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Cable rules out hitting existing graduates on loan interest

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Vince Cable, the business secretary, says he has “ruled out categorically” any rise in interest rates for graduates who took out student loans before 2012, while stressing that plans for a sale of student loans are ongoing The Liberal Democrat MP released a short statement today following national press coverage of the...

Harvard don warns over future of British universities

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Britain’s leading universities risk being “relegated from the top division” because of a failure to hang on to the brightest students, a top American academic has warned. Institutions such as Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial College London are increasingly losing ground to competitors in the United States amid a huge gulf in...

University offers: Social background ignored

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Many UK universities do not consider candidates' backgrounds when offering places, research suggests. The government wants institutions to broaden access to higher education to include more, poorer students. As well as strong grades, good written English, a passion for the course subject and a positive attitude to study are key to...

Work experience teaches students to get down to business

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Since Salford Business School (SBS) launched its business innovation projects last September, about 500 business master's students have spent from three to six months working on live projects for companies across the UK, either individually or as part of multidisciplinary teams. It is the only business master's in the UK to integrate business...

Young, ambitious and broke? Not to worry - on Upstart you can find a 21st century patron

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Two new websites, Upstart and Pave, have dozens of members on either side of the funding divide. According to Upstart’s founder, Dave Girouard, 50 candidates have attracted $1.4m over the platform’s short history. These ‘upstarts’ – who advertise with smoking headshots and Ivy-League credentials - receive enough...

War for talent 'increases threefold'

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:45:00 GMT

According to the latest CIPD/Hays Resourcing and Talent Planning Survey (launched on the opening day of the CIPD’s annual recruitment conference at London’s Olympia), the proportion of employers reporting an increase in the competition for well-qualified talent has more than trebled from 20% in 2009 to 62% this year. The 2013...

Stephen Twigg: Labour would let all schools choose curriculum, not just free schools and academies

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:15:00 GMT

Every state school in the country will be able to choose its own curriculum and lengthen term times if Labour wins the next general election, the shadow Education Secretary, Stephen Twigg, will pledge. In a speech at the Royal Society of Art this morning, Mr Twigg will give a promise that Labour will extend to all schools the freedoms...

Student loans 'plot' against graduates signals a time for major policy change

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:15:00 GMT

Plans to sell off student loans to private investors undermine trust in the whole university process, says The Guardian’s Martin McQuillan. The Guardian last week revealed a secret report commissioned by the government from Rothschild bank, looking at ways in which the student loan book could be made attractive to private investors...

Use postgrad to give your life a new direction

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:15:00 GMT

Employability is the buzzword in higher education but a surprising number of students are rethinking their careers as they don their graduation gowns. Perhaps they have studied science and want to go into advertising or they have trained as a doctor but want the excitement of a career in the City. Choosing the "wrong" degree subject...

Moocs are the clever way to keep up to date

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Leading UK universities offer short Mooc courses to help mature students stay abreast of the latest developments The world of distance learning has changed beyond recognition since the first correspondence courses dropped onto doormats more than 40 years ago. Classes of thousands from around the world can now join interactive lectures for...

Turn your Twitter and Facebook skills into a career

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Think expertise in social media is something just picked up by trial and error? Think again. In March the University of Westminster launched a new MA in social media, alongside its new Centre for Social Media Research, announcing that it would be recruiting for September entry. Graham Meikle, the new course's leader, was quick to...

Shortlisted entries for AGR awards revealed

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:15:00 GMT

The shortlisted entries for this year’s AGR Graduate Recruitment Awards have now been revealed. The winners will be announced at the AGR’s annual conference, once again taking place at the Celtic Manor in Newport, on the evening of Monday 8th July. Entries for the six categories were judged by a panel of hand-picked...

Investing in career development should be top of the government's agenda

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:15:00 GMT

Politicians must realise that many concerns about youth unemployment and the economy are linked to people's careers. A recent report, An Aspiration Nation, said: "The world has changed fundamentally over the past generation. We have seen the disappearance of the job for life, the emergence of the knowledge economy and loss of many...

Let kids apply after their A-level results

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:15:00 GMT

The number of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds applying to elite universities has fallen in the past decade. New ideas musts be considered. After all the money ploughed into encouraging students from disadvantaged backgrounds to apply to Britain’s most elite universities, it is profoundly depressing that their numbers...

Underachieving pupils more susceptible to joining EDL, says Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:15:00 GMT

Chief Inspector of Schools says shortage of low skilled jobs could lead young people towards extremist organisations. The Independent reports. The head of Ofsted has warned that underachieving young people could be more susceptible to joining organisations such as the English Defence League, as low skilled jobs become more difficult to...

Comprehensive school pupils do better at university, two new studies confirm

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Students from state schools outperform private ones admitted with same A-level grades, according to Cardiff and Oxford Brookes research. Two studies showing state school pupils do better at university than those from private schools will strengthen demands for admissions tutors to give priority to applicants from comprehensives. The...

Online universities: it's time for teachers to join the revolution

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Moocs, the new model of university education, have no race, colour, sex or wealth barriers, and can be accessed at a click. The Observer reports. The past few centuries have witnessed revolutions in virtually every area of our world – health, transport, communications and genomics, to name but a few. But not in education. Until now...

Student loans: graduates at risk

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:00:00 GMT

This week, the Guardian has published details of a government-commissioned plan to privatise student loans. This is a scheme the government would rather you didn't know about: while it has been the subject of speculation within higher education, it has never been made public or discussed with university professionals. When it was released...

Top universities strike deal with DfE to have say in redeveloping A-levels

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Britain's top universities will take a permanent role in dictating the design and content of A-levels after a deal with the Department for Education, in spite of concerns that the qualification will be reduced to a university entrance exam. The agreement between the DfE and the Russell Group of leading universities comes after the...

Universities failing on equality of access, research suggests

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Report indicates proportion of state-educated pupils attending Russell Group universities has declined since 2002. The Guardian reports. Britain's top-flight universities should be prepared to make lower exam offers to some state school pupils, after research published on Monday shows that elite institutions have become more socially...

A student tax rise would be yet more intergenerational theft

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:45:00 GMT

Who takes on a loan without knowing the interest rates or period of payment? That's what the government is asking of students. Today's revelation that a government report has proposed raising interest rates on old student loans is scandalous. It shows that while previous generations got their education for free, younger generations are...

Careers report 'ducks' funding issues

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:45:00 GMT

A report that called for a “culture change” on careers guidance has been criticised for shying away from “difficult underlying issues”. The National Careers Council’s first report, An Aspirational Nation: Creating a culture change in careers provision, featured seven recommendations including a significant...

BAE recruiting nearly 300 graduates with almost half going into cyber and security business

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:00:00 GMT

BAE Systems have announced plans to bring in 293 graduates this year with 130 of them going into its growing cyber and security business, Detica. The FTSE100 listed defence company said the recruitment figures reflected National Audit Office estimates that the cost of cyber-crime to the UK could be as high as £27bn. Martin...

Graduate job search 'starting earlier than ever'

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:00:00 GMT

Forty-one per cent of finalists said they made at least one job application to a graduate employer almost a year before graduation, according to a poll of more than 18,000 students at 30 UK universities by High Fliers Research, published on 13 June. That compares to the 37 per cent who applied early – in September or October in...

Raise interest rates on old student loans, secret report proposes

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:00:00 GMT

A confidential report commissioned by the government has proposed redrawing the terms of student loans taken out over the past 15 years, that would make them more expensive to pay back for 3.6 million borrowers in England alone. The proposal to increase the interest rates on the £40bn worth of loans is the most controversial of a...

Student complaints rise by 25%: do higher fees mean higher expectations?

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:00:00 GMT

Perhaps, says independent adjudicator Rob Behrens. Butcuts in university resources are creating a more dangerous equation As the independent adjudictor for higher education in England and Wales, I recently hosted the annual meeting of the European network of higher education ombudsmen (ENOHE). The exchange was invaluable. What stood out...

England and Wales split over future of AS-level exams

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 14:45:00 GMT

Education ministers in Wales confirmed that the country would retain AS-level exams – sat in the first 12-months of the two-year course – even though they are being effectively scrapped in England. The move comes on top of a row between the countries over the future of GCSEs. It is sure to signal the death-knell for the...

We need to teach young people more entrepreneurial skills

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 14:45:00 GMT

If young people are to succeed in the global job market, there needs to be a stronger focus on entrepreneurial education, writes The Guardian. The future of Europe depends upon 94 million Europeans aged between 15 and 29 years old. But in April 2013, 5.627 million people in the European Union under the age of 25 were unemployed. This...

Interview with Carl Gilleard, Chief Exec of the Association of Graduate Recruiters

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 14:30:00 GMT

Interview with Carl Gilleard, Chief Exec of the Association of Graduate Recruiters Carl Gilleard was appointed Chief Executive of the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) in 1998. The AGR has a membership of almost 800 businesses with an interest in the recruitment and development of graduates across the UK. Carl is due to retire...

New extra-curricular university report card? Hear, hear

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 14:30:00 GMT

Student Rozina Sabur welcomes the Higher Education Academic Record (HEAR), which gives graduates more than a degree grade to show prospective employers. Graduation season is almost upon us, and universities have begun to communicate with Finalists about their Higher Education Academic Record (HEAR). In essence, this is a more detailed...

A dual degree means double your chances in a tough jobs market

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:30:00 GMT

Why offer students just one subject when studying two can give help kick-start their careers. The Independent’s Richard Garner finds out how Keele's founding principles are coming into their own Many in the education world believe the sixth form is too early for a pupil to narrow their subject options down and specialise. Instead of...

Class of 2013: This year's graduates are the most optimistic in 15 years

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:30:00 GMT

The class of 2013 are the most optimistic bunch of graduates over their prospects of gaining employment for 15 years, according to research out today. Nearly half (44 per cent) believe they will have snapped up graduate-style employment or are confident about their ability to get it by the time they leave university this summer - the...

Job advantage for graduates with work experience - survey

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:30:00 GMT

Graduates who had internships or work experience when they were students are much more successful in job hunting after university, research suggests. The High Fliers study of more than 18,000 university leavers indicates that graduates who have had internships are three times as likely to land jobs. Marketing is the most popular...

Universities face more complaints since rise in tuition fees

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:30:00 GMT

Appeals jumped by 20% between 2011 and 2012 – the first year of the new, higher fee level Students have become more willing to issue formal complaints about their treatment at the hands of universities since the imposition of £9,000 annual tuition fees, the higher education watchdog has revealed in its annual report. The...

BigChoice backs call for better careers advice

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 15:00:00 GMT

Ian Peters – the creator of BigChoice Group’s School Leavers Guide, and a former secondary schoolteacher to boot – is backing the National Careers Council’s call for improvements to careers education, as outlined in its recently published report ‘An Aspirational Nation’. “We wholeheartedly agree...

Focus on employability threatens degree choice

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 15:00:00 GMT

With students increasingly looking to study subjects they believe will boost their chances of securing employment, a growing number of university degree courses in arts, humanities and languages are facing the chop. Despite the importance of language skills in today’s global economy, applications to language degree courses have...

Internships: The competitive world of work experience

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 15:00:00 GMT

When it emerged that government adviser and former Dragon's Den judge James Caan had given his daughter a leg-up with an internship in his own company, accusations of hypocrisy followed, as Mr Caan was meant to be championing social equality. But for those young people whose parents let them "find their own way" in their careers, as Mr Caan...

Universities: commitment to broadening access continues

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 15:00:00 GMT

A report published by the Higher Education Funding Council for England and the Office for Fair Access suggests that English universities and colleges have continued to reach out to and support people from disadvantaged backgrounds who have the potential to benefit from higher education. But, according to OFFA director Professor Les Ebdon...

GCSEs to become more demanding and rigorous, says Michael Gove

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:45:00 GMT

Michael Gove has pledged to make GCSE qualifications in England "more demanding, more fulfilling and more stretching" as his department and the exam regulator published details of proposals to rely on final written examinations for grades, and scrap modular courses and classroom assessments. The redesigned exam – tentatively known...

Grim culture pushes teenagers into cautious choices

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:45:00 GMT

Young people are being sucked into a culture of grim realism, pressurised to make cautious, highly practical choices earlier in their lives, says The Telegraphs’ Simon Ofield-Kerr. We all need to make hard-headed choices throughout our lives. An increasingly difficult question in education is when these choices should begin....

AGR Graduate Recruitment Awards 2013 Shortlist

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 11:45:00 GMT

We are pleased to announce the shortlist for our Graduate Recruitment awards 2013, including the top entries for our brand new award for Best Social Mobility Strategy. Each entry was judged by a panel of hand-picked professional judges with expertise in each field. Our Digital Marketing Award was also sifted by a panel of student judges...

Bring back polytechnics, argues higher education report

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:30:00 GMT

The government should revive the term 'polytechnic' argues a report into the future of higher education in England. Large further education colleges which already have degree awarding powers should be eligible to apply for polytechnic status say the authors. The title would be a "mark of vocational excellence" argues the Commission on...

Labour 'open' to rekindling targets for overseas student growth

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:30:00 GMT

Labour’s shadow business secretary is “open” to setting a target to increase overseas students if the party returns to power as the major export industry has been “taken hostage by the Home Office” under the coalition. Chuka Umunna, speaking at the launch today of a major report on the future of higher...

GCSEs have not been 'fit for purpose', says education minister

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:15:00 GMT

Liz Truss said the qualifications taken by more than half a million 16-year-olds each summer are too easy and must be replaced, as the Coalition unveiled sweeping reforms. She linked the education changes to David Cameron's goal of making sure Britain is not left behind in a "global race" against emerging Asian powers. "What we can't...

MPs warn of repeat of GCSE English grading fiasco

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:15:00 GMT

The GCSE grading fiasco that caused chaos for teenagers last summer risks being repeated under a major overhaul of the exams system, MPs warned today. In a report, the Commons Education Select Committee said that blame for the 2012 “turmoil” largely lay with the last Labour administration which redesigned qualifications...

The firsts and the 'fails' in the 2013 Green League of universities

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:15:00 GMT

Manchester Metropolitan has topped the People & Planet Green League for 2013, while Oxford and Cambridge do even worse than last year - The Guardian reports. It's a university league table with a difference: one in which the top is far from dominated by the "elite" institutions. Taking the No. 1 spot in this year's People & Planet...

This cosy Surrey-Oxbridge link exposes Britain's geographical apartheid

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:15:00 GMT

University data confounds the post-Thatcher myth of progress – in fact the UK's social and economic divisions are growing wider - The Guardian reports. The news that Surrey contained almost as many successful Oxbridge applicants last year as Wales and the north-east of England combined is as predictable as it is saddening. Those of...

UK higher education: why the current numbers don't add up

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:15:00 GMT

Other nations are expanding their higher education systems, says Libby Hackett of University Alliance. Why not the UK? We talk a lot about the importance of UK students and graduates making well-informed decisions about their futures – but does education policy governing the future of our universities follow that same...

Axe falls as students shun arts degrees

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:30:00 GMT

Hundreds of university courses are being axed as students facing annual tuition fees of up to £9,000 increasingly choose vocational courses that they think will give them the best chance of securing a job. Experts fear that the study of some languages could be wiped out as a result of cuts to specialist courses and those that are...

Jobless graduates taking up hairdressing

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:30:00 GMT

The joke used to be: “What do you say to a fine arts graduate? Answer: Big Mac and chips, please.” Now you are more likely to say: “Cut and blow dry, please” because, with the acute shortage of degree level jobs, many graduates are turning to careers in hairdressing. There is certainly job security in this booming...

Rise in Chinese students shunning state exams for A-levels

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:30:00 GMT

With furrowed brows, bleary eyes and overtaxed brains, more than 9 million Chinese teenagers will complete the country's fearsome college entrance exams on Saturday. The two-day, soul-sapping, life-determining gaokao is the stressful summit of China's increasingly pressurised education system. Yet Leo He, Nathan Zhang, Sunny Yu and Elaine...

Controversy over class at Oxbridge is nothing new

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:15:00 GMT

Oxford and Cambridge argue strenuously that it is attainment and not geography that influences admissions decision. Cambridge and Oxford universities were founded hundreds of years ago and controversy over the backgrounds of their students also stretches back into the past. A Royal Commission in 1852 discussed access to Oxbridge by poorer...

Graduate jobs: Leaving university without a grad scheme lined up? Don't despair - your options are wide open

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:15:00 GMT

There are few experiences in life as simultaneously thrilling and terrifying as leaving university, says The Telegraph’s Charlotte Lytton. Having spent the majority of your life being gently shepherded from one life decision to the next by parents, teachers and nosy family friends with a low regard for boundaries, finishing a degree...

Graduating today is scary, but you've got to take control

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:15:00 GMT

New graduates may feel that they're in the wrong place at the wrong time, but I'm learning to be brave and look forward, writes The Guardian’s Libby Page. The most important lesson I have learned is that education just doesn't prepare you for what comes next. Your degree might teach you the skills you need for a workplace or career...

The government is failing young women on career advice

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:15:00 GMT

Labour MP Seema Malhotra explains why Labour would reverse coalition policy on work experience schemes. The Guardian reports. Earlier this month, the Women's Business Council published its report: "Maximising women's contribution to future economic growth." It is right to focus on early action on girls' aspirations to help them make the...

George Osborne gives strong hint on protecting science

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 14:30:00 GMT

George Osborne has given his strongest hint yet that science funding will be protected in the coming spending review. Times Higher Education reports. Speaking at the topping-out ceremony of the £700 million Francis Crick Institute in central London today, the chancellor stressed the value of science to the country and...

Issue bonds for postgrad loans, says report

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 14:30:00 GMT

Groups of universities could raise funding for postgraduate student loans by issuing bonds, a report by the thinktank CentreForum has suggested. Times Higher Education reports. The certificates of debt, which guarantee repayment plus interest at a later date, could be used to source money from financial markets for loans, says the study...

Older apprentices taking 16 to 18-year-old places

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 14:30:00 GMT

The 16 to 18 apprenticeships budget has been cut by £166m as would-be apprentices were squeezed out of places by “competition” from older applicants, a senior Department for Education (DfE) civil servant has revealed. Simon Judge, the DfE’s finance and commercial director, wrote to the Education Select Committee...

Two-thirds of exams marked online, report finds

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 14:30:00 GMT

Two thirds of GCSE and A-level papers are now marked online, with some being assessed as far away as Australia, a report by the exam regulator has found. The Telegraph reports. Research by Ofqual published today discloses a move away from traditional “pen and paper” marking towards a computerised system. But it warned the...

Degree year abroad: intercultural skills, and lots of fun

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 14:15:00 GMT

A degree year abroad is your chance to embrace new challenges, but you have to ‘own’ it to make the most of it, says language student-turned-entrepreneur Lizzie Fane. The Telegraph reports. Last year I helped with a British Academy report called ‘Valuing the Year Abroad’ which involved reading over six hundred...

No degree grade guarantees you a good - or bad - salary

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 14:15:00 GMT

Whatever your degree, the pressure remains on – and if you have a bad grade, it needn’t be the absolute end of the world, says The Telegraph’s David Ellis. W ages earned aren’t solely set according to the degree the employee has; it makes little sense to solely value the degree by the wage its bearer earns. It...

Send fewer kids to university, not ever more

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 14:15:00 GMT

Top universities are failing in their mission to recruit more students from disadvantaged backgrounds. But is that really - really - such a bad thing, asks The Independent’s Amol Rajan. On the face of it, the news that top universities are making “little or no progress” in recruiting more poor students for degree courses...

Access chief says 'little or no progress' at most selective unis

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 13:30:00 GMT

England's most selective universities have made little or no progress in recruiting students from poor homes in recent years, a watchdog says. Prof Les Ebdon, the director of the Office for Fair Access (Offa), says there have been improvements overall. But some leading universities have not increased access, "despite considerable...

Cable: 'In a rational world we'd be increasing funding'

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 13:30:00 GMT

Higher education funding has “bottomed out”, the business secretary has said, suggesting that the sector might avoid major cuts in the government’s spending review this month. Vince Cable’s comments come amid concerns that universities could face further large cuts as ministers seek to make...

Graduate earnings by institution: 'dangerous' data?

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 13:30:00 GMT

Research to measure the earnings of graduates according to the university they attended has taken a step forward, prompting suggestions that it could pave the way to unlimited fees for some institutions or even the sale of student loans to banks. Some in the sector warn that the project - led by Neil Shephard, professor of economics at...

How Rochdale Sixth Form College taught its teens to think bigger

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 13:30:00 GMT

More than 80 per cent of pupils at Rochdale Sixth Form College go to university – almost all of them the first in their families ever to do so. The Independent’s Richard Garner hears a remarkable success story. Leaders of the country's sixth-form colleges believe the staggering success of Rochdale will have help them in their...

Overseas recruitment continuing to suffer, suggests UUK report

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 13:30:00 GMT

Fewer British universities are hitting their overseas student recruitment targets this year in the wake of the government’s visa changes and Indian student numbers have again been hit, according to Universities UK. Times Higher Education reports. UUK today published a report on the impact of “unprecedented” policy...

Salford culls courses 'to secure future'

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 13:30:00 GMT

Salford has also announced another 46 jobs are at risk, affecting both professional services staff and academics. The University and College Union said it could not rule out strike action, calling the latest announcement the 13th round of job cuts in the last two years. In a further development, the troubled institution has sacked its...

UK graduates raise millions through startup programme

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 13:30:00 GMT

Seed funding of £15m from a new UK startup programme has helped a group of 31 graduates to establish businesses. The graduates selected for the Entrepreneur First startup scheme have formed 13 companies, it was announced at an event in London's Guildhall on Tuesday. The non-profit Entrepreneur First programme — which...

Businesses urged to teach pupils how to fill skills gap

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 12:45:00 GMT

Business leaders should give regular talks in schools to stop teenagers dreaming of being footballers or pop stars rather than surveyors or technicians, according to the National Careers Council. A report from the government advisory body says that many young people have unrealistic career ambitions and need better advice on how to...

Don't blame the pushy middle-class parents for the lack of social mobility

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 12:45:00 GMT

There was something a bit odd about James Caan’s advice to middle-class parents, reported by The Daily Telegraph yesterday. Nick Clegg’s new social mobility tsar wants them to stop using their connections to get their children internships at top companies. But how will that advance the cause of social mobility? On the face of...

How to get the most from your internship

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 12:45:00 GMT

Guardian readers – and current and former interns – share their top tips on how to get the most from your work experience. This generation's work experience is unique. Intern is the new entry level, and even if you're young, talented and ambitious, it may take you several years of internships before you land your first paying...

Postgraduate studies 'only for the rich'

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 12:45:00 GMT

Postgraduate education has become like an "exclusive golf club" that is open only to the very rich, new research will warn on Wednesday. Studying for a qualification beyond a degree is now out of reach of most people, says the report by the CentreForum think-tank, and raises concerns about the current funding system for those who want to...

Record numbers of apprenticeships applied for in 2013

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 12:45:00 GMT

According to new figures (1) released today by the National Apprenticeship Service, almost 370,000 Apprenticeship applications were submitted online between February and April 2013 (Academic Year Q3 2012/13). This represents growth of over 32%, when compared with the same period last year. Apprenticeship vacancies also witnessed...

Teenagers need 'face-to-face' careers advice

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 12:45:00 GMT

Face-to-face information is needed as part of a major upgrade in careers advice for young people in England, says the National Careers Council. The council, which advises the government, says that fewer than 1% of teenagers have used a phone line set up to offer them careers advice. There are worries that pupils lack an understanding...

UK young people putting stock in technology future

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 12:45:00 GMT

Young people in the UK are more tech savvy than their global counterparts according to new research. The report by Telefónica surveyed more than 12,000 people in 27 countries and found that nearly half (49%) of 18 to 30 year olds in the UK believe they have excellent knowledge of technology compared to 30% worldwide. As the...

Universities 'face financial challenges ahead'

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 12:45:00 GMT

UK universities face years of financial challenge following changes to funding, to the recruitment of overseas students and higher fees, a report warns. Government changes to higher education could impact on the UK's skilled workforce and economic growth, warns the group Universities UK (UUK). UUK says a volatile economic climate...

Job seekers: Frustrations mark road towards fulfilment

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 12:30:00 GMT

As children, and throughout adolescence, we are consumed with notions of fitting in. One group nobody wants to join is the unemployed, even though nowadays young people are confronted with almost certain membership of it as soon as we leave education. In 2011, I graduated with a mathematics degree from one of the world’s top universities...

Most people in the UK do not go to university - and maybe never will

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 12:30:00 GMT

A recent BIS report on higher education participation was flawed, says Charlie Ball – closer analysis reveals rates well below 50%. The Guardian reports. Almost everyone goes to university nowadays, everyone knows that. Except that not everyone does and we rarely see accurate statistics about how many or what proportion of...

Why the Guardian university guide is the one to watch

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 12:30:00 GMT

Research shows that league tables are becoming more influential – and it's the Guardian's guide that's the most popular As the Guardian unveils its 2014 university guide, this year's rankings are set to be more influential than ever. […[Carl Gilleard, chief executive of Association of Graduate Recruiters says universities...

Applications for apprenticeships up by a third

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 14:15:00 GMT

Between February and April this year, more than a third of a million (370,000) people submitted online applications to the National Apprenticeship Service – a year-on-year increase of 32%. Although the number of vacancies also increased (by 15%, to almost 33,000), demand remains well ahead of supply, with the ratio of applicants to...

Care leavers 'need more support' to reach university

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 14:15:00 GMT

Young people in care are not getting enough support or advice to help them reach higher education, a new study says. There are currently more than 89,000 children in care in Britain, but only 6 per cent of care leavers in England and 2 per cent in Scotland were in higher education by the age of 19 in 2011, according to the report...

Free university tuition a middle-class benefit, says SNP's 'hand-picked' principal

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 14:15:00 GMT

The abolition of tuition fees has not helped the poorest Scots win a university place and has mainly benefited the middle classes, a principal hand-picked by SNP ministers to review higher education has said. Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski said Scotland has to “get over this idea” that providing taxpayer-funded tuition...

Public sector leads jobs recovery

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 14:15:00 GMT

A surge in public sector recruitment has given a fresh stimulus to the jobs market, pushing the growth in employment to a five-year high, research released today shows. The increase was most notable in education, health and the medical profession, where the annual rate of jobs growth jumped 60pc, according to data from 10,000 recruitment...

Pupils forced to turn to TV and internet for careers advice

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 14:15:00 GMT

Schoolchildren are turning to television programmes for careers guidance because large numbers of schools are failing to provide decent advice, according to research. A third of schoolchildren are looking to TV for inspiration about careers after leaving full-time education, it emerged. It was claimed that the move risked having a...

Sir Richard Branson: I would love to have gone to university

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 13:45:00 GMT

Billionaire entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson says he wishes he had gone to university in his thirties "when I'd already had a lot of experiences". The Telegraph reports. The Virgin Group founder said universities can play an "absolutely invaluable" role in providing mentors for young entrepreneurs. Speaking to former Education...

Students head to US in record numbers for a better value of degree

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 13:45:00 GMT

Record numbers of teenagers are deserting British universities in favour of leading institutions in the United States amid concerns over rising fees and the quality of degree courses. The Telegraph reports. The majority of top US universities are reporting a rise in the number of places awarded to students from the other side of the...

Catwalk to workforce: graduate fashion week gets practical

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 13:30:00 GMT

This year's event aims to prepare young people for work in the industry with advice on job interviews and business plans, reports The Guardian. With graduate fashion week opening in London on Sunday, expect the usual front-page grabbing designs – voluminous neon trousers, fur gimp masks and tents worn as dresses – from the...

Ex-Dragons' Den star Caan: Don't help your kids get jobs

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 13:30:00 GMT

Parents should not help their children get into jobs, an ex-Dragons' Den entrepreneur has said. James Caan, who is advising the government on social mobility, told the BBC job prospects should not depend on "who you know rather than what you can do". This would also create a "slightly more fair society", Mr Caan said. Parents...

Non-university options for school leavers

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 13:30:00 GMT

There's more to life than a degree, and plenty of resources to help pinpoint the right route for you. The Independent reports. "I think we've got it slightly wrong with education," says Sarah Wrixon, whose PR company, Salix Consulting, employs young people – with and without degrees – in starter roles. "We're so focused on...

Tuition-fee rise 'still deterring' would-be university students

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 13:30:00 GMT

Number of applications rises 2% to 428,000, but is still below the level seen before fees rose to £9,000, Ucas figures show. The Guardian reports. The number of students in England applying to go to university remains well below the level seen before tuition fees were raised to £9,000, according to new figures from the body...

Women's minister to offer parents guide to boosting girls' ambitions

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 13:30:00 GMT

Ministers are planning to produce information packs for the parents of daughters to help them to bring up "aspirational" young women. The packs will offer advice on how to guide daughters through subject and career choices, amid concerns that many people feel they lack key parenting skills at such crucial times. It is feared that...

GCSEs may be replaced by I-levels, education watchdog suggests

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 13:15:00 GMT

Draft paper includes radical proposal to drop lettered grades in exams in favour of a numbered scale. The Guardian reports. England's secondary schools could be in for sweeping reforms with GCSEs being replaced by "I-levels" and an end to assessments by coursework. A draft paper, first reported by the Times, includes a radical...

Student value for money means broader learning, not just more contact hours

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 13:15:00 GMT

At a time of the year when many students around the UK are beginning to drift off for the summer, 1,000 first years at the University of Exeter have signed up for a study series centred on big world problems like climate change, ageing, ethical banking, child health and international security. At the centre of this work is a revolutionary...

Why higher education will not benefit from market forces

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 13:15:00 GMT

If we have more of a market in higher education, brands will become more important, says The Guardian’s Peter Scott – to the detriment of diversity There is a contradiction at the heart of most markets that is well illustrated by what is happening to higher education (in England; the Scots, as always, have used their common...

Careers built on distance learning

Fri, 31 May 2013 14:15:00 GMT

Higher education need not mean huge debts or living in poverty. The Guardian’s Janet Murray meets two students who kept working through their studies and reaped the benefits. James Elwood left school with a clutch of good A-level grades, but despite pressure from his teachers to consider university he took an entry-level job as bank...

Means-test university fees so poor pay less, charity says

Fri, 31 May 2013 14:15:00 GMT

University tuition fees in England should be means-tested to allow students from poorer homes to pay less, an education charity has urged. Two-thirds (65%) of 11 to 16-year-olds polled for the Sutton Trust voiced concerns about university costs. While an average 17% said cost was crucial in deciding whether or not to do a degree, this...

University fees biggest barrier to wider access, research finds

Fri, 31 May 2013 14:15:00 GMT

Study of state-school pupils not planning to enter higher education reveals 57% see finances as the greatest obstacle. The Guardian reports. The cost of going to university is more of an obstacle than lack of ability among state school pupils likely to skip higher education, a study of the next generation of students has found. An...

Youth unemployment could 'shatter' the EU, say Euro leaders

Fri, 31 May 2013 14:15:00 GMT

European leaders are calling for action across the EU to tackle the continent's escalating youth unemployment problem, which exceeds 50% in some countries. According to the latest employment figures the EU is in the middle of a 'job crisis', with nearly a quarter of all 16-25 year olds unemployed. At a press conference in Paris...

Should first year count towards your degree?

Fri, 31 May 2013 14:00:00 GMT

As universities explore a new degree classification system, some are reconsidering how much weight should be given to first year. The Guardian reports. As final year students prepare to sit their summer exams, many will share one wish: that their first year marks counted. The debate about whether first year exams should influence a...

Councils and hospitals should sponsor students' degrees to retain local talent

Wed, 29 May 2013 15:15:00 GMT

Young minds in the public sector are more valuable than the cost of university – they would repay the investment many times over The value of a degree is deeply entrenched in our modern culture, regardless of its quality or the practical difference it makes to the student's skills. It is still possible for those without degrees to...

Internships: how to make sure your placement works for you

Wed, 29 May 2013 15:15:00 GMT

With many students and graduates about to start summer internships, here's how to make the most of your placement – and maximise your chances of getting a good job from it. The Guardian reports. Last month, it was reported that HMRC is investigating 100 companies for using unpaid staff, while the campaign group Intern Aware is pushing...

