Stu
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gai
ns…
…
Characteristics of a successful careers centre
Strong leadership and management with students at the heart of your service
Qualified careers advisers
Employer liaison
Employability
Placements/internships
Links to rest of University
EssentialsVision and policies will give a secure foundation →clarity of purpose, senior management support, ways to work with students and employers
Qualified Careers advisers who offer informed, impartial and confidential advice
Excellent Employer links which draw employers to your University so students can meet them, learn about sectors, and make good choices about their futures
Essentials, 2Employability and careers staff to guide students on career decisions and how to be successful in recruitment
Internships and placements, as part of course or extra-curricular provide essential employer contacts + work experience
Links to rest of University, e.g. recruitment, alumni, academic departments will enable you to contribute to the University’s goals in a joined up way
Career guidanceInformation and resources for students to research their options, look at different sectors, employers, vacancies– Student portal; Drop in Help Desk; Vacancies database
Advice and guidance so students can make decisions that are right for them– AGCAS Qualified Careers consultants who offer 1:1
expert advice and guidance, with in-depth, up-to-date knowledge of different sectors
– Helping students get a job: CVs, applications, interviews
– Career Management skills sessions
Foundations for your serviceBe attractive and accessible, easy to use
Know your students, faculty and labour market
Have competent, qualified staff who are committed to student success
Have variety of ways to engage (e.g. online, in person, by email)
Be informed and up-to-date
Be impartial and confidential
Encourage early engagement
Know your students, facultyFor example, Warwick has 4 faculties, 26 departments, governed in x way . . .; and 24,000 students, of whom 13,000 are undergraduates, 9,000+ are taught postgraduates, and 1,800 are research students.
25% of undergraduates are international students, 33% of total population
128 languages spoken on campus
Know your students, faculty 2Disciplines, cohort size
Student interests and ambitions during University, and for their futures
Academic priorities
Senior management priorities
Networks, networks, networks!
Why does this matter? To deliver a good service you must understand your stakeholders
What about you?What are the student demographics at your university? E.g. UG/PG, subject split, cohort sizes
What do you know about your students?
What are the priorities of academic and senior management?
Why does this matter? To deliver a good service you must understand your stakeholders
Everyone’s journey will be different
How can you measure success?
Student completion rates
Graduate employment rates and salaries, x months after graduation
Number of your graduates employed in different sectors
Student feedback, employer feedback
How well you meet labour market needs
How well you serve your local economy
Graduate Employment*69.6% in paid work
13.1% in further study
5.4% combining work and study
7.6% still seeking work
4.4% not available/other
66% in a “professional” role
£20,500 median salary (full-time work)+*Latest available data on UK/EU graduates who studied in the UK, collected for the Higher Education Statistical Agency (HESA). Undergraduates and graduates combined, data collected in January 2014, 6 months after graduation+ = 5,500,000 KZT
Measures 2National Student Survey (views of finalists)
International Student Survey (learning; living; support; arrival)
High Fliers Survey (views of finalists and Top 100 graduate employers)
Informal and formal Employer feedback
Internal student surveys, evaluation of sessions and workshops
And what about you?How will you measure the success of your service with students, employers, etc.?
How will you use measures and feedback to improve your service?
Why does it matter? Because resources are always scarce, and you will face questions on whether your services makes a difference, so have the measures of success to prove it!
Our advice to students
Get the best degree you can by focussing on academic & professional skills
Get work experience
Make the most of University life
Develop skills and confidence (volunteering, work experience, clubs and societies)
Meet employers to find out more about them
And decide what matters to you, and how to present yourself
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