This blog is designed to keep you up-to-date with Careers Education, Information and Guidance (CEIAG) available locally, nationally and through the school. I’ll be posting information about employment and training opportunities available locally as well as details of open days and useful websites. The world of education, employment and training opportunities is changing rapidly so keep checking in for the latest information.

Mr Cross


Monday 11 December 2017

Students are studying less but working more ...

A major study, involving 36,000 students at 42 universities, has found that the amount of time they give to study has fallen but the amount of time they spend on paid work has risen. The ‘UK Engagement Survey’ found that only 48% of participants spent 11 hours or more a week on independent study, a drop from 52% in 2016. The amount of time spent on timetabled classes has also fallen, with 51% saying they spent 11 hours or more, down from 55%. In contrast, 52% said that they worked during term time, up from 45% last year. The proportion of people who took part in university sports and student societies has also fallen, from 60% to 54%.

Which degree subjects lead to employment?

An Office of National Statistics survey has found that medics are the most employable graduates, with 95% of recent graduates employed, followed by engineering, at 92%. Engineering had the highest average salary, £44,980, up from £42,016 in 2013. Average pay for languages graduates fell from £30,420 in 2013 to £25,012 in 2017. Professor Alan Smithers (head of the centre for education and employment research at Buckingham University) has commented that engineering was becoming "increasingly important in its new forms within our economy.” He said that civil engineering, with the launch of HS2 and the other infrastructure projects, and electrical engineering’s role in building computers, has “moved engineering away from the image of someone in overalls with greasy hands”. The figures also show that male graduates had an average employment rate 7% higher than females. Overall, 11% of female graduates were out of the workplace because they were looking after the home or family, compared to 2% of men. Male graduates were also more likely to be in high-skilled jobs and less likely to be working part-time.

Wednesday 6 December 2017

UK universities ranked for employability

The Times Higher Education Global University Employability Ranking is a table of 150 universities producing the best graduates according to employers. This year, UK universities have fallen, with only one left in the top ten, raising fears that Brexit is damaging the reputation of the sector. Edinburgh University, the only Scottish institution recorded, fell 46 places, from 32nd last year to 78th, with US-based institutions taking the top four slots and Asian universities growing in influence. Cambridge fell from 4th to 5th, Oxford fell from 7th to 15th, Imperial College fell from 16th to 17th, King’s College from 23rd to 25th and Manchester from 24th to 34th. The rankings are based on the views of 6,000 recruitment managers from large international companies. Other British universities in the top 100 included the LSE, UCL and Bristol, all of which fell one place.