IPPR calls for �5k cut-price degrees

Wed, 29 May 2013 15:15:00 GMT

Stay-at-home students who attend a local university should be eligible for cut-price tuition fees of £5,000 a year, according to an influential commission of higher education experts. Under the proposals, those taking the new £5,000 a year “fee-only degree” would not be eligible for maintenance grants and loans...

Postgraduate study: is another degree really the answer?

Wed, 29 May 2013 15:15:00 GMT

Rather than trying to join the rat race, more and more graduates are turning back to education. Is this simply in order to stave off the harsh reality of unemployment? With almost one million 16-24 year olds in the UK currently out of work, leaving university has scarcely been more difficult – and while the initial summer of fun and...

Sixth formers miss out on careers advice

Wed, 29 May 2013 15:15:00 GMT

A-level students have no idea of the non-university options available to them when they leave school. Where can they find that information? The Guardian investigates. With almost 1 million young people currently unemployed, it has never been more important for students to have information on a range of career routes – and not just...

Vodafone UK to recruit 400 graduates

Wed, 29 May 2013 15:15:00 GMT

Vodafone UK has announced plans to recruit 400 graduates in the next five years. The current graduate programme has been extended from one year to two due to its popularity. The first year of the programme consists of two months in a Vodafone retail store on the high street, followed by two, five month “rotations” in any...

Why part-time study has a great future

Wed, 29 May 2013 15:15:00 GMT

Part-time study that leads to a full university degree is the key to getting round our graduate job problem, says The Guardian’s Joan Bakewell. There is an increasing groundswell growing right now in favour of part-time education. There are references in social media, in university magazines and wherever people gather to talk about...

Student debt crisis: 'it's like carrying a backpack filled with bricks'

Wed, 29 May 2013 15:00:00 GMT

Here's a painful reality: student loans put millions of Americans in a precarious situation – if they lose their jobs, become sick, or have a sudden emergency that leads to time off work, any of these things can lead to total financial ruin. […]Higher education, whose PR machine aggressively markets itself on huge billboards...

A degree too close to home? Call for price cut if students go local

Tue, 28 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Think-tank says proposal will help universities fend off an ‘avalanche of austerity’ Students who live at home while attending their local university should be offered cut-price degrees costing just £5,000 a year, an influential commission into the future of higher education is to recommend. The commission, set up...

AGR tells employers 'break down barriers for disadvantaged grads'

Tue, 28 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Employer body the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) has urged employers to revise hiring criteria as current methods exclude graduates from disadvantaged social backgrounds. Research from AGR and the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS) revealed that employers are “unknowingly and unintentionally”...

Cambridge students continue AS-level fight

Tue, 28 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Students at the University of Cambridge have written to an education minister attacking the government’s response to a petition against the plan to scrap AS levels. Times Higher Education reports. The letter from the Cambridge University Students’ Union to Tory MP Elizabeth Truss, a junior minister in the Department for...

Chasing the job market is no way to choose a degree

Tue, 28 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

University applicants should certainly follow their heart as well as their head – the job market is too unpredictable to second guess This week, Mary Curnock Cook, the chief executive of the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas), has shown considerable wisdom in advising young people to follow their heart, as well as...

It's a 'like': The IGGY networking site for smart pupils is a hit

Tue, 28 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

‘Clever Facebook’ project which hopes to entice foreign students here gets a thumbs-up A social networking site, described as a “thinking teenager’s Facebook”, that aims to prepare bright pupils for top universities, has attracted more than 2,500 members. The site, called IGGY (the International Gateway...

London borough offers students extra funding

Tue, 28 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Teenagers in one of London’s most deprived boroughs are to receive grants from their local authority to help them attend university. Four hundred students in Tower Hamlets, in east London, will receive payments worth £1,500 each under the Mayor’s Higher Education Award scheme, it has been announced. The scheme...

Recruiting Gen Y: new recommendations and toolkit launched for graduate recruitment and social mobility

Tue, 28 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

The Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) in association with the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS) have published within the last few days Graduate Success: The HEAR and now, which sets out a series of recommendations on what employers, government and careers advisory services can do to "create a level playing...

Small firms nervous about the Hear, warns report

Tue, 28 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Some employers are nervous about incorporating the Higher Education Achievement Report into their graduate recruitment process, a report has found. The “new and untested” method of measuring student achievement is putting smaller firms off, although larger companies are beginning to recognise the Hear, according to Graduate...

Students seek out apprenticeships

Tue, 28 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Lord Sugar isn't the only one looking for an apprentice. Global giants spanning everything from accountancy to engineering are on the hunt for talented school-leavers with a sense of purpose. An academic high-flyer, Sophie Dalby achieved top A-level grades and offers of places from five universities. But much to the surprise of staff at her...

Why school-leavers skip university and head for the workplace

Tue, 28 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

A school-leavers programme can offer the best of all worlds: work experience, a salary – even a degree. The Guardian reports. Gabriella Saponara was considering studying accountancy at university, until she heard employers talking about school-leavers' programmes at a careers fair. Recognising that this could offer her a fast track...

Graduate job applications improve as they increase their employability, research finds

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:45:00 GMT

Graduates are starting to realise the importance of improving their employability, according to research published by talent management firm, Alexander Mann Solutions (AMS). As a result of the increased quality in applications, there has been a 4% increase to 47%, in the number of graduates who have secured placements with major employers...

Graduate jobs: Your questions answered

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:45:00 GMT

Careers expert Corinne Mills is here to ease your post-graduation employment worries. The job market is a little tricky for new graduates at the moment, but don't listen to the naysayers: it's not impossible for the class of 2013 to land a job out of university. Corinne Mills, managing director of Personal Career Management, has got...

University applicants 'optimistic' about job prospects

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:45:00 GMT

Students beginning university this September are more confident about their graduate job prospects than last year's intake, according to a new survey. Three-quarters of students (74.1 per cent) starting degrees this September think finding a graduate job will be "very easy" or "achievable", compared with 65 per cent this time last year...

'Wage premium' of a degree falls by a third under university boom

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:45:00 GMT

The value of a degree has slumped by almost a third in the last 20 years because of a sharp rise in the number of people taking university courses, according to research. Figures show that the "wage premium" exercised by graduates – compared with those only qualified to A-level standard – has fallen by 29 per cent since the...

AGR & AGCAS aim to 'level playing-field' for graduates

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:30:00 GMT

Following a series of projects exploring the issues of social mobility, the HEAR and graduate transition to the employment market, the Association of Graduate Recruiters and the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services have together published a series of recommendations for the government, employers, universities and careers services...

Employers warned against giving jobs to unpaid interns

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:30:00 GMT

Top companies should ignore unpaid internships and degree classifications during the recruitment process to create a “level playing field” for applicants from poor backgrounds, a Government-backed report has recommended. Employers should attempt to boost social mobility by ensuring that all barriers to good jobs are...

Survey finds today's university students are anxious to find alternative social activities that do not involve drinking

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:30:00 GMT

The class of 2013 are a sober bunch - anxious to escape from the clutches of alcohol while socialising at university, a survey out today finds. The study of more than 2,300 students by the UNITE group, the country's largest student accommodation provider, found “a recurring theme” was that students were desperately searching...

�222 million cost of 'free' university degrees for English in independent Scotland

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:15:00 GMT

A separate Scotland’s taxpayers would have to spend at least an extra £222 million extra per year giving students from the remainder of the UK ‘free’ university tuition, a leading economist has estimated. Professor David Bell, of Stirling University, predicted at least another 4,000 school leavers from England...

Cambridge admits fewer students from private schools

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:15:00 GMT

The number of Cambridge places claimed by students from private schools has dropped to a 30-year low following a university drive to create a more balanced undergraduate body, it was announced today. Figures show that just over a third of UK pupils admitted to the university in 2012 were independently-educated – the lowest...

Tuition fees 'could be limited to �6,000'

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:15:00 GMT

Tuition fees in England could be limited to £6,000 per year and remain cost-neutral to universities and the Treasury, a study commissioned by the Million+ group of universities says. The research examines how a change in the level of tuition fees might work. It suggests a model where universities receive students' fees of...

Why the internet will never replace universities

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:15:00 GMT

All the recent hype about online higher education and 'Moocs' misses the point, says Kel Fidler – universities have been doing it for years. This not about replacing one model with the other. There will always be those who will want, and benefit from, the physical experience of attending a university. Moving forward, what’s...

Young, dumb and disenfranchised: Why we should look to the next generation to build a better Britain

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:15:00 GMT

Instead of ignoring them, we should listen to poor inner city kids' ideas. Michael Simpson, a graduate fellow at social enterprise Year Here, does just that. The Independent reports. The Year Here philosophy is to understand a problem before you attempt to solve it. Having volunteered at Hatch End High School in Harrow as part of the...

Feeling worthless, hopeless . who'd be a university student in Britain?

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Mental health among students is not good, according to an NUS survey – little wonder, when their situation today is so dismal. The Guardian reports. Getting into university is an increasingly difficult affair, which explains why we simultaneously celebrate and lament the excellent results produced by a new cohort of students each...

If parents have to pay for school work placements, their children will suffer

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

On Monday the Times reported that parents are being asked by schools to subsidise work experience placements by paying around £50 or more for the opportunity, with an additional fee for placements in London. Following the government's decision to drop compulsory work experience for 14- to 16-year-olds last year, parents are now picking...

Second-chance students: mature and motivated

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

If you're fed up with your job, don't be afraid to return to university – you're a much better student second time round. If a few years have gone by since you made your first-degree choices at 18, your aspirations and outlook are likely to have changed. The reality of working made me examine what aspects I actually enjoyed about my...

AGR and AGCAS publish series of recommendations aimed at levelling the playing field in graduate recruitment

Fri, 24 May 2013 09:30:00 GMT

Recommendations come as a result of projects exploring issues including social mobility, the HEAR and graduate transition to the jobs market The Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) and the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS) have today (24 May 2013) published a series of recommendations for the Government...

Campaign launched over part-time study

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:30:00 GMT

A campaign has been launched to promote part-time study following the dramatic fall in the number of such students choosing to enter higher education. A report from the Higher Education Funding Council for England, released in March, revealed that the number of part-time undergraduates and taught postgraduates entering higher education...

Graduate jobs forecast to grow by 8%

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:30:00 GMT

Research from Incomes Data Services suggests that the number of graduate roles in the UK will increase by 8% over the coming year. Less welcome news for graduates, however, is that the majority of employers plan to freeze graduate starting salaries over the same period. The forecast rise of 8% is considerably more encouraging than...

Oxford takes on private industry in competition for talent

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:30:00 GMT

The University of Oxford is taking a revitalised approach to recruiting top academics and researchers as it competes with private industry for the best talent, a London audience has heard. “We can’t rely on reputation only,” said Richard Bunkham (right), an e-recruitment specialist at the elite university. Part of...

UK higher education: let's not follow the leader but develop our own vision

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:30:00 GMT

UK universities need an alternative to the US technology meme that says higher education is broken, says The Guardian’s Saint John Walker. An avalanche is coming. Education is broken. Classrooms kill creativity. Higher education is a rotten tree being hit by lightning. All these things have been said about higher education...

Viewpoints: Higher fees and value-for-money degrees

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:30:00 GMT

Almost one out of every three first-year students at UK universities says their course provides poor value for money, a study has suggested. While most students are happy with their course, dissatisfaction has grown since fees rose for English students, according to researchers for Which? and the Higher Education Policy Institute. The...

Do students get enough contact time with tutors?

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:15:00 GMT

A report for consumer watchdog Which? and the Higher Education Policy Institute last week found that nearly one in three first-year students at UK universities felt their courses were not good value. The Guardian asks: would you like more contact with your tutors? Bob Hughes graduated recently with a BA in English from York...

Food and grocery industry launches scheme to tackle youth unemployment

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:15:00 GMT

The UK's food and grocery industry has launched a nationwide initiative to help tackle youth unemployment. The scheme was originally piloted last year by the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD). It helped create more than 10,000 pre-employment job opportunities for young people at 700 locations across the UK. The IGD has now...

Game on for aspiring graduates

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:15:00 GMT

A challenging business game can be a great way to engage potential graduate recruits from around the world, as L’Oréal’s Sepha Brook (graduate programme manager) and Alexandra Bennett (graduate programme co-ordinator) recently explained to Ri5 at the company’s UK headquarters in Hammersmith. First launched as long...

Scientist shortage driven by lack of information on careers

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:15:00 GMT

Young people inspired by science in school are being lost to the field for lack of knowledge, know little or nothing about how to pursue a career in science and rely on their family for advice on how to do so, research suggests. Source: The Times

Student loans system is sustainable, insists minister

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:15:00 GMT

Universities minister David Willetts has defended the student finance system against criticisms that it is unsustainable and will not bring in the amount of money required to fund the sector long term. Times Higher Education reports. Mr Willetts was responding to claims made in a Times Higher Education article by Steve Smith...

John Lewis to recruit over 100 apprentices and launch technology scheme

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:45:00 GMT

John Lewis has announced it will recruit more than 100 apprentices for its 2013/14 Retail Apprenticeship programme and will also launch a technology apprenticeship to train the next generation of IT and systems leaders in the business. The one-year retail scheme, now in its second year, focuses on young people and guarantees those who...

Pupils face fee for work experience

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:45:00 GMT

Schools are charging parents fees of £50 or more for their children to go on work experience after funding by the Government was withdrawn. Even families who contact employers to arrange the placement themselves are asked for the payments to cover the cost of risk assessments and other safety checks of workplaces where teenagers...

Graduate job opportunities 'rising'

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:30:00 GMT

More jobs will become available for graduates this year, research firm Income Data Services (IDS) has forecast. IDS said its survey of employers suggested an 8% increase in the number of graduate roles being advertised, after a rise of just 0.1% last year. The retail sector was the most optimistic, saying it expects to increase...

Graduates facing freeze in starting salaries this year

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:30:00 GMT

University leavers will be dealt a further blow this year after it emerged the majority of employers are planning to freeze wages because of the economic crisis. Almost three-quarters of firms are preparing to hold salaries for graduates at levels seen last year, it was revealed. The freeze represents a real-terms cut in overall wages...

Labour: make work experience compulsory and axe 'EBacc'

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:30:00 GMT

Compulsory work experience will be reintroduced in schools under a Labour plan to get teenagers ready for the jobs market, the Daily Telegraph has learnt. The party is planning to reverse a Government decision to make two-week work placements an optional requirement before the end of school, it emerged. Shadow ministers admitted that...

Oxford 'commoners' jibe may be a one-off, but it belies a deeper truth about the university's commitment to access

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:30:00 GMT

How to get the commoners in? That’s the question Oxford University spends £11m every year trying to answer - £3m annually on outreach activities in schools and sixth-form colleges, in addition to the £8m it spends on bursaries for needy students, the most generous system of undergraduate support for low-income students...

Students' 'suicidal thoughts' warning from NUS

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:30:00 GMT

There are under-recognised problems of stress, depression and suicidal thoughts on university campuses, warns a survey from the National Union of Students on mental health problems. More than one in 10 students said they had experienced "suicidal thoughts", in a survey of 1,200 across the UK. There were 14% who had considered self-harm...

'Medieval' lectures could be replaced by free online courses

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:30:00 GMT

Traditional lectures should be phased out as academics embrace technology to “liberate” students from out-of-date styles of teaching, a university leader said yesterday. Academics could introduce “flip lectures” by asking students to watch a video of a talk or experiment beforehand and answer questions or convene a...

Fewer young people learning after 17, survey suggests

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:30:00 GMT

Fewer young people are still learning after the age of 17 in the UK, a survey suggests. A report by the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (Niace) says there has been a seven percentage point drop in the number of 17 to 24-year-olds taking part in learning compared with last year. The survey involved 5,000...

Insights into attracting school-leavers

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:30:00 GMT

Over the next few weeks, employment marketing consultancy Havas People will be running a series of free seminars for corporate and graduate recruiters on how to attract school-leavers at a number of regional locations. Over a light breakfast or lunch, the two speakers will share the latest insights from research into the youth employment...

Enough is enough: Masters loans need to change

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:15:00 GMT

Postgrads are vital, not just to the economy but to the furtherance of human learning. So why is getting funding so hard? Initiating a scheme for Masters loans, in much the same way it does for undergraduates, is as in the interest of our government as it is for hard-up students. Highly qualified, highly skilled graduates undoubtedly are...

Is there really a Stem skills shortage?

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:15:00 GMT

Is the UK not producing enough science, technology, engineering and maths talent, or are employers just not appealing enough? Everyone has heard that employers are crying out for science graduate recruits. And you've almost certainly read a headline somewhere in the last few years about how the UK needs to invest in science education to...

Social work scheme will fast-track top graduates

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:15:00 GMT

Graduates on a new fast-track scheme for trainee social workers will help manage caseloads after just five weeks of intensive training. The "Frontline" scheme aims to attract top graduates into the profession. Government funding for a pilot for 100 trainees has been announced by Education Secretary Michael Gove. The British...

Universities are right to accept state school students with lower grades

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:15:00 GMT

Private schools are threatening to boycott universities that positively discriminate? Bring it on, writes The Guardian’s Sophie Padgett. Last year, state school applications made up just 56.5% of the total applications received by Bristol University. We have to ask ourselves why access to top universities is still so limited. In the...

GradWeb named Outstanding Outsourced Recruitment Organisation at the Recruiter Awards for Excellence

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:30:00 GMT

GradWeb crowned ‘Outstanding Outsourced Recruitment Organisation’ at the prestigious Recruiter Awards for Excellence 2013. GradWeb, the entry-level and graduate recruitment outsourcing specialists, has been named the ‘Outstanding Outsourced Recruitment Organisation’ at the 2013 Recruiter Awards for Excellence. The...

Gen Y employees seek flexible independent working over traditional corporate jobs, study reveals

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:30:00 GMT

Most young people (84%) in traditional corporate jobs want to quit in favour of more flexible independent working, a study published today has found. The survey revealed that among Gen Y employees who were still at regular nine-to-five jobs, "freedom in the workplace" was the top reason they wanted to quit. The study Millennials and...

Imperial pulls plug on internship auction

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:30:00 GMT

A department of Imperial College London has withdrawn the offer of an internship placement being sold by auction after the move received heavy criticism. The college’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering had agreed to host a week-long work experience placement for an A-level student from the fee-paying Westminster...

Johnny Vegas says high fees will deter poorer arts students

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:30:00 GMT

Comedian Johnny Vegas has mounted a heart-felt defence of art school, claiming that the new fees regime will dissuade students from deprived backgrounds studying for creative degrees to the detriment of society. Mr Vegas, who has a third-class honours degree in art and ceramics from Middlesex University, said he owed all his success to...

UK unemployment up to 2.52m

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:30:00 GMT

UK unemployment is now up to 2.52m, the Office of National Statistics (ONS) has said. Its figures show that 15,000 more people were unemployed between January and March than in the last three months of 2012. The data means that although employment was down 0.2% from the previous three months, it had risen 0.8% on the same time last...

Universities set to benefit from �50 million boost to TSB

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:30:00 GMT

The government’s innovation agency the Technology Strategy Board will see a £50 million boost to its budget this year, the government has announced. The TSB, which aims to support innovative businesses and drive growth across the UK, will receive a record £440 million in the 2013-14 financial year, the Department for...

Youth unemployment and skills shortages are unacceptable, says skills minister

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:30:00 GMT

The mass skills shortages that have driven unemployment among young people above one million, have been condemned by skills minister, Matthew Hancock. Hancock was speaking yesterday at an event organised by entrepreneurial college provider, Gazelle, which looked at how further education colleges could work with employers, LEPs and the wider...

Are university exams inherently unfair?

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:15:00 GMT

University exams are refreshingly open-ended compared with A-levels, says Warwick undergraduate Rozina Sabur – but does anyone actually know how they are marked? The Telegraph investigates. Like many pupils, I found that A-levels restricted creativity and encouraged replica answers. This might suit those who are good at memorising...

Does the title 'university' need more protection?

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:15:00 GMT

Reducing red tape around use of the word university will only exacerbate the problem of bogus universities and colleges, says Jayne Rowley in yesterday’s Guardian. How can we find a way to protect the reputation of UK universities and degrees if the word 'university' goes unprotected? A perverse measure of the worldwide...

Gove plans to change GCSE grading

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:15:00 GMT

Education secretary suggests A* and A grades may be replaced by one to four scale to create more distinctions in highest grades. The Guardian reports. Top GCSE marks of A* and A could be replaced by a one to four numerical scale, education secretary Michael Gove told MPs on Wednesday, as one option to distinguish between high achieving...

Post-1992 universities 'offer longer teaching hours'

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:15:00 GMT

Students at newer universities spend significantly longer in lectures and seminars while those at traditional institutions are left to their own devices, new figures suggest. The Telegraph reports. An average course at a post-1992 university comprises 26 per cent lectures and seminars, as a proportion of time spent on study, compared with...

What impact will the new teaching schools have on education?

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:15:00 GMT

With 360 of the targeted 500 teaching schools established, The Guardian’s Nick Morrison explores their potential for driving school improvement. For Notre Dame High in Sheffield, becoming a teaching school seemed the obvious next step. It could boast a history of outstanding verdicts from Ofsted, and its leadership team had spent 18...

Why I'm pleased my stepdaughter won't apply to the civil service

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:15:00 GMT

Sir Bob Kerslake will need to do more to convince bright young people to become civil service apprentices, writes The Guardian. A few weeks ago, my stepdaughter arrived home from her sixth form college wanting to talk about the opportunity she had to apply for the new civil service apprenticeship scheme. She is a bright, articulate...

Jersey Finance to explore the evolving Graduate Talent Pool

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:00:00 GMT

A free talk aimed at employersand educators in Jersey to discuss the trends and issues within graduate recruitment is being hosted byJersey Finance with the help of the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) and event sponsors Aztec Group. The talk entitled ‘What’s happening to the Graduate Talent Pool?’ is set to...

Milkround named the UK's most widely used graduate recruitment website for a sixth year running

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:45:00 GMT

The UK Graduate Career Survey 2013 produced by High Fliers Research has namedwww.milkround.com as the UK’s number one graduate recruitment website for the sixth consecutive year. The research is based on face to face interviews with more than 18,000 final year students from the UK’s leading universities. Within these...

Transnational education 'brain drain' warning

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:45:00 GMT

A study into transnational education has found that it can help train students to fill skills gaps in host countries, but also warned that it can contribute to a brain drain and has not led to enhanced research. Times Higher Education reports. Transnational education – which includes ventures such as branch campuses, joint degrees...

GCSEs better than AS-levels at predicting university success

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:30:00 GMT

The row over a shake-up of A-levels intensified today when the Government suggested that universities should use GCSE grades to award places to students. The Telegraph reports. An official analysis published by the Department for Education found that GCSEs were a better predictor of success at university than AS-level exams. It...

How to move your career abroad: tips, tricks and insights

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:30:00 GMT

Having a global outlook can help you stand out from the crowd and advance your employment prospects. The Guardian reports. International experience can be a great asset to your career: having a global outlook is a desirable characteristic that many employers look for. Working with people from different cultures can pave the way to more...

Rise in tuition fees brings 18 minutes' extra teaching a week

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:30:00 GMT

Survey shows university teaching hours have barely increased as fees rise by £8,000 and students do more independent work. The Guardian reports. University students in England are taught for just 18 minutes more each week than seven years ago, despite tuition fees spiralling from £1,000 to up to £9,000 a year in the same...

Karren Brady: The Best Investment a Business Can Make - The Next Generation

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:15:00 GMT

I was shocked to read this month that in the last three months, the number of unemployed 16 to 24 year olds rose by 20,000 to 979,000. The worst part of this trend is that employment as a whole during the same period slowed. While the economy shows signs of picking up at last, young people are still struggling to find work. The question...

Banking industry reputation is damaging ability to recruit graduates, says Lloyds CEO

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

The banking sector must "urgently" address young people's perception of the industry, CEO of Lloyds Banking Group António Horta-Osório has said. In a speech last night at Oxford University's Saïd business school, Horta-Osório discussed how the reputational impact of the financial crisis is having a negative impact...

Employers ruling out school leavers and long-term jobless, CIPD warns

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Companies refusing to consider whole groups of candidates amid scramble for jobs, according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. The Guardian reports. Jobseekers face a "battleground" for work with 45 applicants now chasing every low-skilled job, according to a report on Monday that warns a government clampdown on...

International agents: how can students and universities tell good from bad?

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Universities should take more control over the quality of service provided by international education agents, urges The Guardian’s Simon Read. How would you feel if the school that your son or daughter attended received commission from a university for sending students to study there? This question was recently posed by Vincenzo...

UK shortfall of 395,000 jobs for 18-24 year olds, TUC research reveals

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

People aged 18-24 are far less likely to be in work today than before the recession and 395,000 more jobs are needed before youth unemployment rates return to their 2008 level, according to research by the Trade Union Congress (TUC). The research has been published ahead of the latest employment figures tomorrow, which are expected to show...

Unpaid internships: moves to bolster crackdown on minimum wage breaches

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Ministers to encourage reporting of bad employers after HMRC success in helping people reclaim nearly £200,000 in unpaid wages. The Guardian reports. The government is to increase attempts to crack down on employers abusing national minimum wage laws following successful moves to reclaim nearly £200,000 in wages owed to unpaid...

What makes an outstanding graduate employer?

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Linked to its long-term sponsorship of the TARGETjobs National Graduate Employer of the Year award, Hodes recently presented the results of some new research into what makes an outstanding graduate employer. Co-presented by Linda Graham and Craig Barnett of the agency’s Future Talent practice, the event took place in London at The...

Young people chart their futures on the Isle of Sheppey

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

How have teenagers' dreams changed in the past 30 years? A unique research project has been looking into it, reports The Guardian. In 1978, a sociologist named Ray Pahl, then based at the University of Kent, asked teachers at Sheppey's secondary school to set leavers an essay – to imagine their lives as if looking back on them...

Building a winning graduate employment proposition

Tue, 14 May 2013 12:45:00 GMT

What kind of sector would you expect the graduate employer of the year to be in – investment banking, perhaps? Maybe professional services? Accountancy? Or law? If car rental doesn’t immediately spring to mind, don’t worry – it’s probably not every graduate’s first thought...

UK industry needs 'global graduates'. But what does that mean?

Tue, 14 May 2013 12:45:00 GMT

‘Global Graduates’ is the new buzz phrase amongst graduate employers and higher education institutions. It is essential, says Mark Pettitt, that the UK seeks to encourage the production of ‘global graduates’ for the future of the UK economy. The Independent reports. ‘Global graduates’ is a concept with...

'Graduate of the Year' competition launches

Mon, 13 May 2013 13:30:00 GMT

Graduate careers site Milkround and classified search engine Adzuna have teamed up to launch the 2013 ‘Graduate of the Year’ competition. Open to “all recent and soon-to-be graduates”, the competition will aim to reward the best and brightest graduates in their field – “from academics and student...

Degrees of success for Btec and A-level students

Mon, 13 May 2013 13:30:00 GMT

Students who use a Btec qualification to progress to a degree are slightly more likely to gain employment than their counterparts who take A levels, but will be paid less per hour, research has found. The study – commissioned by Pearson, the company that owns Edexcel, which offers the qualifications – looked at data from the...

Drop entry tariffs for summer-born students, says study

Mon, 13 May 2013 13:30:00 GMT

Universities should lower their entry tariff requirements for students born in August to reflect the lower achievement levels of children born in the summer, a new study suggests. Research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) found pupils born in August are 6.4 percentage points less likely to achieve 5 GCSEs at grades A* to C than...

Academies and free schools in rush to open state-funded boarding schools

Mon, 13 May 2013 13:15:00 GMT

Children from less privileged backgrounds could benefit from surge in applications, writes The Independent. Long the preserve of the upper classes, a wave of cut-price boarding schools providing a state-funded education could be made available to children from less privileged backgrounds. New statistics show that there has been a...

EU graduates' unpaid fees top more than �50m in past five years

Mon, 13 May 2013 13:15:00 GMT

More than £50m of tuition fee loans to EU graduates have not been repaid over the last five years, according to the Student Loans Company. The SLC has hired specialists to track down hundreds of overseas graduates from UK universities who have gone off the radar. More than £15m of loans for graduates from Cyprus are not being...

Low-skilled job seekers facing employment battle

Mon, 13 May 2013 13:15:00 GMT

Low-skilled job seekers will continue to face a labour market battle, despite continuing growth in employment, new research suggests. The Labour Market Outlook survey from Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and SuccessFactors found that 45 people are applying for every low-skilled position. The average number of...

Will 'Moocs' be the scourge or saviour or higher education?

Mon, 13 May 2013 13:15:00 GMT

Free online courses are on the cusp. Can they go from intriguing experiment to workable solution to our higher education crisis? The Guardian reports. The British Museum, British Council, British Library and 21 UK universities have now joined what they hope is a higher education revolution – giving the public access to the world's...

Coursera strikes deal with publishers on textbooks

Thu, 09 May 2013 13:45:00 GMT

One of the largest US massive open online course providers has announced a deal with publishers that will allow students free access to relevant excerpts from text books for the duration of their studies. As part of a pilot programme, Coursera students on certain Moocs will be able to access materials from Oxford University Press, Cengage...

Replace GCSE grades with scores, says exam board

Thu, 09 May 2013 13:30:00 GMT

Teenagers should be awarded GCSE scores rather than grades, the international exams group Cambridge Assessment says. CA, which runs three exam boards, including GCSE provider OCR, says the eight-point scale of A*-G produces "arbitrary categories". Instead, pupils should be given a score that would show how they ranked in comparison...

Uniting with universities

Thu, 09 May 2013 13:30:00 GMT

askGrapevine HR explores the mutual benefits of some of the many different ways organisations and universities can partner. Closing skills gaps, engaging employees and developing senior staff are just a number of the things organisations can do when partnering with academic institutes. Furthermore the universities themselves also benefit...

Universities 'need more cash to keep up with world's best'

Thu, 09 May 2013 13:30:00 GMT

British universities are lagging behind those in other countries because of a lack of investment in higher education, a major international study has found. The Telegraph reports. The UK was ranked 10th in the world despite boasting some of the globe’s best research institutions such as Oxford and Cambridge, it...

Unpaid internships get bids of �700 in school auction

Thu, 09 May 2013 13:30:00 GMT

One of Britain’s leading independent schools has been criticised for auctioning off internships to parents who are willing to pay hundreds of pounds for their children to work in top banks, City offices and the creative industries. Source: The Times

Are graduate schemes the only way to go?

Thu, 09 May 2013 13:15:00 GMT

Many graduates focus their job-application efforts on large programmes. But what happens to the ones that get away? The Guardian’s Tamara Roper reports. Come September, I will no doubt be working a bar job, saving for an internship that won't pay me a penny or guarantee me a job on completion. Meanwhile, at least four of my friends...

Cambridge in �7m drive to boost school physics standards

Wed, 08 May 2013 16:45:00 GMT

Cambridge University will lead a £7 million drive designed to raise standards of physics in schools and colleges amid fears over a shortage of pupils studying the subject to a high level, it was announced today. The Telegraph reports. Academics will provide master-classes for pupils, training for teachers and create a bank of...

Graduate market 'underutilised' by SMEs

Wed, 08 May 2013 16:45:00 GMT

New research from Totaljobs suggests that small businesses are missing out on a potential wealth of future talent by failing to engage with graduates. The study has identified “an active pipeline of untapped talent” capable of filling almost 200,000 jobs in today’s SME employment sector, in addition to revealing that...

New awards initiative from Prospects

Wed, 08 May 2013 16:45:00 GMT

Graduate Prospects is launching a new initiative – the Prospects Postgraduate Awards – designed to recognise and reward those businesses and universities that demonstrate excellence and innovation in the postgraduate arena. It will be the only event solely dedicated to celebrating the most exciting developments in...

Social science graduates most adaptable in career hunt

Wed, 08 May 2013 16:45:00 GMT

Graduates from social science courses are most willing to look for work in a wide range of industry sectors according to new research. The Industry Adaptability Index study by graduate-jobs.com found that those on arts or engineering courses were the least likely to compromise career ambitions by confining their career search to sectors...

Students accepted by Salford amid course closure plans

Wed, 08 May 2013 16:45:00 GMT

The University of Salford has accepted more than 200 students on to courses that it is considering closing within weeks and may face a “significant backlash” as a result, an internal document suggests. Times Higher Education reports. The document, seen by Times Higher Education, also suggests that more than 1,000 current...

