Exeter Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor calls for careers support for graduates

Professor Janice Kay, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor is Chair of the 1994 Group's Student Experience Policy Group which commissioned the report. She said:

“The graduate employment market is extremely competitive. It is crucial that students are well equipped whilst at university to progress and achieve their potential in the workplace.”

“1994 Group universities are working with their students’ unions and employers to offer activities beyond the curriculum that give their students the opportunity to broaden their university experience and enhance their employability. There is a growing commitment from our universities to bring together such activity and formally recognising it through the development of ‘awards’ that sit alongside students’ academic achievement. We urge universities, government and businesses to support and enhance these important awards.“

Miles Templeman, Director General of the Institute of Directors (IoD) said:

“Employers greatly value the knowledge and skills that graduates develop whilst studying at university, along with the skills and experience they gain from undertaking activities beyond the curriculum. The most employable graduates are those who not only have this blend of skills, but who are able to demonstrate and articulate how they have developed their skills and why they are important. The co-curricular awards which the 1994 Group has highlighted are an excellent way to enhance graduate employability and should be strongly supported.”

Richard Budden, Vice-President Union Development, National Union of Students (NUS) said:

“Co-curricular activities are fundamental to a well rounded student experience. Students' unions are absolutely at the heart of delivering this and transforming the lives of thousands of students every year. The transformational power of the co-curricular should never be underestimated in terms of retention, achievement and employability.”

The report ‘Beyond the Curriculum’ analyses opportunities for universities to enhance students employability and future life choices, highlights examples of successful schemes and sets out recommendations for universities, employers and government to develop the programmes and awards.

Key recommendations in the report include:

• Government should show its support for co-curricular activity by creating incentives for employers to become involved, such as a scheme in which government matches employers’ contributions. 
• Involving partners such as students’ unions and employers is fundamental for the success of co-curricular awards and activities.  Awards should aim to enhance both employability and the student experience.
• Employer involvement must be sought from an early stage of development and at all key stages and on a regular basis to ensure that the awards meaningfully address employability.  At the assessment stage is crucial to endow the awards with credibility in employers’ eyes. Multiple employers should be approached in order to benefit from varied viewpoints and diverse experiences.
• Co-curricular activities should be as widely accessible as possible and have sufficient flexibility to cater to the wide-range of needs and commitment within the student body.
• Management and co-ordination of awards requires dedicated staff and input from a range of individuals from both academic and support divisions.