Too many Graduates?

A paper by the Institute for Public Policy Research says too much attention has been paid to increasing the number of graduates, whilst over the next decade only a third of new jobs will be in occupations, requiring a degree level qualification, while the rest will be in medium and low-skilled areas. They say that by 2022 there will be 3.6 million new jobs in medium-skilled occupations, including "associate professional" jobs in healthcare, skilled trades and public services, which will employ people with Level 3 vocational qualifications or above or with Apprenticeships.

The study says that in some sectors there is a "mismatch" between the skills/qualifications needed by businesses and those held by workers, with 39% of openings in skilled trades due to skills shortages. The IPPR say, "In their desire to 'win the global race', policy makers have focused on increasing the number of graduates in the economy. However, Britain also needs stronger and better quality vocational education, coupled with new business models that make better use of workforce skills and enable companies to move up the value chain. This will require employers to engage in a more meaningful way in vocational education and skills development. Without action in these areas, our economy will not be equipped to compete successfully on the global stage."  [ source: GTAssociates ]

10 Skills for Employability every Graduate needs

The Guardian newspaper has published detailed advice on the skills and qualities graduates should possess on leaving leaving university to equip them to enter the world of work.  Thinking ahead is essential and leaving it until you're sitting in front of a blank computer screen trying to write your CV for a graduate job may well be too late to assess the qualities you've got to offer.

"From day one students should see the start of university as the start of their working life," says Dan Hawes, co-founder of the Graduate Recruitment Bureau. "Think of the skills you need to have when you finish university in three or four years time and then work backwards, so you're hoarding skills each year."  

To read the full article, click here.

School leaver opportunities at Deloitte St Albans

Deloitte are offering training and employment opportunities based in St Albans and London (as well as other locations nationwide) for school leavers.  The BrightStart programme is aimed at students who do not wish to attend university but wish to obtain a professional qualification such as the ACA, whilst working. This is a permanent full time role for students looking to enter the work force.  For information about this and other career pathways at Deloitte, click here.  For information about the entry requirements for the Brightstart programme, click here.

Significant increase in applications to university

UCAS has revealed that the number of UK applicants has increased by 15,000, whilst overall applications have risen by nearly 22,000 compared with this time last year, despite a falling number of 18 year-olds. Applications from UK students are still 20,000 lower than in 2011, before the numbers dipped. Overall applications are 8,500 fewer than at their peak in 2011. The largest increase was from students outside Europe, with a rise of 7%. The number of other EU students, who are entitled to student loans, was up by 5% to 43,600.

The government is funding 30,000 extra places for British and EU students this year before number controls are abolished altogether in 2015. However, many universities are reluctant to expand, with the Russell Group warning that “quality higher education should be prioritised over quantity”.

Disgruntled students

A survey of 3,400 undergraduates by the website Student Hut, found that 19.6% are unimpressed by lectures and seminars and 20.8% believe that levels of support available outside of timetables sessions was lacking. Dan Lever, founder of Student Hut, said many students “feel that their experiences are not living up to the expectations they were sold in brochures”.

Times Higher Education Supplement Student Survey 2014

The Times Higher Education Supplement student experience survey has been running for 10 years and is widely believed to be one of the most independent and unbiased surveys of this type. Students rated Sheffield as the best university overall (also scoring most highly in the Social Life category); with Bath ranking highest for Sports Facilities and Links with Industry and Oxford rated as best for Quality of Staff an Lecturers.  To get the full results, click here.

It pays to have a Degree

An Office of National Statistics report on British households showed that total wealth in private hands was £9.5 trillion in 2012. That is more than six times the value of all goods and services produced every year, and the equivalent of almost 13 years of government spending. They found that 20% of all adults who hold a university degree (over 2 million) have wealth totalling at least £1million, and almost a tenth own assets, property, pensions, savings and physical objects, worth £1million or more. The total number of millionaires has risen by 50% in four years despite the recent financial crisis. However, only 3% of people with no formal educational qualifications have assets worth more than £1million. In 2006-07 16% of graduates were asset millionaires, compared with 2% of people without formal qualifications.