Why I don't employ students with first-class degrees, by Lord Winston: Fertility expert says applications who have fallen short make better employees

Wed, 08 May 2013 16:45:00 GMT

As one of the country’s leading fertility experts, Lord Winston might be expected to surround himself with the brightest minds at work. But the Labour peer has admitted ‘deliberately’ discriminating against job applicants with first class degrees. […]Carl Gilleard, chief executive of the Association of...

You don't have to be weird to get a First at university...

Wed, 08 May 2013 16:45:00 GMT

We love the idea that the degree system misses our unique gifts, writes The Independent’s Archie Bland. Lord Winston – who took a pass-fail medical degree, alas, barring us from an analysis of his own outside interests – has since disowned that argument. Whatever he meant, his phrasing is less interesting than the...

What graduate recruiters are looking for: MSN Jobseekers

Wed, 08 May 2013 16:30:00 GMT

Carl Gilleard of the Association of Graduate Recruiters explains how to get the attention of a potential employer. Beginning to hunt for jobs can be daunting for young people: many may be uncertain about what their ideal job looks like and unaware of the possibilities open to them, whilst others will have a more specific idea, but be...

Professional Services Higher Apprenticeships - Higher Apprenticeship in Management Accounting

Tue, 07 May 2013 15:40:00 GMT

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), BPP Professional Apprenticeships and PwC are working with some of the world’s largest global companies to develop England and Wales’ first ever degree-level apprenticeship in management accounting. The move opens doors to employers across the UK to take advantage of...

Boris Johnson announces �40m jobs fund

Tue, 07 May 2013 14:45:00 GMT

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has announced a £40m fund to boost jobs within the capital following the publication of the London Enterprise Panel's (LEP) strategy. It sets out a series of recommendations to keep the capital’s economy competitive and the money is designed to encourage private sector investment, targeting...

Lord Winston wants scientists without a first

Tue, 07 May 2013 14:45:00 GMT

Lord Winston has calmed the fears of students across the country taking exams at the moment in pursuit of the highest degrees, after he said he deliberately didn’t employ people who got a first at university. The Telegraph reports. The scientist and TV presenter said he would rather employ people who had developed other interests at...

Majority of graduates 'optimistic' about prospects

Tue, 07 May 2013 14:45:00 GMT

53% of graduates are feeling optimistic about their future career prospects, according to the latest annual Student and Graduate Career Confidence Report from Milkround. Attendees of Milkround’s Career Confidence Breakfast earlier this month will already have gained a sneak preview of the headline findings, which are now available...

'University of John Lewis' to offer staff work-based degree scheme

Tue, 07 May 2013 14:45:00 GMT

Staff-owned retailer announces plan to offer senior managers a level-6 vocational qualification equivalent to an honours degree. The Guardian reports. John Lewis is planning to offer its staff the chance to study for "degrees" under a work-based scheme dubbed the "University of John Lewis". The staff-owned retailer said it would...

Student loans: Will it soon be pay-back time?

Tue, 07 May 2013 14:30:00 GMT

Heads of universities are lobbying the government to alter student loans as a way to limit cuts, reports The Guardian. Students may have assumed the arguments about the new fee system were done and dusted. But as the axe looms over government funding for universities, senior academics are lobbying the government for graduates to start...

Student places plans revealed by Hefce

Tue, 07 May 2013 14:30:00 GMT

Details have been released about proposals to allow universities in England to win more undergraduate places if they can show they are recruiting strongly. Times Higher Education reports. A consultation released by the Higher Education Funding Council for England today sets out the mechanism by which market-like “dynamism”...

What next for postgraduate students?

Tue, 07 May 2013 14:30:00 GMT

With graduate debt and competition from abroad increasing, a recent roundtable examined the UK postgraduate offering. The Guardian reports. After years of being in the shadow of undergraduate policy making, postgraduate education is, as more fashionable circles would put it, "having a moment". The number of postgraduate students in...

Career development is big draw for public sector jobs

Fri, 03 May 2013 16:30:00 GMT

Better career development is the primary reason why most jobseekers look more kindly upon the public sector as a potential employer, according to a survey from job site totaljobs.com. While 64% of around 2,700 jobseekers surveyed said that given two identical roles, they would prefer to work in the public sector over the private sector...

Ethnic and gender inequalities in postgraduate study STILL aren't being addressed

Fri, 03 May 2013 16:30:00 GMT

Yet another new study highlighting marked ethnic and gender inequalities in the postgraduate sector has been released The study, Transition to higher degrees across the UK: An analysis of national, international and individual differences, reveals that women and people from Black Caribbean and Bangladeshi groups have markedly lower rates...

Even entrepreneurs shouldn't bypass work experience

Fri, 03 May 2013 16:30:00 GMT

Work placements can help entrepreneurs gain essential insights into the skills and practices of the business world, writes Nick Holzherr for The Guardian. When I started out in the world of work I didn't know I would become an entrepreneur. Despite having a passion for business, working for myself wasn't a top priority: I spent more than...

Rise in arts degrees 'has left UK with major skills crisis'

Fri, 03 May 2013 16:30:00 GMT

Too many teenagers are being pushed into taking university courses because of Britain’s “snobbery” towards technical qualifications, a former Conservative education secretary has warned. The country is being left with a major shortage of skilled engineers following a sharp rise in the number of school-leavers studying...

Top engineering graduates leaving sector for higher salaries elsewhere

Fri, 03 May 2013 16:30:00 GMT

The most talented engineering graduates are leaving the sector for jobs in other industries with more attractive pay rates, operations director at website graduate-jobs.com, Gerry Wyatt, has said Speaking to HR magazine, Wyatt said one of the reasons there is a skills shortage in the engineering sector is because large professional services...

Milkround publish exclusive insight into student and graduate career confidence

Fri, 03 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

53% of graduates are feeling optimistic about their future career prospects 37% of respondents claim the media has left them feeling unable to get a job The use of smartphones for job searching has risen from 20% in 2012 to 33% in 2013 Following on from their Career Confidence Breakfast event which took place earlier this month...

Is the internet making universities defunct?

Wed, 01 May 2013 16:45:00 GMT

Technology is transforming the way we learn. Universities must urgently adapt to ensure a new golden age for higher education, writes The Telegraph’s Saad Rizvi and Katelyn Donnelly. The model of higher education that marched triumphantly across the globe in the second half of the 20th century is broken. Thanks to...

What career can I pursue with my degree?

Wed, 01 May 2013 16:45:00 GMT

Almost any, seemingly... The Telegraph’s Charlotte Lytton looks at the unlikely career paths of university graduates from Hugh Hefner to Harry Hill. Whether it’s flitting from pop rock to PhDs like Brian May, or trading the lab for Number 10 à la Margaret Thatcher, there’s no telling where your studies may...

University applications fail to recover from tuition fees rise

Wed, 01 May 2013 16:30:00 GMT

Number of students submitting applications this year stands at 2.5% more than in 2012 but lower than in 2010, says Ucas The number of students applying to start university this autumn has not bounced back to the level seen before the rise in tuition fees, according to Ucas figures, which show a 7% drop in applications from English...

Almost half of HR professionals have no employee engagement strategy

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:15:00 GMT

Nearly half of HR professionals in the UK are failing to put an employee engagement strategy in place, despite naming it as one of their highest priorities a survey suggests. The research from Youforce found that while 79% of respondents felt employee engagement was a high priority just 41% had a strategy in place. Lee Grant, VP...

Cambridge academics baffled by teacher-training shake-up

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:15:00 GMT

The illustrious secondary PGCE course at Cambridge University is one of those facing an uncertain future after the government's changes to teacher training. The Guardian reports. Not long ago, Cambridge University academics were celebrating receiving what they say is the first ever "perfect" Ofsted report for a teacher-training course...

Employers and young people worlds apart during recruitment process

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:15:00 GMT

UK employers are finding a clear mismatch between their expectations and those of young people during the recruitment process according to new research. The survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development found the mismatch is hindering young people’s access to the labour market and could soon see a skills shortage...

Open online courses - an avalanche that might just get stopped

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:15:00 GMT

Could massive online open courses – moocs – lead to back-door privatisation in higher education? The UK should watch what is happening in California very closely, says The Guardian’s James Vernon. These days there are plenty of prophets preaching hi-tech and digital solutions to the problems of expanding access to...

Teachers are the happiest workers in Britain, says survey

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:15:00 GMT

Despite grumbles over pay and mountains of admin, teachers are the happiest workers in Britain, a study has revealed. The Telegraph reports. The amount of holiday time, relationships with colleagues and their working environment were among the reasons given by the 83 per cent of teachers who claimed they 'loved their job', a study of...

The truth behind the shortage of STEM graduates

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:15:00 GMT

There ARE enough science and engineering graduates out there – they just aren’t being recruited into technical jobs. That was the main finding revealed at the TARGETjobs Breakfast News event held in London last week, which was attended by around 200 graduate recruiters and representatives of universities and agencies. Media...

How important are qualifications when it comes to finding top talent?

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:45:00 GMT

A primary school in Pimlico, which is set to open in September, has hit the headlines after hiring an ‘under-qualified’ head teacher. Annaliese Briggs, 27 years old, has experience of the curriculum and had the opportunity to teach during her previous role working for a think tank. However, she’s yet to complete her PGCE, and...

O2 and Bauer announce eight companies offering GoThinkBig youth work experiences

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:45:00 GMT

Eight leading companies have signed up to O2 and Bauer Media’s GoThinkBig.co.uk, the youth work experience. ITN, Capgemini, MediaCom, ZenithMedia, Fifteen, ReedSmith, Viacom and The Marketing Academy have agreed to place all future work experience and skills development opportunities on GoThinkBig.co.uk, giving access to anyone with...

Skills gap 'hindering UK business growth', say CEOs

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:45:00 GMT

Almost two-thirds (65%) of UK CEOs have said that a lack of skills is hampering the growth prospects of their organisations, according to a report published today. The global survey of more than 1,300 CEOs, carried out by consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), found that UK business leaders are more concerned about the...

The role businesses can play in offering career support to young people

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:45:00 GMT

This week the Government has responded to the Education Select Committee’s report on careers guidance for young people, recognising that there is scope to develop careers provision in schools. With around one million young people still unemployed in the UK, taking the first step onto the career ladder is now tougher than ever before....

A new way to pay: Using peer-to-peer lending to fund postgraduate study

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:30:00 GMT

It's never been harder for students to pay for postgraduate degrees. Fees are rocketing up while funding dries up, even while master's degrees are becoming more important professional tools than ever. So what's to be done? The recent surge in the peer-to-peer lending market has created the possibility for a new method of postgraduate...

Postgraduate diversity "not good enough", figures show

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:30:00 GMT

Fewer than ten graduates each from Black Caribbean and Bangladeshi minority groups make the transition to a research degree each academic year, a study has found. At masters level these groups had lower than average rates of progression, falling to an “exceptionally low” rate for research degrees, says a report commissioned by...

Students 'set up to fail' by universities

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:30:00 GMT

Leading universities may be setting students up to fail by admitting applicants with D grades at A-level in a bid to fill places, a leading vice-chancellor has warned. The Telegraph reports. Some members of the elite Russell Group have been forced to “significantly drop” entry requirements to plug a shortfall in demand for...

Technology makes higher education accessible to disabled students

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:30:00 GMT

Instead of lugging heavy textbooks about, disabled students now have the option of e-textbooks that present content in a variety of ways to suit the reader. The Guardian reports. According to the Office for Disability Issues, disabled people are around three times less likely to hold any qualifications than non-disabled people, and around...

Universities 'forced to lower entry grades to fill places'

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:30:00 GMT

Top universities may be setting students up to fail by admitting applicants with D grades at A-level in a bid to fill places, a leading vice-chancellor has warned. Some members of the elite Russell Group have been forced to “significantly drop” their entry requirements to plug a shortfall in demand for degree courses...

'Employers are from Mars, young people are from Venus', says CIPD

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:15:00 GMT

A mismatch in expectations between employers and young people is contributing to high levels of youth unemployment, according to a report published today by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and Business in the Community. The difference in expectations is, according to the CIPD, hindering young people's access to...

Schools ditching GCSEs for 'O-levels'

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:15:00 GMT

A dramatic rise in the number of state schools ditching the GCSE exam this year in favour of its old O-level-style rival is revealed in figures published today. Last night headteachers’ leaders claimed the rise was down to a vote of no confidence” in the way last year’s English GCSE grading row had been...

Spotlight on STEM graduates

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Held at Quaglino’s on Thursday 25th April, the latest event in the long-running TARGETjobs Breakfast News series focused on the thorny issue of STEM (i.e. science, technology, engineering and maths) graduates: in particular the challenges associated with recruiting them, and what can be done to encourage more of them. In his...

Teaching abroad helped me to see my subject with fresh eyes

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Getting your first career break in academia is about being open to jobs outside the UK, says The Guardian’s Kirsten Harris. As the teaching year draws to a close and I finish my first year as a lecturer, it doesn't feel very long ago that I was juggling job applications, part-time university sessional work and hourly-paid private...

Civil Service apprentice scheme aims for parity with graduate programme

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new Fast Track Apprentice Scheme for the Civil Service is expected to grow to the same size as the Civil Service’s long-established Fast Track Graduate Programme. The scheme, which opened for applications last week is being run as a pilot with 100 places available. Most places are in London, however opportunities also exist in...

Clear 'mismatch' between young people and employers

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

New research from the CIPD has identified a clear mismatch between employers’ expectations of young people during the recruitment process, and young people’s expectations of what’s expected of them. In addition to hindering young people’s access to the labour market, this is helping to fuel a ‘ticking...

Exams vs job hunting: is it too late to apply for graduate jobs?

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

As exam season looms, it's important that students balance studying with preparing for employment. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), one in three graduates are employed in lower-skilled roles, while almost one in five are not in any kind of employment. These statistics will be particularly worrying for final-year...

How to find a graduate job using social media

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Using social media wisely at university can help land the perfect graduate job. The Telegraph’s Ajaz Hussein offers his tips on how to make the most of LinkedIn and Facebook as a student. For most students, using social media and applying for graduate jobs are entirely separate activities. After all, status updates about your...

Monster announces it will not support advertising of unpaid internships

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Recruitment firm Monster has announced it will not support the advertisement of unpaid internships on its website. The announcement comes just weeks after HM Revenue and Customs launched an inquiry to investigate 100 companies believed to be breaking the law through their use of unpaid interns. It is also in line with the bill that MP...

Private schools turn to foreign pupils as recession bites

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Independent schools are relying on a surge in applications from foreign students as they try to beat the recession, according to official figures published today. The annual census of the Independent Schools Council shows the number of foreign students has risen by 1.4 per to 25, 912 while the number of home-grown students has...

Sixth-form funding dip 'could stymie' talent, Gove warned

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A funding dip for sixth-formers "could stymie" teachers' efforts to cultivate talent, post-16 education experts have warned the education secretary. In a letter, associations representing schools and colleges have asked Michael Gove to redress a growing funding gap. On average, sixth formers attract almost £1,000 less funding...

Stalled progress on GPA may benefit from national push

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A “national debate” about replacing the UK’s honours degree classifications with US-style grade-point averages is under way as plans by a group of universities to introduce the GPA model struggle to gain momentum. The first high-profile push to introduce GPA in the UK came in 2011 from a group mainly made up of Russell...

THE Student Experience Survey 2013

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A responsive attitude and landmark infrastructure projects help to create contentment, THE’s survey shows. Each year, the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey shows the universities that shine in the way they cater for students, with familiar faces cropping up time and again. Yet this year, in a time of rapid change for...

UK firms failing to address skills shortage

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Over two thirds of UK firms have not taken any steps to address a potential skills shortage in the labour market in the next two years a new report suggests. The research by learndirect and Cranfield School of Management found 70% had failed to address the issue and while one in five firms (21%) employ apprentices just a third of those...

University participation rate hits record high

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The proportion of young people accessing higher education hit a record high of 49 per cent as students scrambled to avoid last year’s tuition fee hikes, a new study says. Times Higher Education reports. According to a report by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, published on 24 April, higher education participation...

Which universities have the richest graduates?

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Oxford tops a survey of British universities producing the most ultra-high net worth graduates – those worth at least £20m. The Telegraph profiles the top 10: Source: The Telegraph

More jobs for graduates than the unqualified in UK - study

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:00:00 GMT

The number of jobs in the UK requiring a degree has overtaken the total of posts not needing any qualifications, an employment survey suggests. More than a quarter of jobs are now available only to graduates, it says. The study shows a major shift in the job market towards requiring many more skilled workers, as roles disappear for...

Average Starting Salary for Grads With Bachelor's Degrees Rises 5.3 Percent

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The average starting salary for new college graduates earning bachelor’s degrees has increased 5.3 percent over last year. NACE’s April 2013 Salary Survey—the first look at starting salaries for the Class of 2013—found that the average starting salary for these college graduates stands at $44,928, up from the 2012...

Strength in Numbers

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Competition to engage and attract top graduates is at an all time high, prompting recruiters to look for improved methods of assessment to ensure that they can attract and develop high potentials – filling up talent pipelines for the future. As a result, many organisations are moving away from competency-based techniques in favour of...

Art and design A-level fails to prepare students

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Art students are leaving school without the skills needed to study at university level, or the insight required to find a career in the creative sector, research suggests. A survey of students and teachers in schools, colleges and universities, conducted by University of the Arts London (UAL), found more than half had little faith in the...

London boosts graduate appeal

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

According to a new analysis from the Higher Education Careers Services Unit, London continues to be the employment destination of choice for new graduates, while the jobs outlook varies significantly across the rest of the country. The report identifies where in the UK jobs for new graduates were located last year. (The full...

The UK's brightest undergraduates

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Sir Trevor McDonald OBE was the guest presenter for the fourth TARGETjobs Undergraduate of the Year Awards, held at the East Wintergarden in London’s Canary Wharf on Friday 19th April. Sir Trevor took ‘aspiration’ as the theme of his opening remarks, relating it not only to the astonishing achievements in the young...

Young appmakers can't count on a job for life

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The most effective lies bear the ring of truth. Consider the current dogma that for youngsters to earn a good living is to brain up, get IT skills and join the digital economy. David Cameron is a believer, with his £200m bung for silicon roundabouts and innovation centres, and his declaration that, "We're not doing enough to teach the...

Count the spin outs that win out, says chief science adviser

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Ensuring that knowledge translates into growth will be among the priorities the incoming government chief scientific adviser Mark Walport has set himself for the next five years. Speaking in his first major speech since taking up the role, the former director of the Wellcome Trust said that the UK needed to break down existing barriers to...

David Willetts, poor students need hard cash, not a silly letter

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The universities minister's plan to encourage bright, disadvantaged pupils is patronising and misses the point, writes The Guardian’s Barbara Ellen. Who wants David Willetts as a pen pal? Don't all rush at once. The universities minister announced plans for the Department for Education, along with the Department for Business...

Female Ivy League graduates have a duty to stay in the workforce

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

There's nothing wrong with wanting to be a full-time mother, but you don't need an elite degree to do it. The Guardian reports. Recently Susan Patton provoked public ridicule for giving a piece of dating advice that would not have been controversial if doled out to a bunch of aspiring debutantes in the 1950s, but is debatable today. She...

Michael Gove to unveil A-level alternative - the 'tech bacc'

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Technical baccalaureate will be 'a mark of achievement' aimed at the 50% of school-leavers who do not go on to university. The Guardian reports. A new structure for vocational educations that ministers boast will be "on a par" with A-levels will be unveiled by the government on 22nd April, bundling together new and existing qualifications...

Top public school offers pupils from poor backgrounds academy route to Oxbridge

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

One of England’s foremost schools is to start a sixth-form academy seeking to help thousands of London’s poorest children to win places at Oxford and Cambridge. Westminster School has combined with the Harris Federation to create the academy, which is likely to join the ranks of Britain’s most selective schools....

How will AS changes affect students' chances of going to university?

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Michael Gove's reforms to the AS-level may give sixth formers time for "deep thought", but could undermine efforts to make access to university fairer, writes student Fred Cotterill for The Guardian. As the final term of my first year at university approaches, many of my fellow undergrads are busy panicking about our upcoming exams. I...

More degree courses 'lying empty' after tuition fees rise

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Rising numbers of degree courses are lying empty after failing to attract any students following a sharp hike in tuition fees, according to new research. The Telegraph reports. Figures show a 7.6 per cent increase in the number of unfilled courses during the current academic year, sparking claims that large numbers of degrees may have to...

Poorest pupils 'could be nudged to apply to university'

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

School pupils from poorer backgrounds could be contacted by the government to nudge them towards applying to university if they get good GCSE grades, David Willetts has said. In a speech to the Higher Education Funding Council for England’s annual conference, the universities and science minister said he was working with the...

Undergrads: Stop thinking. Start acting outside the box

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

It feels like a rough time to be a graduate in most parts of the world. In some parts of Europe, the youth unemployment rate is around 50 per cent of the 16-24 demographic. In the UK, if you look at three of your friends, chances are that one of you will not have a job after graduation. The world where you land your dream job after graduation...

Youth unemployment must be tackled, says Federation of Small Businesses

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

With yesterday's Office of National Statistics (ONS) job statistics revealing the extent of youth unemployment, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has called on the Government to support small firms in taking on young people. There are 979,000 unemployed 16-24 year olds in the UK, yesterday's ONS figures revealed. This figure for...

Education system "failing the next generation of workers"

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A survey of UK CEOs has revealed that more than half (54%) believe the current education system is failing future workers and that a good degree or A levels alone are no guarantee of career success. The research, commissioned by Skillsoft, found that whilst CEOs valued qualifications in their future managers (63% considered...

Reality check: are graduate jobs really only available in London?

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

New research shows that London is the most common jobs destination for new graduates. But what about the rest of the UK? The Guardian reports. London has consistently been the most common first employment destination for new graduates, according to new research from the Higher Education Careers Services Unit. But does this show the...

Unfilled course numbers rise despite cutbacks

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The number of degree programmes offered by universities that failed to enrol any students has risen despite cutbacks in course portfolios, Times Higher Education has found. There was a 7.6 per cent rise in the number of unfilled courses between 2011-12 and 2012-13 at universities that responded to a THE Freedom of Information request...

University recruitment: one fifth of students say social media doesn't work

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The view of university social media as untrustworthy or irrelevant means students don't look for information there, says The Guardian’s Justin Shaw, but used better, these channels could count. Universities still have a way to go to ensure that their social media presence is seen as a credible source of information for prospective...

Academies and colleges can lead community change

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Higher educational standards and instilling an entrepreneurial instinct in students can lead to benefits for all It is vital for higher educational standards, particularly in numeracy and literacy, to lead community change. In Darwen, where we opened our academy four years ago, GCSE results of five A*-C (including maths and English) have...

AGR announces first sessions for Annual Conference 2013

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

AGR have today announced the first 7 sessions confirmed for their Annual Conference 2013. This year we’re giving delegates have choice of three different subjects, as well as three different learning styles, giving you more freedom than ever before to tailor the event to suit your needs and interests.The chart below indicates where...

Business leaders raise concern over science curriculum

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Business leaders claim the "sheer scale of prescription" in the new science curriculum will leave pupils in England little time for practical experiments. The CBI says teenagers will develop a serious interest in science only if they have the chance to get hands-on experience in the subject. The government said the new national...

Education system failing next generation of workers, say CEOs

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

More than half of UK CEOs believe the current education system is failing workers and that a good degree or A levels will not guarantee success, a new survey suggests. The research from Skillsoft found that although nearly two thirds (63%) of CEOs value qualifications highest in future managers, they felt the current education system is...

Headmaster attacks secondary school 'exam factories'

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Private senior schools are marginalising children’s “intellectual curiosity” in the pursuit of top rankings in education league tables, a leading headmaster has warned. Peter Tait, the head of Sherborne Preparatory School, Dorset, said that large numbers of children left the primary years as “well-rounded”...

UK unemployment rises to 2.56 million

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

UK unemployment rose by 70,000 to 2.56 million between December and February, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has said. It pushed the unemployment rate to 7.9%, raising further questions about the UK's economic strength. The number of people in employment also fell, while earnings growth slowed considerably, according to ONS...

A farewell to Carl

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Over the past decade and a half, it’s fair to say that the name of Carl Gilleard has become virtually synonymous with graduate recruitment in the UK. Now, as he approaches his retirement from the role of chief executive at the Association of Graduate Recruiters, Ri5 talks to him about how the industry has changed over his period at...

Are apprenticeships really the answer?

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

On the one hand, recent research I have conducted in conjunction with Learndirect has supported the benefits of apprenticeships for employers by helping companies fill skills shortages, grow their business and have a positive impact on employee retention. On the other hand, our research also showed that some employers perceive there...

BBC takes more innovative approach to attract and retain 'tech' talent to combat 'Google effect'

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The BBC is finding it increasingly difficult to keep its technology talent pipeline going as “non-traditional” threats are continually entering broadcasting and “sucking up” all the best young graduates, says Nick Pascazio, head of HR for technology at the BBC. Speaking exclusively to HR magazine, Pascazio states one...

Don't just hope - make your own career

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Young people now face a triple-dip recession of jobs, opportunities and prospects – but we can do more than just hope for the best, writes The Independent’s Robert Magowan. Whether you agree with its methods or not, the government is trying to reduce unemployment. While the seemingly immortal Thatcherite ideals - the...

Forging stronger links between students and employers

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

One of the more recent arrivals on the graduate marketing scene, JustOnCampus focuses on integrating the virtual interaction of social media with the physical experience of students meeting employers on campus. A small, City-based agency, its growing client base is drawn primarily from the financial and professional services...

Graduate scheme insider: a day in the life of a marketing trainee

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

From commissioning research to briefing stake holders, Alan Firmin describes what a typical day on a graduate scheme is like. The Guardian reports. Alan Firmin is nearing the end of his penultimate rotation on Sky's marketing graduate scheme. Here he describes a typical day in his role, giving an insight into just what the life of a...

Minimum wage to rise but 1% hike for young falls behind inflation

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Vince Cable defends lower 4p and 5p an hour rise for under-21s as adult minimum wage increases by 12 pence an hour. The Guardian reports. The business secretary, Vince Cable, faced severe criticism from Labour last year after freezing the minimum wage for anyone under 21. He announced on Monday that the national minimum wage is to...

Premier League football clubs offering unpaid intern jobs

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Premier League football clubs Reading FC and Wigan Athletic have been accused of "unfair and exploitative" practices after advertising internship positions that pay no salary. The news comes as employment relations minister Jo Swinson has been working to compile information on more than a hundred instances of companies overworking their...

Stop saying degrees are a waste of �50,000 - they're not

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Dismissing a university education as an indulgent way to eat up £50,000 is fashionable but asinine, says The Telegraph’s David Ellis. Critics of university pounce on unemployed graduates as evidence that a degree does nothing, which seems rather to miss the obvious: even for those with the best qualifications, the market is...

Toni Pearce: she flunked her exams - but fought her way to the top to become President of the NUS

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Toni Pearce tells The Independent’s Richard Garner how her background will help her fight for students. Toni Pearce, the new president of the National Union of Students, is unique. Not only does she not have a degree – the first leader of the NUS without such a qualification – the 23-year-old also flunked her sixth-form...

US humanities PhDs 'produce more employable graduates'

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Arts and humanities PhD graduates from the US are more employable than their UK counterparts, a conference on doctoral education has heard. THE reports. The extra length of the US doctoral education – on average seven years compared with four in the UK – creates graduates with significantly more experience in teaching and...

Co-operative graduate scheme takes innovative approach to employment

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Nottinghamshire's graduate scheme combines the county and district councils, as well as fire and rescue services to save costs and make sure talent doesn't go unmissed. The Guardian reports. In the scheme, overseen by Nottinghamshire county council, the graduates rotate from one body to another. The trainees will be funded to become...

Middle-class students 'feeling out of place at former polys'

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Middle-class students attending former polytechnics are seeking to preserve their status by captaining sports clubs, running social events and securing internships, according to research. Undergraduates from affluent backgrounds are more likely to throw themselves into extra-curricular activities to get ahead and “maintain their...

A further insight into graduate confidence levels

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

On Wednesday 10th April, a breakfast event at Thomas More Square provided the opportunity for graduate recruiters to obtain a sneak preview of the headline findings from Milkround’s second annual career confidence survey, and also get an introduction to the all-new Milkround website. Product manager Mike Barnard began with an...

Does going to university make you feel inadequate?

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Higher education is supposed to give you skills and confidence. But lots of students end up feeling just plain anxious, writes The Guardian. Universities are often portrayed as institutions for social mobility – gateways to social status, cultural sophistication and professional jobs. Recent research shows that jobs which once...

Donations to UK universities from alumni reach record levels

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

British universities and colleges accrued total donations worth £774m in 2011-12, a 14% increase on the previous year, reports The Guardian British universities are imitating their American counterparts in persuading former students to open their wallets as the number of alumni making donations to higher education institutions rose...

KFC serves up degree course

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Twenty-three employees begin BA in business management, first honours degree course in UK funded by a restaurant chain KFC is subjecting its zingers, popcorn chicken and BBQ rancher burgers to some academic rigour after launching a BA in business management. The first employees with places on the course – the UK's first honours...

University of South Wales opens for 33,500 students

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new university - the largest higher education institution in Wales - has been officially launched. The University of South Wales has been created by the merger of Glamorgan and Newport universities. It is the sixth largest university in the UK, with about 33,500 students and includes campuses in Cardiff, as well as Newport and...

Ban on London Met University enrolling foreign students lifted

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Home Office says institution has made improvements since criticism over its 'systemic failure' to monitor overseas students, reports The Guardian. The Home Office has overturned a ban on London Metropolitan University admitting students from outside the European Union after agreeing it has made sufficient improvements to its monitoring...

Higher university tuition fees 'putting off working-class boys'

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Boys are more likely to shun university as a result of the rise in tuition fees, according to new research. In particular, the gender gap between working class boys and girls going to university is growing, the study, by the Independent Commission on Fees, shows. Whilst overall acceptance rates among applicants from poorer homes have...

Toni Pearce elected NUS president

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Pearce will campaign to get more funding for college students, apprentices and postgraduates, reports The Guardian. Pearce, who will be the second NUS president to have studied at college rather than university, says she'll put further education (FE) back on the agenda. "Higher education and further education students face many of...

Unicef: British children facing bleaker future under coalition

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Children's charity says situation facing young people in UK is expected to worsen as cuts threaten to 'sideline' a generation. The Guardian reports. Children and young people in the UK are facing a bleaker future under the coalition government than they did under Labour, according to children's charity Unicef. In what amounts to a...

University tuition fee rise puts off poorer boys, study finds

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Proportion of working-class boys who took places fell by 1.4% between 2010 and 2012, but fee hike had opposite effect on their female peers. The Guardian reports. The near-trebling of university tuition fees has deterred working-class boys from studying for degrees, but had the opposite effect on working-class girls, an analysis has found...

A good degree isn't the only sign of a good teacher

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The recruitment criteria for teachers are becoming too narrow. Well-qualified teachers certainly make a difference, but it's less cut and dried as to what makes for a good educator. The Guardian reports. The government has set great store by the fact that it is taking a tougher approach to teacher recruitment. Last year, it reported, 71%...

How Margaret Thatcher transformed our universities

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

As Education Secretary and then PM, Margaret Thatcher battled resistance from university leaders every step of the way, says The Telegraph’s Terence Kealey. Margaret Thatcher’s legacy to the universities was revolutionary. Her legacy to the schools, though, was mixed. And it is was as Prime Minister rather than in her earlier...

Liam Burns warns of student 'triple-dip recession'

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Students today face a “triple-dip recession” consisting of a lack of jobs, opportunities to study and future prospects, according to the president of their national union. Speaking at the annual conference of the National Union of Students in Sheffield, Liam Burns also emphasised the need for the NUS to be a campaigning union...

Student solicitors step into the breach

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Following dramatic cuts to legal aid, universities are seeing increased demand for their free law clinics. The Guardian reports. When Luke Smitham found himself helping to draft briefs to the US supreme court, his law master's course suddenly sprang to life. Thanks to a supportive professor using her connections, Smitham and some of his...

Tsars in your eyes: Life as an intern in Russia

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

When Tom Beardsworth decided he wanted to do an internship, he decided to cast his net a little bit wider than rainy old London. The Independent reports. The internship culture in Russia is not well established. Most university students in Russia opt for courses whose material is spread out over five years, affording them the time to hold...

Joan Bakewell urges action on part-time students

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Baroness Bakewell is urging the government to back efforts to stem the dramatic drop in part-time students. The president of Birkbeck, University of London, says higher fees and a failure to communicate new rights to government loans for part-time students has led to a 40% drop in England. Lady Bakewell says "unprecedented" support is...

Pressure growing on universities to sacrifice intellectual integrity

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The intellectual integrity of university degrees is at risk as pressure grows to place emphasis on practical skills, a leading vice-chancellor has warned. The Telegraph reports. Institutions are being forced to re-write their courses to boost the chances of their graduates’ finding work, said Sir David Bell, vice-chancellor of the...

Students warned not to get stuck in low-skill jobs

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Squeeze on labour as graduates dumb-down in recession, then find it hard to move on, says NUS. The Independent reports. Graduates who "dumb down" their employment aspirations can find themselves stuck in low-skilled jobs for years, according to research to be published later this week. A study by the New Employment Foundation shows...

Top university, a great degree - but as for a job, dream on

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new breed of apprentice is finding greater favour with employers than the conventional graduate. Tom Rowley reports Few youngsters had more advantages than Sophie Strang. She attended some of the country’s best schools: first The Mount, an exclusive London day school, and then North London Collegiate, the £15,000-a-year alma...

University degree 'worth less than some apprenticeships'

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A university degree is worth less than some apprenticeships, according to a survey which found that most employers would prefer to take on a “higher apprentice” than a graduate. Qualified apprentices scored four per cent higher on an “employability” scale than university graduates, and 15 per cent higher than the...

Academics 'talk posh' to protect their careers

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Scholars downplay regional accents to avoid prejudice, Newcastle University study shows. Times Higher Education reports. While discrimination on grounds of gender, race or sexuality were no longer acceptable in the workplace, researchers at Newcastle University claim a “tacit prejudice” against those with broad regional...

Enterprise Rent-A-Car wins top graduate recruitment gong

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Enterprise Rent-A-Car won top honours yesterday, at the TARGETjobs National Graduate Recruitment Awards 2013. The company beat Barclays Investment Bank, L’oréal, BP, Barratt Developments PLC, and TeachFirst to take the gong, which was presented by Rob Brydon. In all, 27 awards were announced and presented, including best...

Student journalists quiz newspaper editors

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Student journalists will get a chance to learn from industry experts next week, when they meet with editors of national papers to debate the future of journalism. A panel of editors, including John Witherow, editor of The Times, Sarah Baxter, editor of the Sunday Times Magazine, and Ian Katz, deputy editor of the Guardian, will meet 140...

The benefits of my internship at Bupa

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Working at Bupa over the summer of 2012 as its first intern in a scheme for medical students gave Agneish Dutta a unique insight into the world of occupational health and the workings of a private health provider. I was most pleased to hear last summer that I had been accepted onto Bupa's summer internship scheme for medical students, and...

2013 TARGETjobs awards: all the winners

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

On the unseasonably chilly evening of Wednesday 3rd April, the cream of the UK’s graduate recruitment industry once again packed into the Great Room at London’s prestigious Grosvenor House for the ninth annual TARGETjobs National Graduate Recruitment Awards, an event coinciding with the twenty-fifth anniversary of GTI. This...

Are English students getting a rotten deal?

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The Guardian's university league table for English lists UCL, Cambridge, Durham, Oxford and St Andrews as the top five universities for the subject. Yet the Unistats website shows that on average 11% of UCL English students' time is spent in lectures and seminars. At Cambridge and Durham it is 13% and at Oxford and at St Andrews it has dropped...

Luxury hotel with a difference: Essex University's Wivenhoe House is staffed by students

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Wivenhoe House is a restored Grade II-listed building, set in beautiful parkland in Colchester, Essex. It's like any country-house hotel, apart from a couple of anomalies: the house is situated within the grounds of the University of Essex and the staff consists mainly of keen 19- and 20-year-olds, eager to serve. This is because the four-star...

Surviving an avalanche: universities need to move in the right direction

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The sector has seen steady growth for centuries. But in the changing climate, Nick Petford asks, how long will it last? March saw the publication of Michael Barber's Avalanche report on the future of UK universities. Unusually for a sector where levels of public interest in thought pieces on its future are marginal at best, the Metro...

UK employees have the lowest pay expectations globally, research reveals

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Workers in the UK have the lowest pay increase expectations of employees around the world, according to research published today by business advisory firm CEB. In its latest extensive Global Labour Market Survey of more than 18,000 employees revealed the UK was closely followed by its European counterparts Spain, France and...

Why we need to protect the 'university'

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Policymakers must not dilute the university brand, says The Guardian’s Aldwyn Cooper – becoming a university remains a challenging process. Gaining the title of university isn't easy – it took Regent's College many years. Founded in 1986, Regent's commenced its progress towards degree awarding powers and university title...

Winners of the TARGETjobs National Graduate Recruitment Awards 2013 revealed!

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The sector winners of the TARGETjobs National Graduate Recruitment Awards 2013 were as follows: Accounting and financial management PwC Banking, insurance and financial services HM Revenue and Customs Construction, civil engineering and surveying Atkins Consulting McKinsey & Company Consumer goods – manufacturing and...

Finance careers are a lot like trekking

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Distinct experience demonstrates a broad skillset, says The Independent’s Matt Symonds Leading wilderness treks and dog-sledding expeditions is a road less travelled for many aspiring executives, but for Will Arbuckle, it was just another day at the office in his role at global expedition company Outward Bound. "I was responsible...

Jobs growth accelerates in first quarter of 2013, Reed Job Index reveals

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The UK jobs market grew in March, continuing the positive growth throughout the first quarter of 2013, according to the latest job index figures from recruitment firm, Reed. The index measures trends in the market and it now stands at an all-time high, while the salary indicator is back to its 2009 level. The figures showed overall...

Tell youngsters the truth: the UK needs you to work not go to university

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

There is little that is more likely to lead to ruined lives than groupthink in politics, especially when it is imposed by a well-meaning, over-enthusiastic Establishment convinced that it is doing the right thing. Tragically, as yet more data reveal, the decision to massively increase the number of school-leavers going to university...

Big fall in mature students comes as shock to universities

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Universities blame the economic crisis for an alarming 40% drop in older and part-time learners. The Guardian reports. Figures suggest that since annual fees were hiked to up to £9,000 last year, large swaths of older learners are no longer making it through the university door. A recent report on the impact of the new funding...

HR should be more innovative when it comes to recruiting interns

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

With companies coming under increasing pressure to make the correct hiring decisions and recruit the best candidates for any available role, HR heads have to be at the very top of their game. Outsourcing has always been available of course, but has rarely offered a professional way of providing companies with interns. All too often, the...

It's not about print or online - it's about communication!

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Recently, so much focus has been dedicated to the rise of online communication channels and the “death” of everything else. Who hasn’t heard that everything nowadays happens online? We discuss the rise of web 2.0 and the impact of the social media, but what does reality actually look like? What we all are trying to find out...

Mark Leftly: Why we should engineer better careers for our best and brightest youngsters

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The really big engineers in this country – the sort of guys who work out how to build skyscrapers, make an Olympic park work, or design huge new rail routes – complain about the lack of skilled graduates around. The best and brightest still move into finance, the media and the law. Yet an engineer's job is often more exciting...

A step-by-step guide to graduate recruitment

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Donna Miller is the HR Director for Enterprise Rent-A-Car. She has worked for the company for 23 years, starting as a management trainee in Southern California before moving to HR in several US cities before moving to the UK ten years ago. She is also an AGR Board Director. She tells askGrapevineHR about her approach to recruiting...

Hefce chief stands down from post

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Speculation mounts that reform has diminished leadership role. Times Higher Education reports. There are concerns that leading England’s funding council is a diminished job after suggestions that Sir Alan Langlands may be leaving the role because of its shrinking importance under the new fees and funding system. Sir Alan will...

It's right to question unpaid work experience

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

It seems few of the people who pronounce on the government’s Work Programme have any personal experience of the deleterious effects on dignity of being paid almost nothing in what’s supposedly your primary occupation. A wage of less than £1 an hour was demeaning for a demanding role, but at least it was a gesture...

Nine out of ten graduates want to work for SMEs but businesses are failing to engage

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Nine out of ten graduates would like to work for a small to medium sized enterprise (SME) according to a recent study from totaljobs.com. Additionally, recent research from Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) suggest small businesses are failing to engage with graduates, indicating a lost opportunity to tap into a...

Overseas students can earn less to stick around

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

State lowers pay hurdle for overseas graduates as mandarin backs student migrants. Times Higher Education’s David Matthews writes. The government has cut the amount that overseas graduates need to earn if they want to work in the UK after they finish their courses, potentially making British universities more attractive...

Which graduate careers offer most jobs?

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Which profession takes on more graduates than any other? According to the most recent survey from the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR), which represents many large graduate recruiters, accountancy and professional services organisations lead the way, offering just under a fifth of the total vacancies available from AGR members. In...

�1,000 university bounty to take state pupils on poorer grades

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Universities should be paid a bounty of £1,000 per head to recruit poor students with lower grades, a report says. Students admitted with lower grades should not count towards a selective university’s cap on places, nor in official data used in higher education league tables, it says. The proposal is being considered by a...

Gove hits out at 'dishonest' university admissions officers

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Leading universities are being dishonest about the A-levels pupils need to take to secure places on degree courses, according to Michael Gove. The Telegraph reports. In a strong attack, the Education Secretary said admissions tutors were failing to properly disclose which subjects were required to get into the most sought-after...

Graduate pay gap decreases - is uni still worth it?

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Fees may have gone up, but the graduate salary advantage in some subjects has decreased according to a report published by the Complete University Guide. The report reveals that average starting salaries for graduate jobs increased by 11% between 2005 and 2010. Despite this, the advantage over non-graduate employment has decreased in some...

Identifying skills and poor interview technique are greatest challenges for young jobseekers, report finds

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Two key hurdles to employment for young jobseekers are identifying appropriate skills and a lack of interview techniques, according to research from job site fish4jobs. In a survey of more than 2,000 16-24 year olds who are seeking work, 42% stated poor interview technique let them down. A quarter (23%) said they struggled to identify how...

EU students '10 times more likely to avoid repaying loans'

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Almost a quarter of European students who borrowed cash to study at British universities have disappeared without making repayments, figures suggest, prompting fears that hundreds of millions of pounds in loans may be written off. The Telegraph reports. Data obtained by the Telegraph shows that 22 per cent of students from EU member...

Graduate market still underutilised

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

With research indicating that small businesses are missing out on a potential wealth of future talent through a lack of engagement with graduates, a study out today from totaljobs.com uncovers an active pipeline of untapped talent which could fill the 196,000 jobs on offer in today’s SME employment market. The research finds that...

NCWE unveils UK's best internship providers

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Citi, a leading global financial services company, has been crowned overall winner from more than 60 finalists in the National Council for Work Experience (NCWE) Awards 2013. The NCWE Awards are in their tenth year of recognising and rewarding employers who provide high quality internships to students and graduates. Categories cover...

Russell Group continues to fall short on access benchmarks

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Three-quarters of Russell Group universities are failing to meet benchmarks on numbers of state school pupils, according to new figures. Times Higher Education reports. Only six of the 24 large research-intensive universities within the Russell Group matched or exceeded benchmarks decided by the Higher Education Statistics Agency on the...

Students 'need more say in running universities'

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Students and academics need to be much more involved in the management and improvement of universities if the future of higher education is to be safeguarded, reports Times Higher Education. That was the view of speakers at the latest event held by the Council for the Defence of British Universities, entitled After the Election:...

Undergraduate drop-out rate falls to 7.4%

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

University students may be trying to recession-proof their job prospects in a more competitive market, reports The Guardian. The number of students dropping out of university has fallen steeply, official figures show, possibly because young people are trying to protect themselves from a fiercely competitive job market. The most...

Undergraduates 'should be taught entrepreneurship'

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Universities should teach undergraduates how to start up companies, the prime minister’s enterprise advisor has said. Times Higher Education reports. Lord Young of Graffham told a conference that higher education had to “instil the very concept of enterprise” into young people. “Every undergraduate during the...

Widening access means opening more than your university doors

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Recruiting students from less privileged backgrounds is only half the battle, says Bob Athwal – how do you build their confidence once they are in the building? Today's performance indicators on widening access to higher education will bring mixed results for the sector. For some universities, the numbers will underline how they are...

Your country needs you to engineer a way out of this disaster, Isambarda

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The first £1m prize for engineering has just been awarded but few boys and even fewer girls are joining this vital sector Would you encourage your daughter to become an engineer? The chances are, no matter how liberal, pro-feminist, modern and emancipated you are, you wouldn’t. If she showed a certain facility for the...

Inflated offers students can't refuse

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Tutor warns of efforts to ‘sucker’ applicants as institutions game system. Times Higher Education reports. Universities are making inflated grade offers to “sucker” applicants into putting them down as their first choice, even though they do not require such high A-level marks, an admissions tutor has...

Limits on degree places for top students relaxed

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Universities will be free to enroll as many students with AAB or ABB grades at A-level as they wish, reports The Guardian. Teenagers with top A-level grades are likely to have more offers from prestigious universities this year, when limits on degree places are relaxed. Universities will be free from autumn to enroll as many students...

Where in the UK are you most likely to get a graduate job?

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Nearly half of all graduate vacancies on offer in the UK (42.4%) are based in London, according to the most recent survey from the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR). The next most likely place to find a graduate job is the south east, which offered 10.1% of graduate vacancies available in 2011–12. That’s good news if...

Witty reviews university role in growth plan

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

GLAXOSMITHKLINE boss Sir Andrew Witty will launch a review for the government exploring how Britain’s universities can help boost growth by supporting local business schemes. Witty will conduct an independent review “to explore how universities can support growth in their regions by working with organisations such as Local...

Graduate salaries are up, but not across the board

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Nursing and Geology are proving particularly lucrative graduate career paths, according to the Complete University Guide, reports The Independent. Starting salaries for graduate-type occupations have increased overall, but the advantage over non-graduate employment has diminished in certain fields, according to new analysis published this...

Middle universities will be squeezed hard

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The UK's changing demographic, as well as fees, has contributed to the decline in student numbers. But it still creates trouble for middling universities, says The Guardian’s Jonathan Wolff. There were almost 724,000 babies born in England and Wales in 2011, up from 595,000 in 2001. This is a staggering increase. Except that if we...

One-in-five young people need to enter engineering to address UK skills shortage

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

One-in-five young people will need to go into engineering in order for the UK to achieve its goal of rebalancing the economy away from the financial sector, new research suggests. The research from Social Market Foundation (SMF) shows there is a 40,000 a year shortage in home grown graduates in science, technology, engineering and maths...

Reality check: are young people's career aspirations unrealistic?

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

New research suggests young people's career aspirations aren't realistic. But are we really aiming too high? Guardian Graduate reports. Teenager's career aspirations do not match the demands of the job market, new research has suggested. The report, by the Education and Employers Taskforce, examined the ambitions of young people aged 13...

Reality of Job Searching in 2013

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A big part of our job at the Careers Service is to keep in touch with our employers and find out about changes in graduate recruitment. We had a really interesting talk last week by Claire Adams, Relationship Manager for the Association for Graduate Recruiters (AGR). Here’s a summary of her key tips for students and graduates job...

Record employment masks shock rise in youth joblessness

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The continued rise in employment has masked a shock rise in the number of young people out of work – with youth unemployment increasing by almost 50,000 – delivering a pre-Budget blow to the Government. The Telegraph reports. The number of people in work rose again between November and January to 29.73m, up 131,000 from the...

Teenagers' 'mismatched' job ambitions

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

There is a "massive mismatch" between young people's career expectations and the reality of the jobs available, a major survey of teenagers suggests. It highlights the need for better careers advice, says Nick Chambers, director of the Education and Employers Taskforce, which published the survey. The study also indicates teenagers...

UK's changing recruitment practices fail young jobseekers, finds UKCES report

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A radical shift is needed in the way young people are viewed by employers to create a culture where recruiting and developing them is part of standard business practice in the UK, the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) said today. In a report, Scaling the Youth Employment Challenge, UKCES highlighted the structural barriers...

What to do next if you're too cool for university

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Coming soon: the 'Uncollege' where you learn skills 'above and beyond' university ... sometimes by going to lectures without enrolling… The Guardian reports. Two years ago, Dale Stephens was given $100,000 (£67,000) to skip university in America and focus on doing something in the real world instead. Soon the 21-year-old will...

Almost 14,000 apprenticsehips pledged in National Apprenticeship Week

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Almost 14,000 apprenticeships have been pledged by employers this week, in industries as diverse as space engineering to book making. The Telegraph reports. Employers across the UK have announced plans to recruit thousands of apprentices as part of National Apprenticeship Week, the campaign now in its sixth year hoping to raise awareness...

Apprenticeships have a reputation problem - so what can HR do about it?

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Careers advice and guidance in schools is skewed towards university education, so many young people (and their parents) are not aware of other career options and the benefits apprenticeships have to offer. HR professionals can play a part in raising awareness by volunteering to give career talks at local schools, through programmes such as...

Employers need incentives to create apprenticeships, says UKCES

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Employers must be given incentives to encourage high-quality apprenticeships, according to a report by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) today. The report follows the Prime Minister's speech on Monday 11 March, at the start of National Apprenticeship Week, calling for apprenticeships to become the "new normal" for young...

Government right to tread carefully on apprenticeship funding, say training providers

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP), which represents training providers who train over 70% of England’s apprentices, has warned the Government that any adoption of Doug Richard’s tax-credits proposal to fund employers’ apprenticeships provision is fraught with danger. Last year entrepreneur Doug...

Graduate premium in starting salaries 'up by a quarter'

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The graduate premium in starting salaries increased by a quarter between 2005 and 2010, according to new research. Times Higher Education reports. University leavers in graduate-type jobs earned an average of £6,840 more than workers in other employment in 2010, up from a differential of £5,485 in 2005, analysis from The...

Graduates in STEM 'need to rise by half'

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The UK needs to boost its output of science, technology, engineering and maths graduates by almost 50 per cent to satisfy market demand, a thinktank has calculated. Times Higher Education reports. The Social Market Foundation’s report, In the Balance: The STEM human capital crunch, published today, calculates that an ageing...

Graduates lack basic skills and are more interested in 'what a job can do for them, not what they have to offer an employer'

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Most new graduates lack even the basic skills needed for the workplace, complain major employers. The Daily Mail reports. More than two-thirds of bosses said they cannot handle customers while half said they cannot operate independently. Half of companies said university leavers struggle with basic English and nearly two-fifths claim...

Young people looking for green economy work say they lack skills

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

More than half of the country’s young people (19-25) say they are interested in working on the green economy new research shows but fell ill prepared to do so. However the survey, released today by British Gas, shows only 38% of those interested felt they has the skills to go into the job sector. Over three-quarters (78%)...

AGR announces 2013 Development Award winners

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The winners of the 2013 Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) Awards were announced yesterday (Thursday 14 March) at the association’s Development Conference at the Inmarsat Conference Centre, London. The AGR Development Awards were established in 2010 to recognise and reward best practice in graduate development. The awards...

Cambridge University medicine admissions show race gap

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Applicants with three A*s at A-level are 20% more likely to get offer if they are white than if they are from ethnic minority, reports The Guardian. People applying to study medicine at Cambridge University with three A*s at A-level are more than 20% more likely to be given an offer if they are white than if they are from an ethnic...

Engineering firm recruits from local school

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

An engineering employer has gone back to school to recruit workers and inspire the next generation. Gestamp Tallent Automotive in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, has set Year 11 pupils at nearby Woodham Academy a series of challenges with the winners having the opportunity to get a job. Pupils have spent National Apprenticeship Week...

Gap between rich and poor students 'stark'

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

An "unacceptably stark" difference remains between the number of rich and poor students choosing to study for a degree, says the head of the universities funding body. The Telegraph reports. Teenagers from poorer backgrounds remain much less likely to go to university, and to study at a top institution, according to a report by the Higher...

Government response to Richard review: Employers to design their own apprenticeships

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Employers will be empowered to design and develop their own apprenticeship standards and qualifications, so they can address skills shortages that are threatening growth, deputy prime minister Nick Clegg has announced today. Responding to the review on apprenticeships carried out last year by entrepreneur Doug Richards, the Government has...

Hefce warning: Whitehall, we have some problems

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Problems requiring “immediate attention” are emerging under the new fees and funding system, including a “dramatic decline” in the number of part-time entrants that could potentially reduce access for poorer students, England’s funding council has warned. A report by the Higher Education Funding Council for...

Lower university entry grades and let in more sports prodigies, says ex-Olympian Steve Cram

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Universities in the UK should start lowering their entry requirements to let in more students with sporting talent, according to an Olympic athlete turned university chancellor. Steve Cram, the 1,500 metre silver medal winner in the 1984 Los Angeles who is now chancellor of ther University of Sunderland, said a failure to adopt the policy...

Over 2,000 young people apply for just 50 places on EDF apprenticeship scheme

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

More than 2,000 people apply for just 52 apprenticeship posts at EDF Energy, reflecting fierce competition among young people for quality training schemes. The Telegraph reports. Some 2,038 youngsters have applied for this year's places on the EDF Energy engineering maintenance apprenticeship, which lasts four years. The scheme...

Premier Inn to create 500 apprenticeships

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Premier Inn hotels has become the latest employer to announce plans to create apprenticeships, taking on 500 by the end of the year. As National Apprenticeship Week draws to a close, EE also said it would take on 500 apprentices by 2015 as part of its commitment to boost the local economy in areas where the superfast 4G network...

Sainsbury's set to create 400 managerial apprenticeships

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The new year-long programme, which starts in April, is aimed at existing staff of all ages with qualifications no higher than GCSE. Sainsbury's is creating an extra 400 apprenticeships for would-be managers. The new year-long programme, which starts in April, is aimed at existing staff of all ages with qualifications no higher than...

Starbucks: Why vocational learning matters

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Jan Smallbone, Head of Talent at Starbucks, discusses what employers can do to support apprenticeships. askGrapevineHR reports. We did a massive skills event in London about 18 months ago where we met a lot of parents on that day and we were slightly horrified at how snippy they felt about their kids looking at possible employment with...

Thousands of job pledges announced in National Apprenticeship Week

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

This week employers across the UK have pledged to recruit 13,600 new apprentices for National Apprenticeship Week. Employers across the UK are giving young people the opportunity to earn while they learn, and this week alone UK firms have pledged to recruit more than 13,600 new apprentices. From pioneering youth digital company SB.TV...

Which graduate career offers the best pay?

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

It probably won’t surprise you to learn that investment banks offer the highest graduate starting salaries on the market, at a median of £38,250, according to the most recent edition of the biannual survey carried out by the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR). As you scan the AGR’s list of average sector starting...

Youth enterprise schemes 'backfire'

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Attempts to inspire young people to start businesses are backfiring by alienating would-be business owners with “outdated” views of entrepreneurship and poorly conceived schemes, according to a new report. The Telegraph reports. Support programmes for fledgling business owners are “misdirected and out of touch”...

Higher Apprenticeship in legal services 'could challenge degrees'

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

New qualification launch will confront elitist perceptions of sector Skills for Justice, the Sector Skills Council for the legal sector, is promising more school-leavers will be able to enter the legal profession, with the launch last night of a new Level 4 Higher Apprentice in Legal Services. The two-year apprenticeship programme...

In defence of the unpaid internship

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The Independent’s Andrew Scherer attempts to see the good in a dubious practice. This issue of pay constantly clouds the debate about the meaningful experiences afforded by internships; increasingly there is a default, blanket criticism of this approach to recruitment. As such, I think it is time for someone like me, who has...

Many graduates 'would have preferred apprenticeships'

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

More than three quarters of recent university graduates were not told about apprenticeships or vocational training routes before leaving secondary education, a survey has revealed. Times Higher Education reports. According to a poll of 1,774 people who graduated in the last two years, 76 per cent said they were not informed about the...

Skills Minister swaps jobs for National Apprenticeship Week

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Skills Minister, Matthew Hancock MP, will swap his suit for overalls and take part in a job swap with the apprentice champion of the year, Jenny Westworth from BAE Systems for apprentice.tv. For the first leg of the swap will see former apprentice engineer, Jenny, joining the Minister in Westminster, including ministerial meetings at the...

Starbucks on course to deliver 1,000 apprenticeships

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Starbucks have announced they are on track to deliver 1,000 apprenticeships by the end of 2014 and they will offer 200 of those employees the chance to earn a Level-3 Apprenticeship. By the end of March Starbucks will have hired 200 apprentices for their Level-2 Apprenticeship in barista mastery and customer service, skills they say are...

Why small businesses are taking on apprentices to run more efficiently

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Apprentices are useful to small businesses as much as large corporations. The Guardian’s Sabuhi Gard speaks to owners who have reaped the benefits. The role of the apprentice, whether it is for a FTSE 100 company or a small to mid-sized company, is in the spotlight because of the latest figures from the National Apprenticeship...

'Established' universities could go bust, warns report

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Established UK universities will go out of business within the next 10 years unless they adapt to survive an era of intense pressure driven by globalisation, technology, rising student expectations, and competition for funding, a report has warned. Times Higher Education reports. According to An Avalanche is Coming: higher education and...

A Graduate's View: No Jobs And Steep Rent But I'd Still Rather Be In London

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Few jobs and room mates who are literally mice (this is not a metaphor, repeat, this is not a metaphor). So why do graduates still move to London? New resident Anna Silverman explains the ups and down of post-university migration - and why she wouldn't have it any other way... My Daily.co.uk reports. I always knew I was going to move to...

Alan Sugar's attitude to apprenticeships is all too typical in Britain

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Lord Sugar's lack of respect for a once valued role is reflected in far too many businesses, reports The Guardian. Consider it another milestone in the long devaluation of what it means to be an apprentice or, indeed, The Apprentice. Lord Sugar is being sued for constructive dismissal by Stella English, who won the competition in 2010....

Apprenticeships overhaul to offer school-leavers way into professions without university degree

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

School-leavers will be able to become accountants, airline pilots and join other professions without a university degree under an overhaul of apprenticeships expected next week. The Telegraph reports. Ministers will announce measures intended to raise the standing of vocational training to make it a credible alternative to...

Apprenticeships to be 'the new norm', says David Cameron

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

David Cameron has pledged to make apprenticeships the "new norm" for school leavers who decide against going to university. The prime minister said he wanted work-based training to sit "at the heart of our mission to rebuild the economy". He used a visit to a training academy in Buckinghamshire to call on employers, educators and MPs...

Association of Graduate Recruiters announces next Chief Executive

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) announces today (8 March 2013) that Stephen Isherwood will succeed Carl Gilleard as Chief Executive. Stephen, who is currently Head of Graduate Recruitment at Ernst & Young (UK & Ireland), will take up the post as Chief Executive of the AGR on 10 June 2013. Terence Perrin...

Barclays to support 10,000 young people

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new programme launched by Barclays will support 10,000 young people into work. Barclays’ Bridges Into Work programme is being launched as part of this year’s National Apprenticeships Week and will be available for large and small businesses to access across the country. Barclays will also double the number of...

Careers advice is letting our young people down, report warns

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Schools must embed careers advice and employability into the curriculum to help combat youth unemployment, according to a report published today by employment and skills firm Working Links. The Finding a Future report has called for every school to have at least one employer on its board of governors to help move education and work closer...

Global employers open their doors to apprentices across the UK

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Large global employers including Santander, Starbucks, O2 and KFC are offering apprenticeships to many young people across the UK. From today, the start of National Apprenticeship Week, employers have created thousands of apprenticeship opportunities. Banking giant Santander will create 275 apprentices in its main offices and branch...

National Apprenticeship Week: Santander to recruit hundreds

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

On the first day of National Apprenticeship Week, Santander has announced that it will recruit hundreds of apprentices as part of a new programme. After a successful pilot scheme in 2012 the bank has launched a UK-wide apprenticeship programme that will see 275 apprentices recruited in to the bank’s main offices and branch...

New Association of Graduate Recruiters chief executive announced

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) has today announced that Stephen Isherwood will succeed Carl Gilleard as chief executive. Isherwood, who is currently head of graduate recruitment at Ernst & Young (UK & Ireland), will take up the post from 10 June. Terence Perrin, AGR chairman, said: "We are delighted to be...

Poor careers guidance sells apprenticeships short, says CIPD

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Preoccupation with the university system means children are not being told about the benefits of apprenticeships according to new research by the CIPD. The survey – Employee Outlook: Focus on Apprenticeships – looked at responses from more than 400 employees with children under the age of 18. It found two-thirds of parents...

Recession is stalling social mobility for a generation of teenagers, claims report

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Children of parents with few educational qualifications are less likely to go to college or take up vocational training, reports The Guardian. Economists have found that, during periods of high unemployment, teenagers' plans to remain at school after GCSEs were shaped by their parents' education – not their income or whether they...

Should we be worried that UK universities are slipping down the global rankings?

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Last week, the 2012-2013 Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings were released, with news that over the past two years, three UK universities have dropped out of the top 100. The rankings editor Phil Baty added that outside the “chosen few” UK universities that are maintaining or improving their positions, there is...

Student maintenance loans and grants in England to rise by 1%

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Maintenance loans and grants for students in England will rise by 1%, in 2014-15 - less than the rate of inflation, the government has said. The increase was announced in a written statement by the universities minister David Willetts. The maximum grant will be £3,387, for students who started their courses after September 2012...

Students not told which universities are struggling

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Figures for university applications are being kept secret – even from ministers – by Ucas to protect institutions that may be in trouble. Is this fair to students? The Guardian investigates. For the first time, this year Ucas, the university admissions service, has decided to withhold annual figures on the number of...

There Is A 'Black Hole' Of Apprenticeships, Warns Lord Adonis

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The rise in apprenticeships is "deceptive", according to Lord Adonis, who warns there is a "black hole" for thousands of young people. In an exclusive blog for The Huffington Post UK, the Labour peer said apprenticeships "should not be dumbed down", and many are being awarded to young people in their 20s, instead of...

Top students flee Britain

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Hundreds of Britain’s brightest students who gained three A grades or more at A-level have spurned the country’s universities as part of a brain drain to higher-rated universities abroad. Figures obtained by The Sunday Times show that for the first time in a decade the proportion of triple-A scoring students starting...

Tuition fee cap frozen again

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The tuition fee cap will remain at £9,000 in 2014-15, meaning the government is allowing most universities’ income to be eroded by inflation, while students’ grants for living expenses will be held back with a below-inflation rise. Times Higher Education reports. David Willetts, the universities and science minister...

Unemployed teenagers blame lack of computer skills

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Almost one-in-five young people not in education, employment or training (Neets) believe their computer skills are not good enough for the job they want to do. The Telegraph reports. A similar number (17 per cent) said they believed they would be in work if they could use a computer better, while one-in-ten are "embarrassed" by their lack...

New boss for AGR

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The Association of Graduate Recruiters has announced the appointment of Stephen Isherwood to succeed Carl Gilleard as chief executive. A long-time member and supporter of the Association, Stephen has headed up graduate recruitment at Ernst & Young for the past six years, prior to which he worked in higher education at the University...

Association of Graduate Recruiters announces next Chief Executive

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Over 2,000 new fund management jobs being created for graduates from a diverse range of backgrounds

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Thirteen of the City’s biggest investment managers will be offering over 100 12-month paid trainee roles to school leavers and graduates in 2013. The move is part of a scheme to open up the industry to young people from a diverse range of backgrounds. The firms participating in Investment 2020, including Aberdeen, BNP Paribas...

Aimhigher 2: this time it's slimmer

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A slimmed-down successor to school outreach network Aimhigher could be set up to help universities coordinate their efforts to recruit more children from deprived backgrounds. This is one of the recommendations made in an interim report by the Higher Education Funding Council for England and the Office for Fair Access that will inform a...

Chuka Umunna: It's a "disgrace" that two-thirds of the UK's largest employers don't offer apprenticeships

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Two-thirds of the UK's largest employers have been labelled a "disgrace" by shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna for not providing apprenticeships. Speaking yesterday at the annual EEF National Manufacturing Conference in London, Umunna described apprenticeships as being at "the heart of the economic debate". Responding to questions...

Graduate pay gap: Same degrees. Same jobs. But, for women, still not the same pay

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Study reveals newly qualified women still earn thousands of pounds less than men. The Independent reports. Equality campaigners demanded urgent action today to tackle the gender pay gap after a new study showing female graduates can expect to earn thousands of pounds a year less than their male counterparts. Women who had just...

Karren Brady and Colin Jackson launch work experience scheme

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Karren Brady, Colin Jackson and Thea Green are among the celebrity profiles launching a work experience scheme to create 50,000 industry placements for young people. The Telegraph reports. The programme, launched by Barclays, aims to remove the barriers young people face in getting work by helping them make the first step from school to...

'Mickey Mouse' courses banned from college league tables

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Thousands of courses in subjects such as "cutting facial hair" and "fitting eyelash extensions" are to be stripped out of official league tables in a fresh crackdown on Mickey Mouse qualifications, it was announced today. The Telegraph reports. Almost 4,000 vocational courses – nine-in-10 of those currently run across England...

Revamp of vocational courses unveiled

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Teenagers in England are to be offered the chance to take new courses in engineering and construction as part of an overhaul of vocational education. Ministers said they would develop seven qualifications in the two subjects to equip youngsters with relevant skills. The Department for Education also said thousands of vocational...

Top university awards places irrespective of final A-levels

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

One of Britain’s top universities has become the first institution in the country to award large numbers of places to bright students irrespective of their final A-level grades, The Daily Telegraph has learnt. Birmingham – a member of the elite Russell Group – will distribute up to a quarter of undergraduate places this...

IT competition 'The Graduate' aims to plug skills gap

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

In an effort to give IT graduates a head start in winning their first role in work, BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, is once again running ‘The Graduate’ competition. The unique careers initiative was first launched in February 2011 and is run by the West Yorkshire Branch of the BCS. The competition aims to test the...

Master's of the universe (well, Earth)

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

An exclusive global alliance of business schools offers a postgraduate degree like no other, but you have to be able to speak three languages to get in. The Guardian reports. CEMS, the Global Alliance in Management Education, grew out of the Community of European Management Schools and runs a student exchange system among member...

Maths Graduates Earn Highest Starting Salaries

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Despite the economic downturn, graduates from the London School of Economics continue to do well in the job market, with the Class of 2011 commanding an average salary of £34,555 six months after graduation. Nevertheless, data from the Careers Department show that there exists a significant disparity between the graduate salaries of...

Optionis Group in record apprentice recruitment drive

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Warrington firm the Optionis Group are planning to take on a record number of trainees with their biggest ever apprentice recruitment drive. The company plans to take on at least 15 new recruits this year, expanding its successful apprenticeship scheme which launched in 2011. Derek Kelly, Managing Director at Optionis, says:...

Reality check: will postgraduate study add �200,000 to your lifetime salary?

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Reports claim that postgraduate study can boost your salary. But do the figures add up? Charlie Ball researches the research for The Guardian. The Sutton Trust recently released a report examining postgraduate issues, with research conducted by a well-regarded team from the London School of Economics. You'll probably have seen the...

Vocational postgrads put career-changers on course for a new job

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Work-related master's degrees are on the rise as people seek skills that will help them find a new path, reports The Guardian. If traditional academic subjects leave you cold, your interest might be piqued by the increasing number of fascinatingly unconventional postgraduate courses available across the country. Vocational study is...

An enlightened approach to employability

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Business and universities must work together to ensure students are well-prepared for a competitive jobs market, Carl Gilleard tells Westminster Briefing. In January, the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) conducted our bi-annual survey of our membership, collecting the responses of 197 members across over 20 sectors and responsible...

As universities struggle to maintain student numbers, how did Surrey manage to grow by a third?

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

For months, most university vice-chancellors have been battling to try and ensure that their student applications did not do a double-dip in numbers and leave them with fewer candidates than they had in the first year of fees of up to £9,000 a year. A last-minute surge enabled them to breathe a sigh of relief as numbers went up by 3...

Baroness Morris calls for university-school collaborations

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Universities and schools should collaborate more on classroom techniques to drive up standards in teaching, according to a senior Labour peer. Baroness Morris of Yardley, the former education secretary, said that schools and universities do not communicate effectively at present. Speaking at a public lecture at the University of...

Career-focused master's courses attract more students

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Once the Cinderella of higher education, tucked between the undergraduate degree and the doctoral theses, the master's degree has come into its own. Over the past decade, the number of people graduating from taught master's courses has risen by 145%, from 69,345 in 2002/03 to 169,564 in 2011/12. Around half are overseas students...

Degree or no degree, the job market is tougher than ever

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The Coalition's changes to the university funding system has cost them six times more than they had initially aimed to save in, the Independent recently reported. Thinktank Million+ condemned uncapped university tuition fees, saying it has caused a loss of 30,000 undergraduate applicants between 2010-11 and 2012-13. The report suggests...

'Destination data' too narrow a path for schools

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Gove's former top civil servant criticises coalition's 'naive' emphasis on Russell Group Education secretary Michael Gove's decision to publish data showing how many pupils from individual schools go on to Russell Group universities is "narrow and naive", according to his former top civil servant. Sir David Bell, now vice-chancellor...

Durham University joins forces with the RAF

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Senior RAF officers are being offered the chance to obtain MBAs at Durham University Business School. RAF officers that have completed the Senior Officers Study Programme (SOSP) are being given the opportunity to continue their education and obtain an MBA. Durham has one of the world’s most popular Global MBA programmes and appears...

Employability initiative winner: Edinburgh College of Art

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Even the most motivated students don't tend to finish their degree with three year of relevant work experience under their belt. Anyone graduating from the Edinburgh College of Art graphic design programme however, will have spent three of their four years working for one of several in-house "design agencies" that are set up annually by final...

Encouraging equal opportunities for graduates at work

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The Guardian’s Sandra Kerr looks at how employers can ensure they encourage applications from graduates from diverse backgrounds. There's a dire need for a proficient careers advisory service for students early in their education, to provide insight on which career paths are available in the world of work and how to embark on them....

Heineken give graduate interviewees "insane" experience

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The Apprentice may be the job interview from hell, but Heineken’s recent graduate interview process could be the weirdest. Heineken offered one graduate the chance to accompany the Champions League trophy around the world as part of their Event and Sponsorship department. But as prospective employees arrived for their interview...

Life in the graduate job market isn't as bad as you think

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Graduate career prospects may be tough, but the challenges are in no way insurmountable, says an undergraduate Anirudh Mandagere, for Guardian Graduate. For current undergraduates, prospects after university might seem dire. Certainly the statistics suggest uncomfortable truths: 24.8% of 21-year-old graduates are unemployed, approximately...

Master's course give graduates a degree of entrepreneurship

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

In Sir Alan's world, entrepreneurs are born, not made. Three years at university is seen as a "waste of time" by the founder of Amstrad. "I've been to the university of life and you can say to these people who come out with their 2.1s or whatever, 'that's fine, but you know nothing'," he explained in an interview about his role in BBC1's The...

Online apprenticeships applications up 41% in a year

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Online applications for apprenticeships have increased by 41% in just a year, figures from the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) show. More than 267,400 apprenticeship applications were submitted online between November 2012 and January 2013 and NSA also report a rise in vacancies advertised. Nearly 25,400 were online, an...

Paid internships bill fails to clear Parliament: Where do we go from here?

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Last week, The Independent talked about the upcoming Internships Bill, which sought to ban the advertisement of unpaid internships and regulate the conditions of their employment. The piece was a rallying call for action from Government, business leaders and interns to get behind the Bill and potentially start changing the employability...

Students are entering the workplace without sufficient "intercultural" skills, says the British Council

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Employers value “intercultural skills” as highly as formal qualifications, but many students are leaving education without any, according to global research published today by the British Council. The British Council states that intercultural skills include the ability to understand different cultural contexts and viewpoints;...

Sub-minimum wage for graduate teachers

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

NUS finds ‘illegal’ pay conditions in some universities Almost one third of postgraduate students who teach earn less than the minimum wage when the hours they work are taken into account, a study has found. A survey of almost 1,500 postgraduates by the National Union of Students found that universities' average pay rate...

Teams, tweeting and Generation Y: why business should welcome ways of working from a new generation

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Generation Y – those born between the early 1980s and the late 1990s – have been described as the iPod generation, Generation Me, ‘boomerang’ kids and the Peter Pan generation. Graduating from university with crippling debts and facing a bleak economic environment, they’re widely thought to be narcissistic and...

Understanding China is vital for today's graduates

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

With China set to economically dominate the coming decades, it is more important than ever for today's new graduates to learn how business is done there. It's simple, says The Independent’s Mark Pettitt, just remember 'face' and 'connections'. The old adage of ‘do as the Romans do’ could not be more appropriate in doing...

University rankings: Do we really need annual university rankings?

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Small annual movements up or down global university rankings are largely meaningless, says The Telegraph’s Alex Usher. The Times Higher Education’s annual Reputation rankings were released last night, and by the time this is published will no doubt be the subject of much discussion on the internet. Much as I enjoy most of what...

What next for careers education in schools?

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Careers guidance should be at the heart of schooling, but the government needs to recognise that schools cannot do everything, argues The Guardian’s Tristram Hooley. Our research suggests that young people are likely to approach subject teachers first with their careers questions. This does not mean that every teacher has to become...

Willetts urges UK universities to put courses online

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

UK universities should invest in online courses if they are to take advantage of an "historic opportunity", said Universities Minister David Willetts. Countries such as India and Indonesia have a soaring demand for university courses - creating a market for the UK's universities, says Mr Willetts. But he argued that the scale of demand...

Work experience placements 'boost pupils' earning power'

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Pupils with a high level of exposure to the business world – including work experience placements – can earn significantly more than their peers, according to research. The Telegraph reports. Young adults who took part in four or more activities with employers while at school went on to earn an average of £23,100 by...

Young jobless 'Neets' total falls slightly

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The number of young people not in education, training or work in England has fallen slightly since this time last year. Official figures for the last quarter of 2012 show there were 893,000 people aged from 16 to 24 not in education, employment or training (Neet). That is down from 957,000 for the same period in 2011. Among 16- to...

Generation Y: less entrepreneurial and high risk, but more likely to jump ship, according to survey

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Generation Y employees see themselves as more risk averse and less entrepreneurial than their older colleagues, according to a report published today by job website Monster.com and consultancy firm Millennial Branding. The research also found that Gen Y-ers (loosely defined as workers between the ages of 18 and 29 years old) are more...

Is it the end for the traditional degree? Keele University students to receive school-style reports

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Students graduating from Keele University next year will receive school-style reports as part of a new system which could eventually replace traditional first and second-class degrees. Around 1,500 people completing courses in summer 2014 will be the first to be issued with the electronic higher education achievement reports...

Month of birth affects chance of attending Oxbridge

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The likelihood of becoming a student at Oxford or Cambridge Universities can be strongly influenced by date of birth. Last year the chance of someone born in October becoming an Oxbridge undergraduate was more than 30% higher than for someone born in July. In seasonal terms, compared to the summer-born applicants, autumn births were...

Oxford University accused of bias against ethnic minority applicants

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Figures obtained under Freedom of Information Act reveal white applicants up to twice as likely to get place, despite same grades. The Guardian reports. Oxford University has been accused of "institutional bias" against black and minority ethnic students after figures revealed that white applicants to some of the most competitive courses...

Students urge MPs to restore EMA grant

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Campaign aims to reverse Tory decision to scrap the EMA grant that kept poorer students in education post-16. The Guardian reports. Students have come up with a new strategy in their fight to get the education maintenance allowance (EMA) restored. They're urging MPs to support an "early day motion" – which is a proposal submitted...

The AGR Development Awards 2013 Shortlist!

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

After a difficult day of judging, we are now excited to announce the official shortlist for this year’s Development Awards 2013. Thank you once again to all those who took the time to enter, and congratulations to those who made it down to the final 3 (or in some cases, 2)! Winners will be announced at the Development Awards...

Mark Hoban: "Sometimes, work experience is just what you need"

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

With the government’s flagship scheme in the dock, the employment minister tells People Management HR professionals should get behind it The Work Programme is all about helping long-term unemployed people back into work. We pay providers from the private and voluntary sector to work with each participant to help them find work...

The boomerang generation: Why are so many more graduates moving back in with mum and dad?

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Every year more and more graduates return home to roost, driven back to Mum and Dad by draconian landlords and a hostile job market. While some return out of choice or convenience, many begrudgingly leave the university towns and cities they have become accustomed to out of financial necessity. The number of 20 to 34-year-olds living at home...

Universities consider loans to help postgraduate students

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Funding for postgraduate study is so hard to find that universities are considering offering private loans to help students. The Guardian reports. In the absence of help from government, leading figures in Russell Group universities are exploring the possibility of offering their own private loans, the Guardian has been told. This is...

Yodel extends relationship with Apprentice Supermarket

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Yodel, the UK’s second largest parcel delivery company, has extended its relationship with Apprentice Supermarket, a not-for-profit organisation designed to help young unemployed people to develop their skills. Yodel initially began working with Apprentice Supermarket in May 2012 and will now extend the working relationship in...

Youth unemployment: can mobile technology improve employability?

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

We need better understanding of mobile learners, not mobile phones, to address the challenge of youth unemployment, reports The Guardian. Attention in the development sector has shifted sharply towards two areas over the past couple of years: youth and employment. While the huge increase in some countries' 15-24 year old population offers...

10 well paid jobs of the future

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Futurologists predict the lucrative careers for 2030 that your children should be aiming for today. The Telegraph reports. Grandparents and parents are being advised to radically update the careers advice they give to children on the jobs that will earn the most money in future. Experts warn that it would be wrong to assume that...

British Gas creates 1,000 skilled jobs for the young unemployed

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

All the roles will be filled by unemployed young people. The jobs, created through a partnership between leading environment charity Global Action Plan, British Gas and management consultancy firm Accenture, follows a recent report by the Work Foundation, which found since the start of the recession in 2008, youth unemployment in the UK...

Forget stacking shelves - students are wading through sewage

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

NUS President Liam Burns looks at the changing face of student employment as new research is published. Sometimes, the jobs you do when you’re studying make you feel like you’re wading through sewage. In my case, I literally was. Throughout my time at university I had all sorts of part-time jobs to help me afford the costs of...

How the City can play its part in tackling youth unemployment in London

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The City has a responsibility to play its part in tackling this youth unemployment problem, and in helping to prevent individuals falling through the net. So the City of London Corporation recently launched a new Employability Pilot Scheme, designed to help equip young Londoners with the skills employers need. This pilot will provide £2m...

Mayor launches �20,000 competition to find tomorrow's green entrepreneurs

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The Mayor Boris Johnson is challenging the capital's students to come up with new and innovative ideas to cut carbon emissions and boost London's green credentials. The 2013 Low Carbon Prize offers the capital's students the opportunity to win a share of £20,000 to turn their ideas into reality. This year, for the first time, 20 of...

Michele Hanson, Bamber Gascoigne, Diana Athill and others on going back to university after 60

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The government wants pensioners to return to education because it will make them 'more employable'. Michele Hanson is unconvinced, but others can see the appeal. The Guardian reports. Willetts doesn't seem to understand the over-60s, even though he's only four or five years off being one, and in the usual way of this government...

PathMotion careers app points at new age of Facebook-centric recruitment

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

While LinkedIn has taken a number of steps to emulate the style of its cooler social cousin Facebook, it’s generally accepted that Facebook, with its fingers in many other pies, has left the recruitment biz alone, choosing to focus on other pursuits and leaving the jobs sector in more established hands. However, we’ve already...

Postgraduate studies will be 'domain of the wealthy'

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Postgraduate studies risk becoming the preserve of the wealthy after a major slump in the number of students opting for the courses. Latest figures, obtained through a Parliamentary question, show an 8.5 per cent drop in take up of the courses between 2010/11 and 2011/12. The number of UK graduates opting to go on to further study...

Universities urged to give cash aid to poor graduate interns

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Universities should consider providing cash to help new graduates from low-income families to support themselves while in unpaid internships, the fair-access tsar has proposed. Professor Les Ebdon believes the move could help social mobility by opening up one of the most important routes into the professions to those from disadvantaged...

We're so well educated - but we're useless

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Students have lost the ability to do anything practical. The only thing we've mastered is consumption, writes The Guardian. Record numbers of students have entered higher education in the past 10 years, but despite being the most educated generation in history, it seems that we've grown increasingly ignorant when it comes to basic life...

Which university? Ask what your university can do for you

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The year's first university fair begins this week. For our week-long focus on choosing a university, The Telegraph’s Jessica Moore asks what institutions are doing to offer value for money. Today’s undergraduates think differently about higher education. Where once they prioritised the pursuit of knowledge (and sometimes beer)...

A degree of good sense

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

With people working for longer, and jobs for life becoming a thing of the past, it makes sense for older people to return to higher education, writes The Telegraph. Britain’s elderly may not be pleased to be asked by David Willetts to swap their carpet slippers for a mortar board. Yet the Universities Minister was doing no more than...

How healthy is graduate recruitment this year?

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

After some truly grim years, there are some glimmers of sunshine for graduates; a slight increase in graduate hiring , plus the use of technology and social media to make the recruitment of quality candidates less expensive and time consuming for everyone, both graduates and recruiters. Onrec reports. There really is some optimistic...

How to become an entrepreneur when you graduate

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

No one knows for sure how many graduates go straight from university into starting up their own businesses, but evidence suggests it’s a growing trend. According to the annual Destination of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) study, increasing numbers of graduates are freelance or self-employed six months after leaving university, a...

State school pupils 'get easier access to top universities'

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Pupils from state schools are being admitted to top universities with lower A-level grades than their privately-educated peers, according to research. The Telegraph reports. Figures show they are significantly more likely to win places at elite Russell Group institutions with B or C grades than contemporaries from the independent...

Alternative universes to explore

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Higher education is not compulsory, and in an environment of rising costs and scepticism on both sides of the Atlantic, growing numbers are becoming increasingly vocal about the other options. Times Higher Education’s Jon Marcus reports. Sarah Wrixon had always assumed that her eldest daughter would follow the traditional route and...

David Willetts: older people should return to higher education

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The universities minister encouraged workers at the end of their careers to study again as educational patterns change. The Guardian reports. David Willetts encouraged workers at the end of their careers to see higher education as an option. "There is certainly a pressure for continuing to get retrained and upskilled. Higher education has...

Low-cost universities fail to fill 'margin' places

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A key government policy designed to cut tuition fees has been labelled a failure after it emerged that nearly half the places reallocated to lower-cost universities went unfilled. Data revealing a lack of student demand for low-cost places allocated under the "core-and-margin" system also show that further education colleges had more...

Organisations losing graduate talent to technology giants

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

While some university leavers are struggling to find skilled jobs, those at the top of the talent pool have become a sought-after resource, according to new research. askGrapevineHR reports. The FreshMinds Research Employer Brand Survey 2013 had asked 512 students and recent graduates from the top 13 universities (including Cambridge...

Oxford Brookes introduces grade-point average

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Oxford Brookes University has become the first UK higher education institution to adopt a US-style grade-point average (GPA) scheme alongside traditional honours degree classifications. From September, all new students will when they graduate be awarded two grades: a single numerical mark showing the average of all grades received during...

State entrants to elite club benefit from easier access

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

State school pupils are gaining places at the UK's most selective universities with lower grades on average than their independent peers, new figures show. An analysis of A-level grades held by students entering Russell Group universities shows that students from state schools have significantly weaker grades on average than their private...

The Higher Education Achievement Report will help recruiters find the talent they need

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Terence Perrin is Chairman of the Association of Graduate Recruiters and Head of Recruitment, Mobility and European Campus Recruitment at BNP Paribas. In this article published by askGrapevineHR, he discusses why the Higher Education Achievement Report will be a useful new tool for graduate recruitment. The HEAR has already been adopted...

'The IB develops the students top universities want'

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

With Michael Gove struggling to build a consensus behind his EBacc, headteacher Katy Ricks tells The Independent why she's jettisoned A levels in favour of a syllabus that wins her students degrees and employment. The IB Diploma is a timeless classic, an icon of educational sense and high standards in a world where educational fashion...

Desperate 1,701 fight for eight Costa jobs

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

When Costa Coffee advertised eight vacancies at a new branch of the café on a jobs website, managers expected a strong response. But even they were surprised when 1,701 applications poured in. Some of the applicants included vastly over-qualified former retail managers, a dire indication of the troubled high street. A Costa...

Gamification and talent communications

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Gamification is having a bit of a moment - particularly in the highly competitive world of recruitment and employee engagement. As SAS helps clients create innovative new online games, SAS’ Managing Director Jason Frank looks at how the growth of gamification is taking the idea of ‘serious play’ to another level....

Hepi days, as new partners boost thinktank

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The Higher Education Policy Institute has mounted a successful drive to recruit more university partners, with the institutions helping to secure the independent thinktank’s long-term future. Hepi succeeded in nearly quadrupling membership to its University Partnership Programme, following a recruitment drive by its...

How does the job market work?

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

What's the difference between a jobs board and a recruitment consultant? The Guardian reports. Before embarking on your job hunt after university, it's helpful to understand how the job market works. It can be complicated and confusing, especially when people use odd phrases and jargon such as "graduate market". What's a jobs board...

Huge rise in employment cuts claimant count to near two-year low

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

ONS says 30 million people are in work – highest number since records began in 1971 – while claimant count falls to 1.54m, reports The Guardian. The number of people claiming jobseeker's allowance has fallen to a near two-year low after a huge increase in employment. Almost 30 million people were in work at the end of...

MITIE partners with charity to combat youth unemployment

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The FTSE 250 outsourcing company has partnered with charity, City Gateway, to tackle youth unemployment. MITIE is backing City Gateway’s campaign to boost training and jobs for unemployed adults by taking on 12 apprentices and raising £50,000 for the charity. City Gateway helps NEET young people and women in London...

Students need better preparation for the business world

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Even before the recent to-ing and fro-ing over GCSEs, many HR professionals had come to the conclusion that the days of relying on a candidate’s educational qualifications as a reliable indicator of their skills, knowledge or aptitude were long gone. No longer can we take an applicant's grades and qualifications as shorthand for what...

Universities should see alumni as a talent pool not a money pot

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Is every university proud of the careers and employability service it is providing? Is it working for every different type of student and graduate? Does it reflect the ever changing world of work? If it is a comprehensive service, is it actually being used? Against an unprecedented, underemployed generation, careers advisers in higher...

Fab grads app

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The BigChoice Group has stolen a march on its student marketing rivals with the launch of the first of its multi-platform apps. The new Graduate Careers Guide 2013, powered by the group’s careers website, theBigChoice.com, is available on Apple and Android devices. The Careers Guide provides information on key careers sectors and is...

How to get a first-class degree

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The number of first-class degrees awarded has doubled in the past decade. Does this mean high marks are easier to achieve now? Or are students, facing greater competition for those coveted top jobs, working harder than ever to secure the top grades? It's a contentious issue. The Telegraph reports. But another factor affects the chances of...

Should students be encouraged to set their sights on Russell Group universities?

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A fierce row has broken out over new pressure on schools to focus on getting students into 'big brand' universities. The Guardian reports. Sophie Cousens decided she wanted to take a degree course in marine biology after visiting Sea World, in Florida, at the age of six. Yet when it came to applying to university, years later, things were...

Students equate cheap courses with poor quality

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Thousands of the cheapest university places are not being filled following the introduction of varied fees due to potential students worrying that their cut-price status means the courses are not worth the money. Figures released today show that 7,000 of the 20,000 places earmarked for students opting for courses costing less than...

Unusual jobs for computer science graduates... map-making, anyone?

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Fresh evidence of the variety of jobs available to computer science graduates comes in the form of an announcement from Ordnance Survey. The organisation recently restarted hiring graduates and is trying to raise awareness among students of the high-tech roles it needs to fill. The positions available are graduate trainee GI (geographical...

Why Gove's 'ABacc' could exclude students who don't fit the mould

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

It is untrue that you need 'facilitating subjects' to get into top universities, says The Guardians’ Laura McInerney, and the idea may put students off doing what they are good at The education secretary has pulled back on GCSE reforms, but he hasn't changed his recent decision to publish a league table measure detailing the number...

Beware the student employability agenda, debate hears

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The promotion of student employability by universities is “a problem” and the growing power of the student voice amounts to “surveillance” of lecturers, an academic has warned. Glenn Rikowski, a senior lecturer in education at the University of Northampton, argued during a debate on the privatisation of education...

Iain Duncan Smith criticises graduates "who think they're too good" for work schemes

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith has defended the Government's 'back-to-work' schemes and attacked graduates whom he said consider themselves "too good" to stack supermarket shelves. Duncan Smith told BBC1's Andrew Marr Show yesterday that he would not back down after a flagship back-to-work scheme was deemed legally...

Judgement reserved over Oxford University student discrimination row

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A judge has reserved his decision over whether a student's human rights were breached when an Oxford college turned him down on financial grounds. Damien Shannon, 26, from Salford had alleged St Hugh's College was discriminating against poorer students. He said because he had no proof he could cover living costs, an offer from the...

Masters' degrees: Are they worth the bother?

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Will a masters get you that dream job? Or is it just vital for teaching where a PGCE is desired? Cyrus Engineer, 23, who has an MA in Twentieth Century History from the University of Liverpool, is sceptical. “I guess it shows to people that you have a certain degree of self-discipline, but I think employers prefer to see experience...

Paying for university

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

With average student debt running at £39,000, many parents will bear some of the cost burden of a university education. The Guardian reports. They used to say a good education was priceless, but these days we know exactly what it costs – and it isn't cheap. The average student now expects to graduate with £39,000 of debt...

SMES don't plan to take on apprentices

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The overwhelming majority of SMEs will not be taking on an apprentice this year, according to new research. The survey of more than 700 business owners, conducted by business software and services provider Sage, suggests that only seven per cent of firms are planning on hiring an apprentice this year. Of most concern, Sage says, is...

Universities attack A-level reforms

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Michael Gove’s A-level reforms have been criticised by Britain’s most prestigious universities, which he hoped would help design the new exams. The Telegraph reports. The Education Secretary has announced that sixth-formers will be required to take all their A-level exams at the end of a two-year course. This would mean...

'We don't feel welcome' - why aspiring students are thinking twice about the UK

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The UK is a popular destination for Indian students, second only to the USA, but the appeal of a degree in Britain has lost some of its shine for many. "I know the educational standard of the UK is very renowned, so I would have preferred that, if the visa system hadn't been changed," says twenty-one year old Prachi Bhatt, who is weighed...

Italy, US and Hong Kong team up for course

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Degree programme aims to give graduates edge in job market, reports Times Higher Education. The dwindling relevance of Europe as a graduate destination is one of the reasons for the launch of a four-year bachelor's programme awarded by three universities on three different continents. Bocconi University in Milan, the University of...

Recruiting the talent of 2013

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Last week, askGrapevine HR reported that PR and communications agency, Hotwire PR, received a record number of applications for its 2013 UK graduate scheme. Hotwire had 576 applicants for the scheme, up 19% from 484 in 2012, where seven places were awarded, and up further from the 2011 figure of 371. askGrapevineHR talk to Loveday...

Ucas withholds 2013-14 application data

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The decision to keep universities' application figures secret because of concerns about competition law shows that student interests are being "overridden by market imperatives", according to the National Union of Students. This year and for the first time, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service has decided to withhold figures...

You really need to pay more attention to what you put online

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Recruiters are warning that young people and graduates risk their chances of employment by what they post online. Employers are searching social media profiles as a method of examining the prospective graduate pre-interview. And while some people don't think we have too much to worried about, concern is increasingly raised over users leaving...

Cait Reilly: 'I'm no job snob, I hated being on benefits. They made me angry'

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Cait Reilly, who was sent to work for free at Poundland by her Jobcentre, explains why she took the government to court. The Guardian reports. Reilly's battle against the Department for Work and Pensions so-called "workfare" schemes hit the headlines in January 2012 just as ministers were themselves dealing with a series of protests from...

Employability: is it time we get critical?

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Universities, government, media – we're all in thrall to the employability agenda, says The Guardian’s Ekaterina Chertkovskaya, but do we need wider public debate about its origins and meaning? The concept of employability – or at least the one most familiar to us – appeared in the 1980s. It was introduced by...

Intel up for top award

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Intel Corporation UK Ltd, which has its main site in Swindon, is among the country’s best internship providers as the National Council for Work Experience (NCWE) announces the shortlist for its 2013 awards. The NCWE Awards are now in their 10th year and they have become widely recognised as the most prestigious in their category...

Speaking a foreign language is crucial for UK graduates, says Telefonica Digital

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Having the ability to speak a foreign language is crucial for UK graduates if they want to work for a digital employer, according to communications provider Telefonica Digital. Research published today shows 70% of UK graduates cannot speak any languages other than English well or fluently. Telefonica has said that as a global...

Vocational training wins SME backing

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Vocational qualifications and apprenticeships are gaining popularity with smaller employers as a means of recruiting, training and retaining skilled employees and boosting business performance. A survey of 1,000 SMEs by a group of further education organisations found college leavers were better prepared for the workplace, with a...

Arts students shouldn't subsidise university science

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Are tuition fees paid by arts students being used to fund university science? If so it shows a striking lack of accountability, says The Telegraph’s Gervas Huxley. The problem facing arts and humanities faculties is that for decades governments have promoted and fully funded science education with a concomitant decline in funding...

Back-to-work scheme breached laws, says Court of Appeal

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A university graduate has won a legal challenge on appeal, claiming that a government scheme forces people to work without pay. Cait Reilly, 24, claimed that requiring her to work for free at a Poundland store breached laws banning slavery and forced labour. The University of Birmingham geology graduate lost her original case at the...

Don't scare students off philosophy

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Applications to university are on the rise, we're told. But arts and humanities subjects have seen numbers plummet as students are guided towards career-driven options, reports The Guardian. The latest Ucas figures, showing a 3.5% increase in university applications, may be seen as an encouraging sign. There's been a small move back...

Mars attracts graduates with Tweets for treats initiative

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The food, petcare and chocolate company is trialling a novel way of attracting new graduate talent. The Mars 'Tweet Shop' will be visiting nine universities across the UK this month to encourage students to swap Tweets for Mars treats and information on its graduate recruitment programme. Rather than vending on money, the...

School federations aim to provide education to degree level

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Some school federations now offer an education from the age of five up to degree level. Should university leaders worry about the competition? The Guardian reports. Ellie Ireland's dad works in a factory making cardboard, and her mum is a cook in a local school. Ellie, who is head girl of her school, City academy in Norwich, sees a...

Students, lazy? Not at all, they're changing lives

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

From boy scout to NUS president, I've always aimed to make a difference, says Liam Burns. Student Volunteering Week is a chance to recognise the many students who help others. The Guardian reports. To me, volunteering and campaigning actually overlap. Sometimes people start volunteering in a soup kitchen and end up being the most informed...

BAE Systems to recruit 400 apprentices

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

British defence giant BAE Systems is to recruit almost 400 apprentices this year – its highest intake since the financial crash. The Telegraph reports. All the apprentices are guaranteed a job at the end of their scheme, which lasts at least three years, and around 10pc will go on to join the five-year, degree-equivalent programme...

Coding and couture: how I launched my career in fashion

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Computer science graduate Emma Howson didn't expect Net-a-porter to need her skills on their graduate scheme. Here she explains the importance of digging around for opportunities. The Guardian reports. I never imagined that my computer science degree would lead me to a graduate scheme at an online fashion business. Like most of my friends...

EU plans "lost generation" fund to fight youth unemployment

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

European Union leaders are expected to set aside more than 5 billion euros from the EU budget to tackle the bloc's soaring and costly youth unemployment when they meet for a summit in Brussels on Thursday. The aim is to get to grips with the debilitating unemployment caused by the region's debt and economic crisis. There are estimates...

Finding the right talent is becoming a "critical" issue, survey warns

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Employers fear that identifying and finding the right talent is becoming a critical issue, a survey from HR services provider NorthgateArinso (NGA) has found. NGA's global talent management survey found that 87% of employees said they believed that talent identification would be critical to the success of their organisations over the next...

Forget tuition fees - students can't afford to live

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Financial pressures are putting students off applying – but it's the day-to-day cost, not the much-bemoaned £9000 tuition fees, that is most prohibitive, writes The Telegraph’s David Ellis. Student Money Saver polled 250 students to ask whether they worried more about their daily costs or about repaying their tuition fee...

Jobs rise despite weak economy

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Britain’s employment boom was continuing apace in January with statistics set to surprise over the coming months. Unemployment plunged during the last quarter defying fears of a triple dip recession and bringing fresh hope that the economy is slowly on the mend[…] Graduate appointments, which had lagged behind, were also...

Part-time students 'enjoy job stability', says report

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Part-time students enjoy a high level of job stability, with four out of five working throughout their studies and still in employment two years after graduation, a new report says. Times Higher Education reports. The study of more than 1,000 part-time students, titled Futuretrack: Impact of Part-time Learning Two Years After Graduation...

Student careers advice needed early, says NUS head

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Students should receive careers advice and support at the start of their studies, rather than towards the end of their time at university, the chief executive of the National Union of Students has argued. Matt Hyde, who is leaving the NUS in April to become chief executive of the Scout Association, said the typical support offered to...

Technology has transformed the career prospects of young entrepreneurs

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Young businessman Nick Morris tells The Guardian why there's never been a better time for entrepreneurs to flourish. I launched a web and software venture during my final year at university, with barely £1,000 of capital split between my business partner and myself. Within six months that had been transformed into a turnover of more...

Finance lessons on curriculum

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Financial education will be taught in all schools by 2014, under plans put out for consultation yesterday by education secretary Michael Gove. The new national curriculum will include basic household matters such as budgeting, as well as wages, taxes, debt, financial risk “and a range of more sophisticated financial products and...

Gen Y employees want global experience

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Students and young professionals in the US and UK expect to live and work abroad at some point in their career. This is according to a study by international relocation specialist MOVE Guides, as part of a wider report into Gen Y and global mobility. The report highlights a growing recognition of international relocation as a rite of...

Summer exams help rise in Easter revision courses

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Demand for A-level top-up sessions is increasing, says The Independent’s James Wardrobe. The last ever A-level exams available to be taken in January have now been completed. From this June onwards, AS and A2 modules will only be examined in summer sessions. This is already having a noticeable impact on some students' attitudes...

University funding per student 'on the rise', says Hefce

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

England's funding council has unveiled the sector's total funding for 2013-14, stating that funding per student is on the rise under the new system of higher fees. The Higher Education Funding Council for England published on 7 February its response to the grant letter it received last month from the Department for Business Innovation and...

Graduates with just one degree losing out

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Graduates with only one degree are at an increasing disadvantage in the UK job market owing to a surge in postgraduate qualifications, which can boost an individual’s earning potential by £200,000 over a lifetime, new research has shown. The number of students who go on to further study after their first degree has almost...

Keep your career moving with Continuous Professional Development

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Continuous professional development, or CPD, is an integral part of many career paths. Although the requirements vary, there are many professional and personal benefits to keeping up with your CPD, from honing skills to finding a new role. Whether the aim is to improve within your current position or to give your CV added lustre, truly...

Mark Hoban: Britain has to tap the talent of young people to boost the economy

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Mark Hoban, employment minister, explains what the Government is doing to curb youth unemployment. The Telegraph reports. Our young people are talented, hard-working, ambitious, and, above all, they have great potential. They just need to be given the opportunity to put that potential to good use. That is why we introduced the...

'Postgraduate premium' fuels vicious cycle of social inequality

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Wage boost from master's degrees is increasing, a Sutton Trust report says. Times Higher Education reports. Someone with a master's degree can expect to earn on average £5,500 more a year than someone holding only a bachelor's degree - a "premium" that is rising, says the report The Postgraduate Premium, published on 7...

The winning essay: How to solve youth unemployment

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Max Kirby, who says there's never been a better time to be young, has won £10,000 for penning his thoughts on ways to reduce unemployment. One in five young adults in Britain is unemployed, more than twice the rate for the workforce as a whole. And (temporarily, I hope) I am one of them. Yet I am convinced there has never been a...

Universities pull out of EU's 'unjustifiable' U-Multirank

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A group representing some of Europe's leading universities has withdrawn its support for a new ranking system funded by the European Union, warning that it could pose "a serious threat" to higher education. The League of European Research Universities, which represents 21 leading research-intensive universities, has disassociated itself...

Wurst in Europe? How the UK Can Learn From German Internships

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The German approach places a clear value on investing and training young prospective employees and has seen the country develop a nation- and business-wide commitment to helping young adults transition between the role of student and professional. Their system creates a reciprocal relationship between the prospective employee and employer with...

Could the NUS be ruled by a rod?

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

When students come to pick a new leader for the NUS in April, they'll have quite a choice: two popular women candidates, a rare Tory (male) and a rod. The Guardian reports. The rod – "an inanimate carbon rod", to give it its full name – is fighting for the right of all members of society "not just meatbags". Samuel Gaus, a...

Do students need more teaching hours and tests?

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

American unis pride themselves on giving students more contact hours and feedback. Should UK undergrads demand the same? The Guardian reports. Ask any student what's the biggest difference between sixth form and university and they'll probably answer: the number of contact hours. At school or college, you spend most of your time in class...

Michael Gove hits out at Downton Abbey-style education

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Poor teenagers are being failed by a Downton Abbey-style education system in which academic subjects are reserved for privileged pupils, Michael Gove warned yesterday. The Telegraph reports. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds risk being left behind after missing out on the chance to study rigorous disciplines and proceed on to the...

Towards an inclusive apprenticeship programme

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Apprenticeships form a central component of the Government’s strategies for social mobility and up-skilling the workforce. The vision is that by 2020 every employer will value apprenticeships as the key route to equipping them with the skills they need. Demand for apprenticeships is high and gaining a position is frequently a highly...

Does Asia hold the answer to your graduate career hunt?

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Guardian Careers’ Lu-Hai Liang explores the career opportunities available for graduates who head east in search of work. With the economic downturn and sluggish growth in the west, many young professionals are choosing to move abroad for their careers. Statistics show that between 2008 and 2011, there was a 27% rise in the number...

Have young people never had it so bad?

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A student who started university in 2011 will graduate with average debts of £26,000 and bleak career prospects. And even the lucky ones who get good jobs face a lifetime of renting, unless the "Bank of Mum and Dad" is willing and liquid enough to help out. Baby boomers born in the 1940s to mid 60s bought their first home when...

News: work experience and a vicious circle

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Many young job seekers are finding difficult to break through the cycle of ‘no experience, no job’ and kickstart their careers. A study of 2,000 UK people by defence recruitment firm Advanced Resource Managers (ARM) found 70% of young adults knew someone who’d been told by potential employers to go away and get...

O2 announces up to 100 internships and 60 graduate places

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

O2 has announced that there is less than two weeks left for students and graduates to apply for up to 100 new paid internships and 60 graduate roles. O2 is giving young people the opportunity to learn vital work skills through a range of quality paid opportunities including three-month and 12-month internships and places on a two-year...

Over half a million people started apprenticeships last year

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Apprenticeship starts topped half a million last year, an increase of 13.9% on the previous year, according to new Government figures. In the 2011/12 academic year 520,600 people started an apprenticeship. This is an increase of 86.1% since 2009/10. There was particularly strong growth in the engineering sector, with starts up 21.5%...

Sky expands apprenticeship scheme

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Sky is giving talented young people from across the country the chance to start a career in the television industry with the launch of a newly expanded apprenticeship scheme. There are 98 apprenticeship places available on the scheme, which is now open to applicants. Successful applicants will receive training and support to develop...

University experiment likely to shrink higher education permanently

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Student numbers are heading for a triple dip – to the delight of the right, says The Guardian’s Peter Scott. English universities may be on the brink of an experiment that no one alive today has experienced: a significant and sustained decline in student numbers. Apart from a downward blip between the wars, higher education...

Attempts to cut to youth unemployment hampered by red tape

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Attempts to get more than a million young people into work are being hampered by excessive bureaucracy and central Government control, council leaders say. HR Magazine reports. The Local Government Association (LGA) said increased local control could see youth unemployment cut by 20%. The report, Hidden talents II: re-engaging young...

Career coach: Do you really need to go to university?

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Career Coach Jeremy I'Anson explores whether young people really need to fork out almost £30,000 to go to university, when many employers prefer industrial experience. The Telegraph reports. A recent MPs' report on career guidance looks at the duty on schools to provide independent and impartial careers guidance for young people. In...

Councils 'could cut youth unemployment by 20%'

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Attempts to cut youth unemployment in England are being hampered by excessive bureaucracy and central government control, council leaders say. The Local Government Association (LGA) said increased local control could see youth unemployment cut by 20%. In a report, the LGA said the present system was "overly complicated". But a...

Graduates find job success with placement year

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

University placements years better prepare graduates for the world of work, according to new research. The survey from Tomorrow’s Talent, conducted by the professional resourcing company Experis in partnership with CWJobs, looked into the challenges facing graduates in finding employment in the IT sector. It asked respondents...

Introduction to iGraduate - The Independent's new page for graduates

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

You’ve finished the final term of your degree. Three (or more) years of hard study, sweat and beers are consigned to the waste bin of history. So now what do you do? It’s a question that countless graduates mull over as their final days of student life drift away and the big wide world stretches out in front of them. And it’s...

Labour councils are helping young people into work

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

As Britain's youth jobs crisis deepens, it's time for ministers to hand local council leaders the tools they need to make a difference, writes The Guardian’s Liam Byrne. Britain's youth unemployment crisis remains stark. Nearly 40% of people out of work are under the age of 25. That's one of the highest rates in the western world....

Making Sense of the Graduate Jobs Market

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Around the start of every year, we get reports coming out on state of the graduate jobs market. In the last couple of weeks, two of the big players - High Fliers and the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR), put out their winter reviews and they both agreed that last year things got a bit worse for hard-pressed graduates, but that this...

Microsoft to recruit 2,000 apprentices

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The multinational software corporation will be recruiting more than 2,000 new apprentices in Scotland. Microsoft said it would work with its Scottish partners to recruit the Modern Apprentices (MAs) by 2016. First Minister, Alex Salmond, welcomed the news, and said: “Microsoft is supporting investment in Scottish skills and in...

Ministers 'blocking youth unemployment initiatives'

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Shadow work and pensions secretary says Department for Work and Pensions is a 'Stalinesque' brake on progress. The Guardian reports. As Ed Miliband prepares to chair a major summit on youth unemployment in Birmingham, Byrne claims that ministers are acting as a "handbrake on progress" by interfering with the work of local JobCentre...

More privately-educated pupils win university offers

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

More pupils from top private schools are winning places at elite universities despite a Government drive to widen access to higher education, according to research. More than three-quarters of applications made by pupils from Britain’s best independent schools last year resulted in the offer a place, it emerged. The success...

Now you've graduated, what's the next step?

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Let’s be clear about one thing: “You mustn’t put too much pressure on yourself about the first move you make after you graduate,” says Carl Gilleard, chief executive of the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR). “A career isn’t necessarily about the first thing you do. That’s an important step, but...

Poorer students rise to university challenge as fees put off middle class

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Record numbers of students from the poorest backgrounds are applying to university as demand among middle-class school leavers stalls, figures show. The Telegraph reports. One in five 18-year-olds living in the most deprived areas has applied to start a degree course in September, despite the introduction of £9,000-a-year tuition...

Rise in university applications 'driven by foreign students'

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

More students are applying to university this year but numbers have failed to recover to levels seen before a sharp hike in tuition fees, figures show. The Telegraph reports. Almost 559,000 students made applications to British universities by the official mid-January deadline – up by 3.5 per cent on the same point a year...

Tuition fees cannot be the last reform of university funding

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Universities in the UK are institutions of which we can be rightly proud. Many provide world-class tuition and research, drive innovation and economic growth, and sit at the heart of British intellectual life. The Telegraph reports. Universities need confidence that there is a sustainable source of funding. Ongoing grants for...

Universities welcome small rise in applications

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Sector warns numbers are still down on 2011, before fees tripled at many universities. The Guardian reports. Universities have welcomed a 3.5% increase in the number of students applying to start university this autumn, but warn applications are still not back on trend. An increase in the number of UK (2.8%) and overseas students (EU...

University bursaries and scholarships: student incentives - or not?

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

As UCAS publishes its latest figures, The Guardian’s Kathryn Jones considers the role financial support packages play in student attraction. We are midway through our regular student number planning sessions at Birmingham City University (BCU) to review recruitment targets for the coming cycle and to forecast the pattern in 2014/15...

Havelock launches apprenticeship plan

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Havelock Europa, the Alternative Investment Market-listed interiors manufacturer, has signalled its return to health with the establishment of a "Havelock Academy" apprenticeship scheme. Herald Scotland reports. Havelock employs some 450 people in Fife, split between its Dalgety Bay headquarters, its factory in Kirkcaldy and warehouses at...

Inspiring Interns places 2,000 graduates in four years

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Inspiring Interns is celebrating its fourth birthday and is speaking of its success of placing 2,000 graduates into internships over the last four years. askGrapevineHR reports. With 66% of these interns going on to secure full time employment at their placement company, Inspiring Interns says it has achieved its goal of securing a job a...

Making graduates more employable: the gap between university and work

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The gulf between education and business is not helping struggling graduates, argues co-founder of Eyes Wide Opened Alastair Creamer, and young career-seekers sometimes need a practical bridge between the two. Personnel Today reports. Employers aren't happy. Bright, hopeful, under-employed graduates are confused. Their parents are...

More UK students seeking places at Scots universities

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Figures seen by the BBC suggest applications from the rest of the UK for places at Scottish universities are markedly up, despite fees of up to £9,000 a year. Glasgow University said demand rose by almost 37% - to 6,339 applications. It was a similar picture at other universities which traditionally attract students from England...

The gender gap at universities: where are all the men?

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Male students are outnumbered by females at most UK universities. But what subjects are they studying and which campuses have the biggest gender gap? The Guardian reports. If you're a male student on campus at Liverpool Hope, Bath Spa or Cumbria University, you may be feeling a little outnumbered. These are some of the 20 institutions...

1,000 postgraduates a year 'too poor' to take up Oxford place

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

University's 'wealth test' said to discourage up to 15% of successful candidates as legal and political row grows. The Guardian reports. About 1,000 students a year turn down a postgraduate place won at Oxford on academic merit because of the financial demands of study there, university figures suggest. This amounts to 15% of the 7,500...

After demo flop, the NUS needs a makeover

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Fees aren't the only thing bothering students. The union must show it's not a one-trick pony. The Guardian reports. November's student protests left the National Union of Students (NUS) in an uncomfortable position. Apathy and anger characterised the march. Not only was there a miserable turnout – 4,000 students, rather than the...

Average graduate salary rises to �26k

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The average starting salary for graduates has risen to £26,000 - a jump of four per cent in the past year, according to a report from the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR). Furthermore, graduates joining the public sector will see the highest rise of any industry group at 7.5 per cent, indicating that organisations are upping...

Cambridge University considers having an entrance test

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Cambridge University announced a review of its admissions procedures today in the wake of Education Secretary Michael Gove’s A-level reforms. Admissions tutors will consider whether to introduce pre-interview tests for all applicants or tests to be sat by candidates at the same time they attend interview. The university’s...

Could the free university movement be the great new hope for education?

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

As high fees exclude more people from education, alternative and free courses are being set up – and not all of them are online. This year has seen rising interest in alternative university models, inspired not only by a difficult economy, but also by the rise in tuition fees to up to £9,000 and by the success of Tent City...

HECSU responds to latest Association of Graduate Recruiters report

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Responding to the Association of Graduate Recruiters survey published today, Mike Hill chief executive at the Higher Education Careers Services Unit (HECSU) comments: “We welcome the news that graduate prospects are looking more stable with a small, but significant rise in both job opportunities and salaries. It reflects projections...

House of Fraser management trainees offered university qualification

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Employees at House of Fraser can now achieve a university qualification by successfully completing the department store group’s management trainee programme. House of Fraser’s programme for aspiring sales managers has been accredited with a Diploma in Professional Development through Acua Limited, the corporate development...

On graduate schemes, being stretched is always going to be part of the job

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Warwick graduate, Amy Graham, talks to The Guardian about how her graduate scheme has taught her to get stuck into work right from the start. Graduate schemes are a steep learning curve. My first week on the Unilever Future Leaders Programme (UFLP) was a flurry of new faces and places. It took time to catch up and process everything I'd...

Telef�nica's youth unemployment pledge

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Telefonica has announced bold 2015 targets to combat unemployment and close the digital skills deficit in Europe. askGrapevineHR reports. Telefónica has demonstrated a clear focus on youth unemployment in recent months. O2 and Bauer Media recently launched the ‘GoThinkBig’ campaign, offering young people a range of...

UK worst country in the G8 for youth unemployment

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The UK has experienced the fastest rise in youth unemployment of any country in the G8 since the start of the recession and has the worst levels of many major countries, with only Spain and Greece experiencing higher rates, according to a report published today by The Work Foundation. The report, Youth unemployment in the global contact...

Universities must change if graduates are to be prepared for working life

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Employers now expect graduates to have real work skills, technical expertise, and be able to enter the organisation with minimal cultural adjustment. Cries from employers' about the poor skills and work attitude of new graduates underline this confusion over the role of universities and the divergence of approach by traditional universities...

Course offers the skills to make you more employable

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Hope is at hand for school leavers, with research showing rising numbers being recruited directly from schools because firms have realised young people are being put off by tuition fee hikes. The findings come as New College Swindon prepares to welcome 16 to 18-year-olds to an intensive one-week jobs course to learn skills making them...

Graduate job and salary outlook improves, says AGR

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

University leavers could have better graduate job prospects than their predecessors when they attempt to enter the world of work this summer, a survey has suggested. Times Higher Education reports. The AGR Graduate Recruitment Survey 2013 asked 197 large companies - such as law firm Allen & Overy, arms company BAE Systems and the...

Graduate vacancies to rise in 2013, predicts AGR survey

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Starting salaries for university leavers also forecast to grow The number of graduate vacancies in the UK is set to grow by 9 per cent this year, according to the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR). Total vacancies per employer are predicted to increase from an average of 98 in 2012 to 109 this year, found AGR’s latest...

More vacancies expected for graduates

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Many of those pursuing career development have spent time at university. And it has been predicted that this year will see more vacancies for graduates than last year. While 2012 saw an eight per cent fall for graduate vacancies, 2013 will see these go up some nine per cent, says the Association of Graduate Recruiters...

Essex: University Sees More Applications

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The University of Essex has seen an increase this year of 5% this year bucking the national trend according to new figures. Meanwhile the number of graduate vacancies is predicted to rise by 9% this year, according to a survey by the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR). The organisation also expects average graduate starting...

Graduate job vacancies predicted to rise

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The number of graduate vacancies is predicted to rise by 9 per cent this year, according to a survey by the Association of Graduate Recruiters. The organisation also expects average graduate starting salaries to rise to £26,500. Carl Gilleard, chief executive, said the results indicated a renewed level of optimism among...

Graduate vacancies and starting salaries to increase in 2013

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The number of graduate vacancies is predicted to rise by 9% in 2013, according to the latest survey carried out by the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR). The winter edition of the AGR's twice-yearly research into graduate recruitment, released today, surveyed almost 200 AGR UK members across more than 20 sectors who recruited...

Graduate vacancies forecast to increase in 2013 following last year's dip

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The number of graduate vacancies is predicted to rise by 9% in 2013 according to the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR), which published the winter edition of its bi-annual survey today (Thursday 24 January). This predicted growth follows a dip of 8% recorded in 2012, and a repeat of the push-pull pattern the AGR saw a couple of...

Graduate vacancies predicted to rise by nearly 9%

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

On the afternoon of Wednesday 23rd January, the Association of Graduate Recruiters unveiled the headline findings of its latest (winter 2013) graduate recruitment survey at London’s City University – and the good news is that its members are forecasting an 8.8% increase in graduate vacancies this year. Interestingly, this is...

How to recession-proof your graduate job hunt

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Whatever year you’re in, there is plenty you can do to recession-proof your career, both in the short term and looking ahead to the whole of your working life. Here’s our advice on how to protect yourself from the vicissitudes of the economy and find fulfilling work even at times when the jobs market is particularly...

Reform A-levels? Maybe - but don't do it Gove's way

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The Education Secretary's changes risk making it harder for socially deprived pupils to get into elite universities, reports The Telegraph. There is merit in Michael Gove's plan to increase academic rigour, and reduce time given to exams, in sixth form. The trouble is the implications of a potentially good idea have not been properly...

Students look for jobs 'much earlier' in university career

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Students are increasingly hunting for graduate jobs well before their final year of university, with students at Sussex University most proactive in applying early. The Telegraph reports. Students are increasingly looking for graduate jobs "much earlier" in their university careers, with those at university in the South East most likely...

Students shouldn't have to spend their lives bulking their CVs

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Rachel Robbins wishes that more people would do extracurricular activities for the fun of it, instead of doing it because they think it might impress recruiters. The Independent reports. Many of us crave that well-earned paragraph that can be written under our ‘Work Experience’ heading in Microsoft Word, and sit and wait for...

AGR Winter Survey 2013 Infographic

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The following infographic illustrates the key findings from the AGR Winter Survey 2013. The survey is based on the responses of 197 AGR members in the UK across over 20 sectors, which recruited 19,350 graduates in 2012. The full survey is free to download for AGR members*. To purchase a copy of the report (£300), please email...

CIPD: Poor careers advice is leading to "skills mismatch"

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Government, schools and employers need to work together to help young people into work as poor careers advice is leading to a "skills mismatch", according to research published today by the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development (CIPD). The research is part of the CIPD's Learning to work campaign, which highlights that the...

Graduate job market set for recovery, survey suggests

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Graduate vacancies to rise by 9%, with average starting salaries at £26,500, after recent stagnation. The Guardian reports. Graduate job opportunities are set to rise by 9% this year, a survey has suggested. Average starting salaries will also increase to £26,500 – up 1.9% from last year. This follows a slump in...

Graduate starting salaries forecast to rise to �26,500

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The average graduate starting salary rose by four per cent to £26,000 last year and is predicted to increase to £26,500. The rise follows three consecutive years of stagnation, with starting salaries remaining at £25,000 between 2009 and 2011, according to the latest survey from the Association of Graduate Recruiters...

Graduate starting salaries rise as vacancies seesaw

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The average graduate starting salary rose by 4% to £26,000 last year, after stagnating at £25,000 for three years in a row, according to a survey published today by the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR). This figure is based on a survey of AGR members, mostly big graduate recruiters likely to offer starting pay towards...

Graduate vacancies forecast to increase in 2013 following last year's dip

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

AGR survey also shows starting salaries predicted to rise Employers estimate 9% increase in graduate vacancies Average graduate starting salary predicted to rise to £26,500 Apprenticeship and school leaver programmes complementing, not replacing, graduate schemes The number of graduate vacancies is predicted to rise by 9%...

Graduate vacancies 'to rise by 9%'

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The number of graduate vacancies is predicted to rise by 9% this year, according to a survey by the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR). The organisation also expects average graduate starting salaries to rise to £26,500. Carl Gilleard, chief executive of the AGR, said: "The results indicate a renewed level of optimism...

Is work experience essential when applying to university?

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Prestigious placements aren't much use if you have nothing insightful to say about them, Professor Mary Beard tells today's Guardian student blogger. Aside from the obligatory two-week placement school pupils complete during year 10, work experience isn't something most students take seriously until they are at university. Then, it's an...

Jobs miracle sees record number of Brits in work

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Unemployment plunged again in the three months to November, official figures showed yesterday, defying fears of a triple dip recession and bringing fresh hope that the economy is on the mend. Employment jumped 90,000 to a new record high of 29.68m while unemployment dropped again to 2.49m. Full time employment drove that increase, rising...

School league tables: privately-educated pupils 'better prepared for top universities'

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The extent to which private school pupils are being prepared for places at elite universities was laid bare today in new-style league tables showing how they dominate top grades in core academic subjects. The Telegraph reports. For the first time, data shows how many teenagers are leaving schools and colleges in England with good A-levels...

Sector forced to play wild variations on a recruitment theme

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Ucas data demonstrate wide-ranging impact of fees and funding changes. Times Higher Education’s John Morgan reports. Some post-1992 universities appear to have been hit by a huge collapse in student demand under the new fees and funding system, while half of the Russell Group's English members have also lost undergraduate...

Starting salary for graduates rises to �26,000

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The average starting salary for UK graduates rose by 4% last year to £26,000, following three consecutive years of stagnation, a report from the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) said today. It showed that graduates joining the public sector - organisations such as the civil service, Teach First, police forces, local...

Careers advice should be at the heart of education, not an afterthought

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Without adequate support schools are in danger of delivering an ivory tower curriculum that lacks relevance for young people, writes The Guardian. Learning how to manage your career is a lifelong process which needs to start early on in secondary school. But government policy is leading to less rather than more career support for young...

Firsts come, first served

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Last year, one in six graduates left university with a first class degree, meaning that the number of top grades scored has tripled in just over a decade. Most of us realise that anything less than a 2:1 probably isn’t going to cut it when aiming for the best jobs and selective grad schemes, but the rise in Firsts is causing employers to...

More students career hunting at start of university

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

More than four times as many students start searching for a career before their graduation year than they did ten years ago. This is according to research from graduate-jobs.com, which indicates that in 2002 just five per cent of students were eager enough to kick off their career hunt before their final year of university, a stark...

A-level choices: which subjects should you pick?

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Are you going into sixth form soon, and wondering which subjects to do? The Guardian consults experts for advice. It's that nailbiting time of the school year when prospective sixth-form students must choose which A-levels to do. Those who plan to go on to university will be hoping to pick the perfect combination that will ensure a place...

Career Coach: How to get a graduate job

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Graduates stand a much better chance of getting a job if they have work experience under their belt. Career coach Jeremy I'Anson reveals how to get a decent internship or work placement in The Telegraph. Recent research indicates that graduates applying to some of the UK’s leading employers stand a much better chance of being...

Could a university be the next HMV?

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The closure of any higher education institution would be a huge embarrassment to Britain, say vice-chancellors. The Guardian reports. For many years the idea of a university going bankrupt has seemed impossible. But senior academics are warning that some universities could easily go the way of HMV or Jessops – and leave a huge dent...

New unit aims to boost education exports

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new government unit will help universities expand abroad in an attempt to boost export earnings from the sector. Times Higher Education reports. Education UK has been launched by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and UK Trade & Investment, the government-run agency that aims to help British interests abroad. It will...

Update: 22.01.13

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The project has been moving rapidly and in the weeks before the Christmas break, we had many events and meetings to attend. Jane was present at the targetjobs Breakfast News where she delivered a presentation about the HEAR. In addition, Jane attended dinner with Sir Bob Burgess, updating him on the progress of the project and was present at...

Apprenticeships 'should last three years' - report

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Apprenticeship programmes should last three years and be as demanding as A-levels, a report argues. Programmes which are shorter or at a lower level should be called something else, say authors from the Policy Exchange think tank. The report calls for a high quality technical and vocational education to be available to pupils as young...

Bristol the big winner as Ucas reveals all on 2012-13 student numbers

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The University of Bristol was one of the biggest winners in the first year of higher fees, expanding its new student cohort by 28 per cent, while London Metropolitan University saw its intake shrink by 43 per cent. Data released by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service today gives the first breakdown of 2012-13 student numbers...

Ethnic minority students 'forced into medicine and law'

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Teenagers from ethnic minority families are coming under excessive pressure from parents to push for medicine and law degrees at top universities, the Government’s higher education access tsar has warned. The Telegraph reports. School leavers may be missing out on university altogether after being forced to prioritise highly...

Gen Y workers represent a 'ticking time-bomb of potential cost and disruption' to employers

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Generation Y workers represent the management class of the future, yet they also exhibit a new-found job mobility which, from an employer’s point of view, is a ticking time-bomb of potential cost and disruption to their businesses. HR Magazine reports. The iOpener Institute in October 2012 gathered and studied questionnaire...

Higher tuition fees caused 'wild swings' in student numbers, figures show

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Some institutions have reported big drop in enrolments while others have expanded, according to Ucas statistics. The Guardian reports. The introduction of higher fees last autumn caused "wild and dangerous swings" in enrolments at UK universities, statistics have revealed. The number of students starting degree courses fell 12% when...

Oxford college sued over using 'selection by wealth' for admissions

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Student takes St Hugh's to court after after being rejected for not having access to £21,000 for tuition fees and living costs. The Observer reports. An Oxford college is being sued for discriminating against poorer students applying to study for postgraduate courses. St Hugh's, which was founded in 1886, is being taken to court for...

Slump in graduate jobs market hits six-in-10 ex-students

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Almost six-in-10 students finished university last summer without a graduate job because of the financial crisis, according to research. The Telegraph reports. The majority of students were forced into low-skilled employment – or left without a job altogether – amid continuing concerns over the economic downturn, it was...

State of the Nation report: youth joblessness 'a toxic legacy'

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Thousands of young Scots face a bleak future of poverty, joblessness and poor health, a new State of the Nation report has warned. The Scotsman reports. Julia Unwin, chief executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said: “The Scottish Government has powers to do a lot now. They don’t need to wait for constitutional...

Graduates without work experience will be left out in the cold

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Over one third of entry level jobs will go to graduates already involved with companies. NewStatesman reports. Many soon-to-be graduates will be left without a job due to lack of work experience, new research suggests. High Fliers’ The Graduate Market in 2013 report, released today, declares that of all entry level vacancies...

Students want universities' help for working life

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The vast majority of students want universities to help their transition into employment. This is according to the Great Expectations survey, published today (Thursday 17 January) by GTI Media Research, part of graduate careers specialists Group GTI. More than 2,300 undergraduates from 125 different universities were surveyed for five...

Why are so many more Firsts being awarded than ever before?

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The number of students receiving first-class degrees has trebled in 15 years, far outstripping the increase in university population. The Independent’s Jess Denham investigates why. The rise in firsts, despite what immediate responses may suggest, is unlikely to be a mere, straightforward case of universities ‘dumbing...

Why study? The �115,000 graduate salary bonus

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

If you’ve ever doubted whether it’s really worth the time, money and effort you’ve invested in higher education, you should be reassured by a survey published this week revealing that graduates can expect to earn £115,000 more over the course of a lifetime than those with two A levels. Target Jobs reports. Salaries...

Barclays hires its 500th apprentice and plans to recruit more

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Barclays has hired its 500th apprentice, marking an important milestone in the bank’s programme to help tackle youth unemployment. The bank aims to recruit a further 500 apprentices by June 2013. The scheme has made a real impact on the business - the success of the programme is already being demonstrated with very strong...

BIS grant letter suggests most popular destinations will get more places

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Universities with lower student demand will have places cut in 2014 and beyond to reward more popular institutions, the government has signalled. Times Higher Education reports. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills released its annual grant letter on 14 January, unveiling funding and policy priorities for 2013-14. The...

College leavers' hard road to final destination

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Student leavers who complete full-time first degrees at a further education college in England are paid £4,000 a year less on average than their university counterparts and are at least 50 per cent more likely to be unemployed, according to new research. The Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education in Further Education Colleges...

Give us a job: How graduates can stand out from the crowd

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Over the past couple of years, employers have constantly harped on about the lack of employability skills among potential recruits: how they lack the ability to take part in team work, that their communication skills are not great – these are the sorts of things that can be absent from the school curriculum if teachers decide to just...

NSP overhauled to help neediest

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Universities admitting high numbers of low-income students will receive more resources in a shake-up of the National Scholarship Programme. Times Higher Education reports. The programme, which will be worth £150 million by 2014-15, was announced by the coalition government shortly before the vote in December 2010 to treble maximum...

The evidence option: hitting targets with practised precision

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

New Office for Fair Access strategies will help universities learn what works best in their efforts to reach ambitious goals, says Les Ebdon. Times Higher Education reports. What changes will you find in the guidance we are publishing this week? First, there is a much stronger emphasis on the need for evidence and evaluation. While I...

Universities to reach out to seven-year-olds

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Disadvantaged children must be encouraged to consider going to university, says body in charge of widening access. Universities will offer campus trips and workshops to pupils as young as seven, as part of a new drive to encourage young people from poor backgrounds to consider staying on in education once they've finished...

Dodge the Milkround: graduate schemes are not the only route

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

This is the time of year that finalists are starting to panic. It's not just the fast-approaching end of university; it's also the pressure to land a good job. But, says The Independent’s Sabina Usher, there are credible options beyond the Milkround The minority of students win a ‘golden ticket’ graduate scheme path- so...

From Cleckheaton to Harvard: state pupils win US scholarships

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A dozen state school pupils have won coveted scholarship places worth millions of pounds at leading American universities through a scheme to help less privileged teenagers attend world-class institutions. The 12 have been awarded scholarships totalling over $2m (£1.24m) after attending the first-ever summer school for UK state...

Middle-class Scottish students 'displaced' by poor youngsters

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Middle-class school leavers face missing out on university under SNP plans to give extra places to students from poor backgrounds, a senior education mandarin has indicated. The Telegraph reports. Tracey Slaven, the Scottish Government’s deputy director for higher education and learning support, said the change would put...

Tuition fees: the surprising winners and losers

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Increased revenue from tuition fees since their introduction in 1998 has benefited some more than others – and it is arts students who have fared best, explains The Telegraph’s Gervas Huxley. One of the most controversial changes implemented by the coalition government has been the decision to abolish entirely the Treasury...

Call for change as more graduates than ever gain firsts and 2.1s

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

More students than ever before are achieving firsts and 2.1s, with 66% of 2012 graduates achieving these degree results, up from 61% in 2008. The figures, released by the Higher Education Statistics Agency last week, have prompted fears that degree classifications are suffering from grade inflation and that recruiters will set ever more...

Graduate roles to increase in 2013, but work experience more important than ever

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Graduate vacancies are due to increase in 2013 following a subdued year, according to research published today. Personnel Today reports. However, one-third (36%) of this year's vacancies will be filled by graduate candidates who have already worked for organisations through internships or placements. This means these roles will therefore...

HRD Insight: GL Hearn's Susan Wright on graduate intern schemes

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The role of the business community in helping to develop new talent is becoming an increasingly topical issue, writes Susan Wright for HR Zone. As head of HR at property consultancy, GL Hearn, I know first-hand how difficult it can be to manage the needs of existing staff while dedicating additional resources to taking on new...

Ministers ease restrictions on recruitment following shortfall

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The government has announced that it will ease over-recruitment fines for universities and not cut 5,000 places from their allocations, while calling for "restraint" on staff pay. Times Higher Education reports. Vince Cable and David Willetts, ministers in the Department for Business Innovation and Skills, have today written the annual...

Money is available for businesses to employ youth in 2013, says minister for employment

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Employers are being targeted in a Government campaign urging them to start the New Year by taking on a young worker. HR Magazine reports. The campaign raises awareness of the £1 billion youth contract, the Government's package of support offering nearly half a million opportunities to help 18-24-year-olds into work. Minister...

Pupils 'should study maths up to 18 to get into university'

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Universities should make maths a fundamental entry requirement for all degree courses amid fears that English schoolchildren are more likely to drop the subject at 16 than in most other developed nations, according to research. The Telegraph reports. The conclusions – in a study published by the Nuffield Foundation – comes...

University applications 'not recovering' ahead of deadline

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

There is no sign of significant recovery in university applications, says a university leader, as Tuesday night's admissions deadline approaches. BBC News reports. Hundreds of thousands of would-be students will have submitted applications for autumn 2013. But Pam Tatlow, chief executive of the Million+ group, says there is "no...

A sixth of students achieved firsts last year

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The number of first-class degrees is more than double what it was 10 years ago, official figures show. The Guardian reports. A record 61,605 undergraduates – one in six – were awarded firsts at the end of their degrees last summer, according to figures published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency. The number of...

Anger as top university heads receive �10,000 pay hike

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Britain’s top university chiefs were accused of having their “snouts in the trough” today after it emerged that average pay soared to £280,000 last year. The Telegraph reports. Figures show that vice-chancellors of elite Russell Group universities saw their remuneration increase by £10,175 – more than...

Apprenticeship schemes must be more accessible, says Barclays HR director

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Apprenticeship schemes can be the driver for the most disadvantaged young people to gain employment, but they need to be made simpler and more accessible, according to Barclays HR director Lynne Atkin. HR Magazine reports. Atkin, who has been HRD of Barclays since 2009 and this year helped launch its first £20 million apprenticeship...

Are Degrees Getting Easier? Number Of University Students Gaining Firsts Doubles

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The number of students graduating with a first-class degree has more than doubled in 10 years, with one in six now gaining top honours, figures show. Official statistics reveal that a record 61,600 graduates left university with a first last summer, with the numbers soaring in the past five years. There has also been a rise in the...

Brighton and Chichester partner with FE college for new "university centre"

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Two universities have collaborated to help launch a "university centre" in the south of England in an effort to boost people's access to higher education in the area. Times Higher Education reports. The universities of Brighton and Chichester will validate qualifications at the University Centre at Central Sussex College. The...

Businesses need to take responsibility for graduate unemployment

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Businesses risk losing a generation of young talent – now is the time to nurture graduates and make them ready for growth when the upturn arrives, says The Guardian’s Stephen Gee. 2012 was an incredibly tough time for new graduates entering the job market. In November, research showed that only 62% of graduates were in...

Confidence returns to the job market, says Reed report

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Confidence has returned to the UK jobs market with more than a third of workers (39%) setting their sights on new roles in 2013 and job opportunities are continuing to rise, according to a report published today by online recruitment firm Reed. The Reed 2013 Salary and Market Insight report, surveyed 1,500 UK employers and employees...

David Morley: Legal wizard casts his spell over apprentices

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

One of the UK's most influential lawyers is determined to open the profession to students without affluent parents, reports The Independent. David Morley is at the top of his game – he's chief wizard at Allen & Overy, one of the City's "magic circle" law firms and up there with the world's elite. By most measures, the...

First class degree numbers double

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The number of students graduating with a first-class degree has more than doubled in 10 years, with one in six now gaining top honours, reports The Independent. There has been a rise in the student population in the last 10 years, but the number of those obtaining a first appears to have risen further, meaning that the 200-year-old degree...

Government unveils Traineeship programme to boost youth skills

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The Government has announced the launch of a programme aimed at providing young people with the skills needed to get jobs and apprenticeships, reports Personnel Today. "Traineeships", set to be introduced later this year, will be aimed at improving the work-readiness of young people (those aged between 16 and 24) by offering...

Graduate jobs 'taken by work experience students'

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

More than a third of jobs for new graduates are taken by people who have already had work experience with that employer, according to the latest update on the graduate jobs market. BBC News reports. The report from High Fliers Research shows that employers are recruiting more graduates - but there are record numbers of graduates chasing...

Graduate vacancies still below pre-recession levels, says report

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The UK's top 100 degree-level employers recruited fewer graduates than expected in 2012, while expected increases in the number of vacancies this year will still leave recruitment figures 11 per cent lower than pre-recession levels. Times Higher Education reports. According to The Graduate Market in 2013 study, carried out by High Fliers...

Growing graduates for 2013

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Jennifer Lee, HR Director, Jurys Inn discusses the selection process for its GROW Graduate Programme, and the importance of helping young graduates in their transition from education into employment. askGrapevineHR reports. The GROW Graduate programme is a two-year fast track programme aimed at recent university graduates. The programme...

Most universities 'to raise student tuition fees in 2013'

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

More than half of universities are preparing to impose tuition fee rises next year amid fresh concerns over levels of student debt, the Telegraph has learned. Figures show that 64 out of 122 institutions plan to raise average costs for undergraduate degree courses starting in the autumn. Data published by the Government’s...

Number of first-class degrees 'has tripled since late 90s'

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Record numbers of students were awarded first-class honours degrees last summer amid fresh fears that the traditional university classification system is failing to properly mark out the brightest graduates. The Telegraph reports. Official figures show that 61,600 students – more than one-in-six – left university in 2012 with...

Overseas study is good for business

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Lack of opportunity, cash and ambition stops our students learning abroad, writes David Willetts for The Independent. Choosing to learn within another culture is something to celebrate rather than to condemn. First, UK companies need people with broad experience to compete internationally. Second, though we still have some of the best...

Part-time student numbers fall at UK universities

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The number of part-time students enrolled at UK universities fell across the board last year, reports BBC News. The change was most marked for part-time students starting the first year of postgraduate courses, where some 14% fewer students enrolled in 2011-12 than the year before. The number of part-time undergraduates beginning...

Record one in six students now graduates with a first

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Number of students awarded top grade rose 16 per cent last year More than a sixth of students now graduate with a first-class degree Some employers threatening to demand firsts instead of 2.1s due to rise A record number of graduates have been awarded first-class degrees, prompting fresh concern over rampant ‘grade...

School leavers are not ready for the world of work, say small business owners

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

School leavers no longer have the right skills to equip them for the world of work and apprenticeship schemes for young people have an image problem, according to a report published today by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). HR Magazine reports. The report, The Apprenticeship Journey, found that 81% of small business owners are...

Sir James Dyson warns of engineering graduate shortage

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Inventor Sir James Dyson has warned that there could be a deficit of 60,000 engineering graduates this year, as the industry struggles in attracting new recruits. askGrapevineHR reports. Dyson has called on the government to do more to boost the UK technology industry. He told the Radio Times that “the glamour of web fads and video...

State school graduates failing to reach job potential, study finds

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Despite outperforming their private school counterparts at university, state-educated students do less well after college, reports The Guardian. A study by Bristol University found that 88% of its state-school-educated graduates gained an upper second class degree or better, compared with 85% of those from public schools. Among the...

Student recruitment: what will count most in 2013?

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Discount nothing in promoting the idea of your institution and why applicants should want to be part of it, advises The Guardian’s Mark Fuller. So what will influence the decisions of applicants? I think there are two main factors, the first of which is fairly obvious: facts about the institution and quality indicators. Universities...

Students in late surge for degrees

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The sharp fall in the number of students applying for university places following the rise in tuition fees appears to have tailed off, with some institutions reporting increases of almost 25%. A Sunday Times survey indicates that fears that tens of thousands of students would turn their backs on higher education are largely unfounded...

Thousands fewer students embark on university degrees

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The number of students beginning degree courses at Scottish universities has fallen by 7 per cent in a year, new figures show. According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (Hesa), the number of full-time or part-time undergraduates enrolling fell from 62,175 in 2010-11 to 58,090 in 2011-12. The number of part-time students...

University degrees: our arcane system of firsts, seconds and thirds

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The number of first-class degrees is rising, but if we care about standards we must analyse the pressures around accreditation, writes The Guardian. The Higher Education Statistics Agency recently published its annual overview of enrolments and qualifications achieved at UK universities and colleges. A breakdown of undergraduate results...

Warwick University 'top target' for graduate employers

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Warwick University has topped a list of universities targeted by the UK's largest graduate recruiters, according to a new survey. The Telegraph reports. The UK's top investment banks, law firms and consultancies are focusing on finding graduate recruits at a small handful of elite universities including Warwick, Nottingham and Manchester...

White working-class males need our attention, but so do wider issues

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

In focusing on one social group, says The Guardian’s Janet Beer, we are in danger of diverting our efforts from other complex questions of equality in higher education. A major concern for us all lies beyond application data in admission and levels of attainment once students are in higher education. For instance, why is it that...

2013: the year for legal apprenticeships

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The legal profession is coming to realise that university is not the only route to a professional career, reports The Guardian. Enthusiasm for legal apprenticeships grew notably last year with several firms launching formal schemes. Not only are new Higher Apprenticeships in Legal Services due to launch in March, which are equivalent to...

Are today's students narcissistic - or just at ease with themselves?

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

More students are rating themselves as above average. It may be less about positive thinking and more about their background, writes The Guardian. The American Freshman Survey asks students to rate how they compare with their peers in different areas. It's been running since 1966, and in 2012, analysis of the results showed that over the...

Association of Graduate Recruiters responds to latest HESA statistics

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Carl Gilleard, Chief Executive of the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR), responds to the latest Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) showing an increase in the number of students gaining First and Upper Second Class degree classifications: “The latest figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) show that...

Barclays and O2 favour government traineeships plan

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Barclays and O2 have welcomed government proposals to launch a new trainee scheme, aimed at preparing young people for employment. Skills Minister Matthew Hancock will unveil plans today (10 January 2013) for a traineeship programme for 16- to 24-year-olds who are not yet ready for an apprenticeship or job. Funded by the Department...

Employers get apprenticeship boost

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Small and medium sized employers looking to offer apprenticeships in England have been given a boost as the National Apprenticeship Service announces moves to help even more employers recruit an apprentice. The government has confirmed an extension of the Apprenticeship Grant for Employers of 16-24 year olds (AGE 16-24) to March...

Fear of hands being tied on fines leads Hefce to seek legal counsel

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

New loan-funding system may leave council unable to prevent over-recruitment, writes Times Higher Education’s John Morgan. England's funding council fears the new funding system could leave it powerless to fine universities recruiting too many students on taxpayer-backed loans. The Higher Education Funding Council for England...

Name, rank and number

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Times Higher Education’s Christopher Bigsby can't keep up with the proliferation of new universities. At a recent conference I found myself next to someone from a university I had never heard of. "How long have you been a university?" I asked. "Since Wednesday," he replied. Universities are breeding. In 1980 the UK had 47...

Traineeships programme to boost youth skills

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Plans to help young people in England improve their preparation for the world of work have been unveiled. The traineeships programme will offer work experience, lessons in English and maths, CV-writing tips and advice on how to prepare for an interview. The scheme, for 16- to 24-year-olds, is funded by the Department for Education...

Ucas figures highlight potential perils for institutions

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Universities with lower entry requirements could be at greatest risk of losing students and millions of pounds in income under the new funding regime, data suggest. Times Higher Education reports. That suggestion comes as the sector awaits details on how individual institutions have fared in the first year of £9,000 tuition...

US college degree still worth it, says study

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Getting a college degree is still a significant advantage in the jobs market, says a major research study in the United States. BBC News reports. The Pew research group examined the impact of the recession on the job opportunities for recent school and college leavers in the US. It found that those with higher levels of education...

Why British students are heading to Germany

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

German universities offer tuition in English and demand low (or no) fees. Is it any wonder more and more British students are signing up, asks The Telegraph. All of a sudden, we Brits are taking an interest in universities that are neither Russell Group nor red-brick, but positively Continental. It’s something that would have been...

Your views on graduate recruitment wanted!

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

AGCAS (the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services) is investigating employers’ views on the graduate employment market and, in particular, their perspectives on graduates' work and extra-curricular experience, their motivation and awareness, and the recruitment process. We are particularly interested in the views of large...

Getting on the career ladder in 2013

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The graduate job market remains intensely competitive. The Guardian has drawn up a list of tips to help jobseekers. The single most important preparation for job-search success is to clarify what you're looking for, what you offer and why this particular job role and industry are right for you. Complete the following statement: "By...

Immigration crackdown deterring foreign students, says universities chief

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Nicola Dandridge tells the Guardian that the government's tough rhetoric threatens to undermine multibillion-pound market in foreign students The government's increasingly tough rhetoric around immigration is threatening to deter thousands of the best international students from studying at UK universities and undermine the...

Pearson to close apprenticeship unit putting 500 jobs at risk

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Financial Times owner Pearson is to close the UK-based apprenticeship business it bought less than three years ago, taking a £120m hit and putting 500 jobs at risk in the process. The Telegraph reports. The media and education group, which also owns publisher Penguin Books, said that changes to the way apprenticeship schemes are...

Rethink required on graduate training

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Recruitment and development of the best university students are crucial even in a downturn, writes The Financial Times’ Andrew Hill. It’s 25 years, almost to the day, since I started at the Financial Times. “One tip,” confided a more experienced colleague, early on: “Don’t stay more than five years, or...

SMEs given more support to offer apprenticeships

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Small and medium sized businesses will receive more support to offer apprenticeships after the Government today announced plans to enable increased access to funding. Employers will also receive a new level of support from the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS). HR Magazine reports. Government confirmed an extension of the...

Britain's qualification spiral is beginning to unravel

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

For years, education promised to make us more equal. Finally, politicians are realising it achieved the opposite, writes The Guardian’s Peter Wilby. Education is regarded as an unmitigated good, of benefit to society, the economy and the individual. More means better, we think. In many respects, that is true: if we are a more...

Coalition review focuses on universities' economic role

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The coalition government has praised universities as "the driving force behind our increasingly high-tech, knowledge-based economy" in its mid-term review, reports Times Higher Education. The document, titled The Coalition: together in the national interest, offers little in the way of fresh policy directions for higher education. The two...

White working-class males: how to get more into university

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

David Willetts is right that more poorer white males should go to university. But financial help and advice, not rhetoric, are what is needed, says white working-class boy Patrick McGhee in The Guardian. Commentators appear to have taken the minister's injunction to treat male under-representation similarly to ethnic minority...

Channel 4 and Spotify join O2 to support youth development

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Channel 4, Spotify and Chime Communications are offering young people a range of skills development and work experience opportunities through the GoThinkBig campaign, reports askGrapevineHR. The three companies have signed up to GoThinkBig, following its early success in delivering practical support and inspiration to young people seeking...

Do job-hunting stunts ever lead to work?

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Media production graduate Adam Pacitti, who spent £500 to advertise himself on a hoarding in London, hopes they can. The Guardian reports. We have seen people do it with T-shirts, songs, viral marketing campaigns and endless rounds of sandwich-boards. Now, 24-year-old media production graduate Adam Pacitti is the toast of the...

Gen up on social recruiting

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Justine James, director of talentsmoothie, talks us through the findings of a recent survey into social recruitment campaigns. Are you, like many others, unsure about how to effectively use social media for recruitment? Our recent survey asked 137 Gen Ys and Gen Zs how they use social media, and specifically how they use social media to...

School leavers to join civil service on fast-track apprenticeship scheme

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

First 100 apprentices – non-graduates aged 18 to 21 – will be recruited in April to work in government departments, reports The Guardian Bright school leavers will soon be able apply to become apprentice civil servants under a scheme to be launched on Monday by the Cabinet Office and civil service. The first 100...

Students' dreams of PhDs dashed as they face harsh reality of funding gap

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Academics unite to warn of looming crisis in higher education as gifted UK graduates are prevented from developing vital skills. The Guardian reports. When Em Johnson received a letter offering her a place on an MA course in social work at London Metropolitan university, she was thrilled. Caring for others was what she wanted to do....

University leaders protest at 'disastrous neglect' of postgraduates

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

According to The Guardian, vice-chancellors from universities across Britain have spoken out against the "economically disastrous and socially divisive" neglect of postgraduate students. Eleven leaders of institutions representing every type of university have demanded action to avert a crisis. The intervention comes as the Observer can...

David Cameron Wants Young Entrepreneurs To 'Create The Next Google'

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

David Cameron has told young entrepreneurs he wants to encourage new businesses in the hope Britain can create the next Amazon or Google. The Prime Minister met young people involved in starting their own firms on a visit to the University of Central Lancashire in Preston. The event came as it was announced funding for the government...

Over one million apprenticeship applications made in 2012

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

There were almost 1,127,000 apprenticeship applications submitted in 2012 while 106,510 vacancies were advertised, according to new data released today. The research from the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS), highlights the continued popularity of apprenticeships among both employers and the public. The research also reveals the...

The Government has gone to great lengths to restrict access to university. Where was Willetts's concern for the disadvantaged then?

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The Universities Minister's professed concern for white working class boys is risible, writes The Independent’s Joan Smith. There’s no doubt that tuition fees are exacerbating class divisions in education: entry rates for 18-year-olds from advantaged areas are three to four times higher than those from disadvantaged areas...

Universities should set up 'summer schools' to help working class children

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Universities should set up “summer schools” to help working class children go on to higher education, the Universities minister has said. The Telegraph reports. The summer schools could be targeted at schools “that aren’t sending people to university”, David Willetts said. In an interview on BBC Radio...

University applications down by 6%

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Universities UK expresses concern over impact of tuition fees after Ucas data points to sizeable fall for total 2013 applicant figure. The Guardian reports. The organisation representing British universities has expressed concern about the potential impact of tuition fees after figures showed a drop of more than 6% in student applications...

University applications fall: 'some talented young people choose not to go'

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

As the number of university applications drops by 18,000 in a year, Richard Irwin, Head of Student Recruitment at Pricewaterhouse Coopers, tells The Telegraph about the many opportunities for those who choose not to pursue higher education. Figures show that demand for higher education is down by 6.3 per cent amid a continuing backlash...

1m apply for apprenticeships in 2012

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

More than 1 million applications for apprenticeships were submitted in 2012, far more than the number of vacancies available, writes The Guardian. According to the National Apprenticeship Service, 1.13m applications were received through its online database, with about 106,000 vacancies advertised, some 80% of the total apprenticeships...

Apprenticeships: 10 applications for every vacancy, data shows

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Childcare and IT were the most oversubscribed apprenticeships, with more than 13 applications for every vacancy, according to the National Apprenticeship Service. More than 10 applications are submitted online for every apprenticeship vacancy, according to new data. Releasing data for the first time on online apprenticeship...

David Willetts: Why higher education is getting better by degrees

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Applications dropped after the rise in tuition fees last year. But there's still plenty to lure students into higher education, says the universities minister. The Independent reports. A lot has happened since Parliament agreed to increase the student fees to £9,000 in December 2010. At the time, we argued that this controversial...

Hefce's fair access plans for ABB extension

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Selective universities could be granted extra student numbers to allow them to admit disadvantaged applicants with potential but without the highest grades, reports Times Higher Education. In a circular letter to institutions about 2013-14 student numbers sent on 18 December, the Higher Education Funding Council for England says that it...

HSBC recognised for CSR with work experience scheme

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

HSBC has been recognised for its work experience scheme in the IFS School of Finance’s Annual Financial World Innovation Awards. The global bank emerged victorious in the 'Innovation in sustainability and social responsibility category', with its ‘HSBC 14-18 Work experience: CSR meets Business Need’ project. The bank was...

Inequitable and ineffectual?

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Three-tier teaching bursaries for certain subjects may not work, says educator. John Elmes reports for Times Higher Education The bursary system designed to encourage graduates to take up teaching must be more "equitable" if it is to succeed, a university's head of initial teacher education has said. Kate Green, director of initial...

Jobless youths more likely to feel depressed, says charity

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Prince's Trust charity discovers nearly half of young people not in work, education or training feel depressed, reports The Guardian. More than one in four young people in work admits to feeling down or depressed always or often, with this figure rising to nearly half among their unemployed peers, according to a youth charity. The...

Lawyers and accountants need not have degrees, says minister

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The government has announced plans to allow school leavers to become lawyers and accountants without first gaining degrees. Matthew Hancock, the minister for skills, said he wanted to expand the apprenticeship scheme to offer qualifications at the same level as a master's degree without years of university study. "At the moment, to become...

Learning on the job

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

It should not be a requirement to go on to higher education in order to join the professions, writes The Telegraph. According to The Telegraph even though unemployment is falling, competition for the best positions is tougher than ever with, on average, 18 applicants chasing every vacancy. Even for graduates, finding a job is difficult...

National Apprenticeship Week to run from 11- 15 March 2013

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The sixth annual National Apprenticeship Week will take place from 11-15 March next year and looks set to be the biggest and best yet, with hundreds of events expected to take place across England. The Week, which is co-ordinated by the National Apprenticeship Service, is designed to celebrate Apprenticeships and the positive impact they...

Nestl� HRD: Why a 'strengths-based' approach can help recruit the best young talent

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

As the world's largest food and drink company, we know how important it is that we attract outstanding young talent into our sector, which is now the largest manufacturing sector in the UK. Despite its size, young people don't always think about choosing a career in the food and drink industry and just 32% of employees in our sector are female...

Poor careers advice is failing the creative industries: the insider story

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Most aspiring film, TV and games professionals say formal career guidance isn't up to scratch. BAFTA trustee Anne Morrison shares insights from those in the industry The film, television and games industries are incredibly competitive. Finding a route in – and making sure you're in the right place at the right time – is a test...

Students' Facebook posts could leave them unemployable

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Undergraduates who post tales of binge-drinking and other behaviour on Facebook risk their future employment prospects, a university has warned. One Facebook site, Swansea Uni Confessions, has been condemned by the university and its students union. In the group, undergraduates use the Facebook pages to post tales of what they get up to...

Treat white working-class boys like ethnic minority, Willetts tells universities

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Massive fall in admissions demands drastic action, Universities minister says. The Independent reports. Universities will be told they should recruit more white, working-class boys in the wake of figures showing a massive slump in applications from men for courses. The Universities minister David Willetts wants white, working-class...

University is not the only option for gifted school leavers

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

With the January UCAS application deadline looming, teenagers across the country have spent the Christmas break worrying more about how to get into university than what they will get out of it. But university is far from the only option for school leavers. There are plenty of alternative – and cheaper – qualifications and...

Why tuition fees haven't improved university teaching

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The introduction of tuition fees is not enough to restore the standard of university teaching – we need to encourage academics to take it seriously, argues The Telegraph’s Gervas Huxley. Last year’s furious student protests reminded us that few political debates are as divisive as the battle over tuition fees. But...

90,000 warnings in four months over foreign students

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Warnings have been made over up to 90,000 fake foreign students since London Metropolitan University was stripped of its licence to sponsor overseas students four months ago, reports The Telegraph The university was stripped of its licence in August and the move prompted warnings by other universities over foreign students who may have...

Commission plans to tackle youth unemployment welcomed

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Commission plans for new measures to help member states tackle 'unacceptable' levels of youth unemployment and social exclusion have been welcomed, reports TheParliament.com. The commission's 'youth employment package' includes a proposed recommendation for a 'youth guarantee'. This is designed to ensure that all young people up to...

How the graduate job market has changed over 2012

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

With a shoddy economy and more university leavers than ever to compete with, The Guardian’s Anna Pitts takes a look at new trends in graduate recruitment over 2012 and how you should respond With more people graduating from university than ever, the choice for employers has expanded. Employers are now more picky about the qualities...

Labour brands free Scottish tuition "regressive"

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The leader of Scottish Labour has attacked the free university tuition north of the border as being "essentially regressive". Times Higher Education reports. Johann Lamont said that it was "not viable" to fund a mass-participation university system using only public funds. Speaking on 17 December at an address in Glasgow marking one...

A month in the life of a Careers Service

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

‘The changing face of the milk round: a month in the life of a Careers Service’ by Gary Argent, Director, and Vin Bhabra, Employer Liaison Manager The sun has barely set on another milk round but we have already turned our attention to October 2013. Autumn 2012 taught us some valuable lessons here in the Career and...

Flexible working patterns could attract graduates into business

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

For the immediate future economic growth appears to be weak, but it’s important that we keep our eye on the long-term perspective. Eventually tides will turn and if we are to learn from the aftermath of previous recessions, then a war on talent is likely. If businesses are to boast a diverse workforce and attract some of the best...

Free online university courses: are 'Moocs' a gamble?

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Twelve British universities are launching a free online course – or "Mooc" – service called Futurelearn. The Telegraph’s Mike Boxall explains why they're right to invest their financial futures in this untested model. Few people would bet on the prospects of a business that gave away its products, complete with customer...

Funding to provide 2,000 extra Scots university places

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

According to BBC News, a £10m funding package to help widen access to higher education for students from poorer backgrounds has been unveiled by the Scottish government. The money, allocated through the Scottish Funding Council, will provide an extra 2,000 university places. More than half of those will go to young people...

Higher education: our MP3 is the mooc

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Academics have watched the internet change the music industry, books and news. And yet, now it's happening in higher education, we are about to screw it up, says The Guardian’s Clay Shirky The fight over moocs isn't about the value of college; thousands of institutions you haven't heard of provide an expensive but mediocre education...

How's your university application coming along?

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Still undecided about where, or whether, to go to university? Sixth-former Alex Pressley asks experts for advice. The Guardian reports. With most unis now charging £9,000 fees, no one can blame students for feeling a bit jittery about applying – the pressure to invest your time and money wisely is immense. Of course, it's...

Universities fear teenage brain drain

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

New figures show a fall in the number of enrolments by AAB students. Have they found it's cheaper in the US? The Guardian’s Anna Fazackerley reports. Robert Ledniczky can't sit still when I Skype him in his room at Harvard University. He has a lot to feel excited about. With a clutch of great A-levels (two A*s and two As), he was a...

Why are young people everyone's business?

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Barclays explains some of the ways it's helping to tackle youth unemployment, offering support to those who will make up the next generation of their workforce and custom. The Guardian reports. The global economic downturn has led to a lack of formal job opportunities, while the fact that many adolescents simply don't have the necessary...

English students in twice as much debt as rest of UK

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Students from England are being asked to take on almost twice as much debt as those from Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, according to a new report. The Telegraph reports An undergraduate from England is likely to accumulate student loans worth £43,500 regardless of where in UK they study, according to Credit Action, a charity...

Racial divide is higher education's 'dirty secret'

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Race is higher education’s “dirty little secret” and more should be done to tackle the issue, a debate has heard. Mark Crawley, dean of students at the University of the Arts London (UAL), told the Race in the Creative Process event that the sector needed more discussion about the discrepancy in attainment between black...

Report highlights huge growth in overseas student numbers

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

International students make up 12 per cent of the total student population at UK universities, a sharp rise from 8 per cent eight years earlier, reports Times Higher Education The findings were published in a Universities UK report, Patterns and trends in UK higher education, published on December 14th. The report notes that: "In...

The business case for SME internships

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

In the market, it is usually the case for high quality graduates to gravitate towards larger corporate companies due to the perception that clearer career paths will be offered. However, in reality small businesses can have more to offer as graduates are given far greater opportunity to get closer to the business, carve out a position and make...

Why quality apprenticeships hold the key

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Following the recent Richard Review of apprenticeships, Ann Pickering, O2's HR Director, shares her thoughts on the benefits of apprenticeships with askGrapevine HR The recent Richard Review of apprenticeships was an encouraging step forward on the journey to tackling youth unemployment. The government commissioned review, conducted by...

Education is leaving boys behind

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

There are now one third more female than male students applying for university. Women are now more likely to be accepted for higher education than men are even to apply. Some of this can be accounted for by school exam results – girls have been outperforming boys at A-level for many years, but the gap in university applications and...

Report highlights access benefit for children of graduates

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

State school students in England with university-educated parents are five times more likely to reach higher education than those from "disadvantaged backgrounds", and are also more likely to go to an elite institution. Times Higher Education reports. The findings have emerged from an analysis of university entry data for four...

Top UK universities launch free online courses

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Elite institutions will team up with the Open University to offer free internet courses through FutureLearn, a new company that will rival US programmes Coursera and edX. The Guardian reports Eleven top UK universities are joining the Open University to launch free internet courses, in a bid to catch up with the elite US institutions that...

UK higher education should be a business that knows no borders

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Universities are a knowledge industry that imposes borders on movement and transfer at its own peril, says The Guardian’s Abhinay Muthoo You may not think of a university as an export industry, and that view is understandable. Universities are far more – charged as they are with the mission of creating an informed and skilled...

100,000 students coming to UK face immigration interviews

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Consular staff are to interview more than 100,000 prospective students hoping to study in Britain as the government moves to stop "bogus students" from entering the country, Theresa May has announced. The Guardian reports. In a keynote speech on immigration, which was warmly welcomed by the Migration Watch founder Sir Andrew Green, the...

Fresh blood an option after year of heavy losses

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Remaining 1994 Group members meet for first time after mass departures. Times Higher Education’s John Morgan reports The admission of new members is likely to be on the table for the 1994 Group as its dozen remaining universities hold their first board meeting since a damaging spate of departures. Vice-chancellors from the...

Gender gap in university applications widens further after fees rise

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Proportion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds going to elite universities rises 10% as overall applications fall, reports The Guardian Women are a third more likely to go to university than men, according to a Ucas report, widening the gender gulf in higher education. Demand for university places fell in terms of applications...

More time to enter National Council for Work Experience Awards

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The deadline for the National Council for Work Experience (NCWE) Awards 2013 has been extended by a few weeks to give companies more time to enter over the busy festive period. Businesses offering internships to students or graduates now have until Friday 11 January 2013 to enter their schemes or to be nominated by a student or...

North star to set UCL's direction

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Michael Arthur, the newly appointed president and provost of University College London, has said he would like to see the institution extend its "global footprint". In an interview with Times Higher Education, the current vice-chancellor of the University of Leeds said that expansion would involve focused and research-intensive...

A new campus breed: the 'reluctant entrepreneur'

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Wary of a hostile jobs market, and inspired by university entrepreneurship schemes, students are coming round to the idea of starting their own businesses, reports The Guardian’s Laura Blumenthal Universities are bending over backwards to encourage entrepreneurship. So we reluctant entrepreneurs find ourselves becoming inspired by...

British Students Find Advantages at U.S. Schools

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

According to the Institute of International Education’s “Open Doors” survey, nearly 9,200 British students attended schools in the United States last year, making the United Kingdom the third largest country in Europe, after Turkey and Germany, to send students there. (Both countries’ contributions were dwarfed by the...

Census reveals rise in proportion with higher qualifications

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

More than a quarter of England and Wales' adult population has a higher education qualification, although a North-South divide prevails, the 2011 census has revealed. Times Higher Education reports. Published today, the census shows that 27 per cent of England's over 16-year-olds are educated to level 4 standard, which covers bachelor's...

easyJet launches recruitment drive for outstanding graduates

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

easyJet, the UK's largest airline, is this week launching its latest recruitment drive seeking up to 20 recent graduates or students graduating summer 2013 to join its European Graduate Programme. Financial Mirror reports The airline is looking for highly motivated individuals, who are keen to gain varied and invaluable experience working...

Michael Gove is hailed as a rising star. He does not deserve it

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Michael Gove's policies are not a disaster for our schools or our children. They are just an irrelevance and a monumental waste of money, writes The Guardian’s Peter Wilby Gove's chief justification for inflicting transformational change on schools is that "we are falling further and further behind other nations". He quotes...

NUS chief executive to step down

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The chief executive of the National Union of Students is to leave the organisation next year to take up a role heading up the Scout Association, reports Times Higher Education. Matt Hyde will leave the NUS in April 2013 after six years leading the union during some of the biggest upheavals the higher education sector has ever...

Qinetiq increases its graduate intake for 2013 from 60 to 75

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

According to The Engineer, Qinetiq has announced that its graduate intake for 2013 is to increase from 60 to 75. Qinetiq is also increasing in its apprenticeship programme and recently announced that it is boosting its apprentice intake by 75 for next year. In a statement, Qinetiq group HR director Dave Bradley said:...

Thomas Carroll adds four more graduates

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Thomas Carroll Group, the insurance, risk management and financial services group, has completed its second phase of graduate appointments in 2012, reports Wales Online. Kate Whittaker and Rhys Woodward have taken up positions as account brokers at Thomas Carroll’s Caerphilly headquarters. Joining the group’s Swansea and...

Universities treat students like customers, so why aren't we always right?

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

When a Bristol University student broke the story of the Christian Union's ban on female speakers, she realised they weren't the only ones without a voice Last week the Bristol Christian Union (BUCU) sent out an email explaining to their members that women were not allowed to speak on their own at a variety of BUCU events. A...

Why Microsoft likes engineering graduates

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Don’t assume you need a computer science degree to be recruited onto the MACH technical programme at Microsoft. Graduates from a whole range of backgrounds can apply for the scheme, which forms the main entry route to graduate-level technical jobs at the company, with engineering students proving particularly popular with the...

Youth unemployment to top 1m again in 2013

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Youth unemployment is forecast to top the psychologically damaging 1m mark again next year as the UK heads for a triple dip recession, a report has warned. The Telegraph reports The “bleak” outlook for young people is predicted within a new study by the Institute of Public Policy Research, which also expects long-term...

Contacts give private pupils edge applying for university

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Students from poorer backgrounds are being disadvantaged by personal statements when applying to university because they do not have the same contacts to get high-profile work experience placements, finds The Telegraph Fresh curbs should be placed on personal statements in university applications to stop the system being used to exploit...

Ernst & Young named most admired employer for Diversity and Inclusiveness

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The professional services firm has been named as one of the UK’s most admired employers for its approach to Diversity & Inclusiveness, reports askGrapevineHR The report, released today by the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD) and Bernard Hodes, was based on a survey of over 300 companies and analysed...

Fierce competition in the job market drives unpaid internships

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

As long as there is an ever-increasing need for experience on young people's CVs, unpaid internships will continue, argues Guardian Graduate’s Lottie Unwin A new bill introduced by Hazel Blears to ban employers from advertising long-term unpaid internships will be debated in the House of Commons in February. It is a milestone in the...

Honestly unvarnished

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

JOB-SEEKERS fear that recruiters trawling social-media sites will find reasons not to hire them (why do friends always bring cameras to “50-Shades”-themed parties?). But firms should also worry that their secrets will be revealed online: some job sites ask staff to dish the dirt on their employers. Glassdoor, for example...

Jaguar Land Rover appoints HR Director

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Jaguar Land Rover has appointed a new HR Director, reports askGrapvineHR Simon Lenton assumes the role at Jaguar Land Rover on 14 January 2013. In his new role, Lenton will be responsible for all HR strategy and employee relations for Jaguar Land Rover's 25,000 employees. He will report directly to Dr Ralf Speth...

'Join the fight against unpaid internships'

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Unless students refuse to work for free, employers will continue to exploit them, argues campaigner Libby Page in The Guardian An important step has been taken this week towards making employers pay their interns, but to see real change interns themselves must take part in the debate. On Wednesday, the Labour MP Hazel Blears won a...

University shows how immigration peps up the UK economy

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

An open door and a welcome to immigrants is one of the healthiest policies any nation can pursue for its economy, and three honorary doctorates awarded this week by Bradford university underline that point, writes The Guardian. All their recipients were born in Pakistan, all started their new life in the UK in challenging circumstances...

Are we jeopardising the freedom of higher education?

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Good intentions are turning universities into more corporate organisations, and this isn't necessarily a good thing, says The Guardian’s Peter Scott The Leveson report was finally published last week, following months of concerns about press freedom – part spontaneous and part orchestrated by corporate media interests. The...

Careers advice: How to beat the 'skills mismatch' and find a job

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

I’ve been trying to get a decent job since graduating last summer, but employers keep rejecting me saying I don’t have enough experience. My qualifications alone aren’t enough. How can I become more employable? Mike, 24, via email Your letter highlights the alarming “skills mismatch” between candidates...

Chalk Talk: Want a postgrad degree? Then you'll need a rich grandma

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

There has been a lot of controversy over the difficulty in recruiting students to post-graduate courses of late. The fees hike to up to £9,000 a year for undergraduates has had the effect of putting off degree holders from incurring more debts, reports The Independent. According to Professor Les Ebden, director of the Office...

Placement and internship schemes are becoming a key pipeline for drawing in top graduate talent

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The placement and internship market has matured exponentially over the past five years with wages, as a marker of growth, increasing by 13 per cent year-on-year, reports HR magazine The average salary for a student on placement at E.ON, for example, has increased by over £2,000 in the last year. In a recessionary period, this...

Public-backed funding to private college students shoots up to 100m

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Taxpayer-backed funding for students at private colleges rose by 138 per cent to £100 million last year, with a private equity-owned institution that did not meet all quality standards accounting for more than a fifth of that total. Times Higher Education The number of students at private colleges accessing publicly funded support...

Women demand seat at the tables

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Manifesto calls for university rankings to take gender gap into account. Times Higher Educations’ David Matthews writes A university's ranking in global league tables should be based in part on measures of gender equality, according to a manifesto demanding equality of opportunity and pay for female academics. The manifesto...

Work experience is just the job in MBAs

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

MBA courses offer ever more opportunities for hands-on work experience – and this is benefiting both students and businesses, reports The Guardian Business and public organisations have a lot to gain by linking up with management schools, says James Timpson, the chief executive of Timpson, the family business started by his...

Graduate recruiters urged to drop degree cut-off: 'Dump the 2.1!'

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The drive to persuade big employers to drop the 2.1 degree cut-off when assessing applications for graduate jobs gathered force at last week’s 25th TARGETjobs Breakfast News event in London. Simon Howard, chairman of recruitment organisation Work Group, which sponsored the event, urged the audience of 200 graduate recruiters...

In defence of the gap year

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The backlash against gap years is in full sway, partly for financial reasons and partly because the gap year industry got silly. Hordes of middle-class kids smoking bongs and going tubing, but pretending this was somehow good for the developing world has resulted in a rich seam of gap yah comedy. Recession has meant not only a drop in...

Managers concerned for the future because of Gen Y, says Ashridge

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Employee retention is the biggest concern for managers worldwide about the under-30s in Generation Y, according to a report published today by Ashridge Business School. HR Magazine reports Ashridge found that frequent job changes and lack of life skills mean that future leaders lack the experience to enable them to judge risk and make...

Mind the generation gap: how managers can engage with Gen Y

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Just as you can’t choose your family, so you can’t always choose your colleagues – and the generation gap can cause problems in both cases. HR Magazine reports Recent research carried out by career management company, Fairplace, indicates that the disconnect between Generation Y staff and their Generation X managers could...

Revealed: class divide at the heart of unpaid internships

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Survey shows how employers are able to exploit graduates' desperation to find work. The Guardian reports Dupsy Abiola, a former barrister, who won £100,000 from Peter Jones on the BBC's Dragons' Den in October to run Intern Avenue, a firm placing young people in paid placements, says that when there are so many graduates and so few...

Rising fees kill one in five degree courses

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Nearly one in five degree courses has been scrapped since the trebling of maximum tuition fees to £9,000 as universities concentrate on popular subjects and drop courses that have too few applicants or cost too much to run, reports The Sunday Times. Official figures show a cull of more than 2,600 in the number of courses available...

Socially Responsible?

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

After several years of hype and experimentation, 2012 was the year that social media began to move into the mainstream of graduate recruitment, but harnessing its huge audiences in an effective way remains challenging. Matt Alder, digital social and mobile strategist and founder of strategic advisory company MetaShift, sheds some light on how...

Strathclyde picks up coveted title on awards night

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The University of Strathclyde has been named University of the Year at the Times Higher Education Awards 2012 The Glasgow institution picked up the coveted title at a ceremony held in London yesterday evening attended by more than 1,000 staff from universities and colleges across the UK. Judges in the awards were impressed with how...

UK universities are wary of getting on board the mooc train

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Moocs – massive online open courses – have taken off in America. Why are UK universities holding back? In the UK, distance learning remains a niche concern – something that is seen as more the territory of the Open University than the mainstream. Universities say they've been offering their learners online options for...

Youth jobs crisis is 'Europe's biggest headache'

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Youth unemployment is a major headache for Europe – with a 'lost generation' of young people facing a bleak future – and the EU is best placed to help struggling countries, says think-tank. Public Service Europe reports. The latest figures show that unemployment in the European Union has, yet again, risen to record levels....

Recruiting future leaders for Britain's biggest employer

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Rob Farace, Senior Programme Lead, Resourcing at the NHS Leadership Academy, and board member of the AGR, explains how the NHS' Graduate Management Training Programme attracts its future leaders. The NHS Graduate Management Training Programme develops university leavers across the UK in preparation for them to become talented heads of the...

Universities learn lessons on employment

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

People see university as a carefree place where youngsters begin a voyage of intellectual discovery and party a lot. But for Claire Roberts, a languages student in her last year at University College London, the reality has been different. “All of our conversations revolve around job interviews, applications and deadlines....

BP launches scholarship programme for talented undergraduates

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

BP's new scholarship programme is aimed at talented science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) undergraduates studying at nine selected universities across the UK. During its first year, the �450,000 BP Scholarship programme will provide 90 scholarships, each worth �5,000. They will be open to the following universities, who will...

Employers should lead new apprenticeship system, review finds

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Employers should be put in charge of almost all aspects of apprenticeships through a new system of funding, qualification design and assessment, the Richard review has recommended to the government. Entrepreneur Doug Richard, commissioned by the government to investigate how to improve employer engagement in apprenticeships, has proposed that...

Hodes unveils new research into diversity and inclusion

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

There were over 370 responses to the survey, providing a broadly representative sample in terms of the sizes and sectors of organisations covered. Most of the respondents were of senior level with generalist responsibilities, although 12% were diversity specialists. It seems that while most organisations (83%) already have some form of...

Kingfisher boss criticises 'clunky' youth employment plan

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Ian Cheshire made his comments as the world's third-largest home-improvement group posted a 6 per cent fall in profits to �257 million over the quarter to October 27, after a fall in sales in the UK and France. Ahead of the Autumn Statement, the Kingfisher boss called for "targeted measures around employment, particularly if we could see...

Removing Barriers

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The AGR is currently conducting two awareness raising projects among employers funded by the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills. The first project looks at the implementation of the Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) which aims to provide a more detailed picture of students’ achievements and their transferable...

Sir James Dyson warns over graduate engineer shortage

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Up to 217,000 engineers will be needed within the next five years to plug gaps in the workforce and help drive the economy, it was claimed. Sir James warned that his own company had "struggled to fill" 200 vacancies this year. In a letter to The Daily Telegraph, the inventor and entrepreneur called on the Government to ease restrictions...

'Give pupils jobs guidance from age 12,' MPs are advised

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Other pupils, particularly those whose parents are unemployed, miss out on this sort of informal careers guidance, Matthew Hancock said. He told MPs on the Education Select Committee: "Parents in well-paid jobs tend to have networks in those jobs. Breaking those networks up so they can be accessed by those who haven't got them - a careers...

A Sound Strategy

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

It may have divided the Higher Education sector, but one university is clear about how the strategic potential of the Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) can be realised. Sue Rigby, Assistant Principal, Taught Postgraduate Programmes, the University of Edinburgh explains… The current environment for Higher Education in the...

BP launches scholarship programme for talented undergraduates

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Crossrail introduces new graduate scheme

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Crossrail Graduate Scheme offers university leavers the opportunity to work alongside project management teams, contractors and designers delivering the project. Crossrail will recruit eight graduates from courses in tunnelling, engineering, information technology, business management and administration to complete the two-year programme....

How can we plug the leaky STEM pipe?

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Royal Academy of Engineering recently reported a huge gap in qualified engineers and scientists coming out of education and staying in the field. Their report said that the critical group to inspire is the 11 to 14 year olds - and we reviewed the many voluntary and worthwhile projects that try to do this. But many STEM graduates just...

January starts on the rise for UK undergraduates

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The traditional starting point for the first-year undergraduate is October, but an increasing number of British universities are offering undergraduate places for a January 2013 start, aiming to appeal to students who have retaken A-Levels, or who don't wish to wait until next autumn to settle their educational destiny. There are more places...

Measuring up the AGR Manifesto

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

We are halfway through the life of this Parliament which might explain why the mood at this year’s round of party conferences was subdued. As the next election approaches we can expect the parties to start preparing their election manifestos. AGR published its own manifesto in the run up to the 2010 election. Entitled “Talent...

'New' universities set to be created in England

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

It is the first time in 20 years that a new wave of universities has been created. Ten are long-established specialist institutions which are set to be awarded full university status. They include the Royal Agricultural College and University College Falmouth, which will be Cornwall's first fully-fledged university. Two, possibly three...

Recruiting future leaders for Britain's largest employer

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The NHS Graduate Management Training Programme develops university leavers across the UK in preparation for them to become talented heads of the health service. The scheme has proven to be immensely popular among the 200,000 graduates that leave university every year - over 12,000 applications were received for both the 2010 and 2011 intakes....

What 'more' can universities do for Michael Gove and Alan Milburn?

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

"Universities should do more" is a phrase heard rather frequently in the corridors of power. Michael Gove only recently asserted that universities should take a leading role in raising A-level standards. Now, Alan Milburn is telling universities to "redouble their efforts" to enable disadvantaged students to gain places in university. In both...

Youth unemployment: how business can help the 'lost generation'

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Employability - or the lack of it - has emerged as a pressing political issue. Across Europe, youth unemployment is reaching new highs and politicians are looking to the private sector to create jobs. That's hard enough in challenging economic times but harder still if the recruits aren't there. Issues of corporate responsibility aside, a...

Apprenticeships 'should be seen as equal to a degree'

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Standards of apprenticeships should be raised to stop them being seen as "second class" in relation to a conventional three-year degree, it is recommended. The review - led by entrepreneur Doug Richard - said the previous Government's target to push half of school leavers into university had resulted in an "unthinking collective belief" that...

Dragons' Den star says employers should take the lead on apprenticeships

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) had been heavily criticised for sanctioning short-duration apprenticeships. The Holt Review, published in August, had highlighted the difficulties in getting small companies engaged in delivering apprenticeships and said the current system left them "clueless". And a BIS select committee report had...

Graduates are finding jobs abroad? Good for them

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Since the recession began there has been a 27 per cent increase in the number of British graduates who find their first job abroad. Business leaders have predictably branded the figures as 'worrying', fretting over a 'brain drain' that will damage British business and global competitiveness. But why all the doom and gloom? An increase in the...

Boris seeks to boost London's HE image in India

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Mr Johnson, who is visiting India as part of a trade mission, called on coalition ministers to protect London's status as a leading global centre for education. He has written to the Theresa May, the home secretary and Vince Cable, the business secretary, urging that students are removed from the government's net migration target. Mr Johnson...

Britain being hit by rise in graduate 'brain drain'

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Almost 5,200 university leavers sought employment in mainland Europe, the Far East and North America last year - up by 1,000 since the start of the economic crisis. Official figures show that graduates from the very best universities are significantly more likely to be tempted overseas, prompting fears that Britain's most talented young...

Business schools 'failing' mid-sized firms

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Business schools are failing to help mid-sized companies as much as they could and so are holding back the UK's economy and society, a new report has concluded. A report by the Business Schools Task Force, established by the government in November 2011, has asked schools to put in place an "engagement plan" to get businesses involved in...

No-exam university courses fuel rise in first class degrees

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

An analysis of data published by universities for the first time has revealed the extent to which coursework has replaced traditional exams throughout higher education in Britain. Hundreds of courses are now 90 to 100 per cent coursework, with first and second year exams and traditional finals abolished in subjects as wide ranging as history...

University of Law: what's in a name?

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The coalition government says that it is putting the student at the heart of higher education. In truth, it is putting the market at its heart. Any new net investment in higher education will come from increased student fees, not private equity funds. The loans are backed by a publicly-funded loans system and it is precisely access to students...

College of Law becomes UK's first for-profit university

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The institution becomes the UK's first private university since the University of Buckingham was given the title by Royal Charter in 1983. It is likely that university title also represents the last hurdle in the takeover of the college, which had charitable status, by Montagu Private Equity in a deal worth around �200 million. As a result...

Ebdon urges schools to ignore "dreadful snobbery" about universities

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Les Ebdon said that the government's decision to publish information about what pupils do after leaving school risks "undue pressure" being put on students to study unsuitable courses. Instead of simply focusing on getting more pupils into top universities including Oxford and Cambridge, schools should consider what is best for pupils...

Food For Thought

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Earlier this year, Minister for Universities David Willetts announced ambitious plans to make England “the best place in the world for business-university collaboration.” One of the ways to achieve this goal, he said, is to improve the provision of sandwich courses at UK universities. But with the number of annual year-in-industry...

Most schools 'have reduced careers advice'

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A survey of professional careers advisers working in 1,500 secondary schools reveals "dramatic reductions" in the amount of professional careers guidance on offer. Schools took over the duty to secure independent careers guidance for their pupils from September 2012. The government says schools should decide what was right for them. The...

NUS calls for loans for needy postgrad students

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A targeted programme of student loans is needed to stop postgraduate study becoming the preserve of the rich, the National Union of Students (NUS) warns. Access to postgrad study - necessary for graduates hoping to enter professions such as law, accountancy and journalism - is based "not on ability, but ability to pay up front," an NUS report...

Young jobless Neets still top one million

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Some 17% of 16 to 24-year-olds were without jobs or college places in the three months to September 2012, according to official data. This is down 136,000 or two percentage points on last year. The government welcomed the fall but said the numbers remained too high. The figures, from the Department for Education (DfE), for those over...

McKinsey: rankings ought to show who is on the job

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Global university rankings should measure whether graduates are able to get jobs as well as institutions' teaching and research records, according to one of the world's most influential consulting firms. Mona Mourshed, leader of the education practice at McKinsey and Company, said that the world's universities were producing too many...

Mind, don't dismiss, the BME attainment gap

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

That is the view of Aneez Esmail, associate vice-president for social responsibility, equality and diversity and professor of general practice at the University of Manchester, who said that many universities refuse to acknowledge that black and minority ethnic (BME) students achieve lower degrees on average than their white contemporaries....

Student march ends in eggs, fruit and anger

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The National Union of Students president, Liam Burns, has been pelted with eggs and fruit at the conclusion of a march in London, which was marked by a low turnout and widespread anger over the perceived failure of the organisation to fight the trebling of university fees. The NUS had hoped to attract 10,000 students to the march, but on a...

Student protests 2012: why we marched

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Kathy Taylor, president, University and College Union (UCU) "The UCU supported today's demonstration by the National Union of Students (NUS) and, personally, I was proud to be marching with my colleagues and students and to have addressed the crowd at the end of the march. Although the media seem only to be interested in the prospect of...

Tech City to give 500 young Londoners a digital break

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Tech City Apprenticeship programme will give 500 unemployed young people the opportunity to work in London's most exciting and high-profile digital companies, including Google Campus, Facebook, TechHub, Moo.com, Poke London, The Trampery and Passion Capital. In addition to the apprenticeship places in these leading digital companies, an...

V-cs decline to enlist in defence of the realm

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Sir Keith Thomas, the historian and former president of the British Academy, said that he had written to several university leaders to join the group, which was launched last week to campaign against government interference in the sector, but not one had decided to join the campaign. "They either declined to respond entirely or were extremely...

HEAR Project: Update 21/11/2012

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

As part of our project, we have now established our LinkedIn reference group, which aims to provide a forum for employers, universities and other professional bodies to discuss and debate relevant topics and to share best practice in recruitment processes. We have a variety of events and meetings to attend in the next few weeks to raise...

Ofsted: rank colleges by student employment rates

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Government should use "destination data" to make sure institutions are properly preparing 16- to 19-year-olds for the workplace, it was claimed. In a report, the education watchdog said the best colleges placed a strong emphasis on developing students' employment skills such as problem-solving, working as a team, applying literacy and...

Soft subjects 'stripped out' of college league tables

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Just 400 out of 4,000 courses currently used in official rankings for 16- to 18-year-olds will be retained as part of reforms designed to raise education standards, the Government revealed. The move follows a sharp rise in the number of students shunning A-levels in favour of alternative courses. It was claimed that many sixth-form...

Students are marching to stop education becoming a luxury

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Tens of thousands of students will march through London today in defence of education and the welfare state. Much has changed since the present wave of the student movement began on 10 November 2010, when 50,000 marched, and Millbank Tower was occupied. This is a movement that has ended the notion that young people and students are incapable of...

Students get a raw deal in Britain - no wonder they're protesting

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Two years ago, the threat of radically escalating tuition fees prompted student demonstrations on a scale not seen for decades. This term, that threat has become a reality, and on Wednesday students will take to the streets again. Is their protest justified? Much depends on one's view of the document that touched off the protests of 2010: the...

Students march in London protest

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

It is the first national student protest since a wave of unrest over tuition fees two years ago. It was organised by the National Union of Students (NUS), with support from other groups . The NUS published a survey suggesting voters have not forgiven Lib Dem MPs over the raising of tuition fees. "Education should open doors, but the...

Britain's best universities 'failed to fill 11,500 places'

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Britain's leading institutions started the academic year with around 11,500 vacancies following an overhaul of admissions rules, it emerged. Prof Sir Howard Newby, vice-chancellor of Liverpool University, said the unfilled places were an "unintended consequence" of the changes and warned that the same situation could arise again in 2013....

Engineering jobs 'eBay' website now includes students

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The website, supported by the likes of BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Airbus and Nissan and dubbed an "eBay for talent", invites students to sign up and match their skills and experience to job vacancies in the advanced manufacturing and engineering sector. Many bright engineering graduates are lured to the bigger pay packets and perceived career...

Gates Foundation funds online university open access

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The edX project, set up by Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, announced a plan to "bring a new teaching model to the classroom". This will be funded with $1m (�630,000) from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which wants to support innovation in education. The idea is to explore how cutting-edge courses from...

Oil and gas giant launches scholarship programme

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The huge global oil and gas firm said the scheme, which will support the costs of living for students, would initially be worth �450,000 and provide 90 scholarships each worth �5,000. The aim is then to expand and create an annual scholarship programme providing funding of up to �1.8 million a year. Durham University, Imperial College London...

Oxbridge dominates list of leading UK people

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The findings, reported by BBC, indicate that ten top independent boys' schools alone produced 12% of the country's professional elite. The analysis of the backgrounds of nearly 8,000 people was carried out by charity the Sutton Trust. Its chairman, Sir Peter Lampl, said private schools should be open to all on the basis of ability not...

Professional associations: more than just CV candy for students

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Joining a professional body can be a great way to stand out from the crowd and get employers to take notice of you. As a student, I became a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) which accredited my course at Leeds Metropolitan University. Now, as a graduate - and still a CIPR member - it's proving to be a positive...

Why online courses can never totally replace the campus experience

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Whatever the merits of moocs, and there are many, I instinctively find myself thinking about experiences that cannot be meaningfully created online. For example, at my own institution we have a large "going global" programme where students who might not otherwise get the opportunity are funded to travel overseas on innovative placements. These...

Why our son picked an apprenticeship over university

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

In September 2010, Connor Black began his apprenticeship at the Royal Hotel on the Isle of Wight under Head Chef Alan Staley's excellent tutelage. Connor, being very hands on, really enjoyed the apprenticeship. Two years into it, Connor was keen to find out how a Michelin star kitchen worked and wrote to chef Tom Kerridge. Kerridge invited...

Animated future for UK universities

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

But, according to Times Higher Education, the University Alliance of "business-engaged" universities is taking a novel approach, producing a cartoon envisaging four different scenarios for university futures, which it plans to use in lobbying politicians and around the country. Libby Hackett, the University Alliance chief executive, says in...

Business leaders criticise slipping standards of 'exam factory' schools

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Business leaders have called for a radical rethink of England's schools system, including abolition of GCSEs at 16 and a break from the "exams factory" of the national curriculum and league tables. Ahead of its annual conference, beginning on Monday, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has released a manifesto of proposed changes to...

NUS survey reveals parents' fears for young people

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Four out of five parents fear their children will leave home later than they did, in a sign of the deepening gloom about the country's economic prospects. A new YouGov survey reveals widespread anxiety over the future, with 79% confessing to concerns over when the new generation will spread their wings. Three quarters of parents (73%) with...

Students to protest over funding cuts and employment prospects

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Mass student protest is returning to London this week for the first time since a succession of occasionally chaotic marches two years ago, with organisers saying they hope to send MPs of all parties a message about the need to act - not just on education funding, but on rampant unemployment among the young. Organisers expect at least 10,000...

Update: 19-11-12

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

We need to focus on the quality of apprenticeships

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The government has dedicated itself to raising school standards and overhauling the qualifications young people take. I want to see this same drive for quality applied to vocational education. High quality in any area of life depends on accountability. We need to put the systems in place to ensure the best institutions thrive, and the weakest...

Who does higher education work for?

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Recent education headlines express the dilemma currently facing UK higher education. The Council for the Defence of British Universities launched last week promoting a vision of education for education's sake, with universities as centres of learning in danger of being shackled by short-term performance measures and funding models. On the same...

John Lewis launches its first ever apprenticeship programme

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Employers must appreciate just what value there is in young people, and apprenticeships are a way that the UK can get talent back on tap after a shortage, says Jane Beine, head of partner development at John Lewis. John Lewis announced this week that they are taking on 80 apprentices in their first apprenticeship programme. Beine believes...

Students: are you living for your CV?

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Students have become obsessed with building impressive CVs. You probably recognise this preoccupation with CV-building. It's linked to the pressure on people in today's society to be conspicuously successful. You have only to turn on the TV to be reminded that a lot of people have achieved far more than you at a younger age. This creates a...

Top 100 apprenticeship employers revealed

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The list, compiled by the National Apprenticeship Service and City & Guilds, recognises excellence in businesses, large and small, that employ apprentices. David Way, chief executive of the National Apprenticeship Service, congratulated the employers on their successes: "The breadth and depth of employers on our top 100 list just goes to...

Why you should use video in your recruitment communications

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The use of video in recruitment communications has grown massively, mostly due to its ability to engage, tell a story and bring an employer's brand and culture to life far better than text or images can. Candidates are looking for that real, inside story as well as a genuine example of where and with whom they will be working. Visitors to a...

Academics oppose UK university reforms

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Council for the Defence of British Universities was launched on Tuesday to campaign against a drive to make higher education more focused on producing economic growth and supporting the goals of business. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/fabdec72-2db8-11e2-9988-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2CDVmQ6KX

Helping a few bright pupils won't promote social mobility

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

No one in higher education is going to squabble about the overall direction of the Sutton Trust research. A sample of 13,000 is not to be decried, and the conclusion that universities should work more closely with schools and colleges so that talented young people from non-privileged backgrounds study the right subjects and make the best...

Michael Gove backs study of 'French lesbian poetry'

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Michael Gove said the inventor was part of an "anti-intellectual strain in British life" which appeared to be biased against the accumulation of knowledge as a personal good. In a speech, he criticised the "fatalistic assumption" that most schoolchildren were better off learning a trade rather than going to university. The study of...

Not enough information: colleges turn on Unistats' 'misleading' data

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The new official Unistats website, which lists student satisfaction levels and other data about all UK higher education courses, has been described as misleading by colleges and smaller specialist institutions. Information held by the site on more than four in five courses taught by colleges is incomplete because there are not enough students...

Rolls-Royce, BT and Kwik-Fit recognised for apprenticeships

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers list was announced at The Skills Show in Birmingham this week, with both large and small organisations honoured. Compiled by the National Apprenticeship Service in partnership with City & Guilds, the list recognises excellence in businesses that employ apprentices. More than a quarter of employers...

Spanner in the industrial works as engineering degrees lose traction

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Engineering courses vital for British industry could be forced to close because of sharp falls in the numbers studying the subject at many universities, with postgraduate provision most likely to be affected. The prediction by Dik Morling, chair of the admissions working group at the Engineering Professors' Council, is informed by the...

We need a regional solution to the lack of professional jobs for graduates

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The slowdown in graduate recruitment has been acute in the north of England. With the regional economy distributed across a diverse range of towns and cities, there's no single hub to concentrate the strategic professions enough to provide a critical mass of good-quality career development opportunities. There are fewer professional firms in...

Why you should start your own business at university - even if you'll probably fail

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Support for young student entrepreneurs is abundant. If you're currently at university, you'll have a range of organisations to go to for help. It's likely your university will have its own enterprise society, as mine did in the form of Manchester Entrepreneurs. The National Association of College and University Entrepreneurs (NACUE) and...

'My first week on a graduate scheme'

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

After a really busy first week - my induction week - on my new graduate programme, I'm exhausted and excited. My mind is whirring, processing presentations, flashing through images of new faces and fast-forwarding to my future. In many ways, it's not dissimilar to that feeling of anticipation at the end of freshers' week but instead of embarking...

Business schools unveil plans for enterprise research centre

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Warwick Business School and Aston Business School announced their plans to host the �2.9 million Enterprise Research Centre on 12 November as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week. The centre will carry out research aimed at driving government policy on SMEs and entrepreneurship, with funding from the Department for Business, Innovation and...

Education is a great British export industry

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Our universities are world-class. Four UK universities are in the global top six. And it is not just our old, established institutions. Of the world's top 100 universities under 50 years old, 20 are British institutions - more than any other country. We have much to celebrate. Despite this record, I welcome the launch of the new Council for...

John Lewis launches first ever apprenticeship programme

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The retailer will guarantee employment for 80 young apprentices once their year-long training is complete. This is the first time John Lewis has launched an apprenticeship scheme, and the firm hopes to provide sustainable career paths for young people and an alternative to university. The programme consists of two levels: the Modern...

'Our universities have become factories'

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

For many years I have worked at one of the 40 or so universities that describe themselves as a top-20 university. And when I entered the profession, universities - though largely independent of government - were part of the education sector. We are now, in the eyes of government, nationalised businesses that exist to serve the economy. The...

Science students gain practical skills on postgrad courses

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Over the summer, the House of Lords Science and Technology committee called for immediate action to ensure that graduates leave university equipped with the skills they need to succeed in industry. They claimed that the government was not clear about how to support postgraduate provision - nor was it accurately explaining to students the...

Academics have started to argue back on higher education reforms

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new association has been launched to oppose the government's reform of higher education in England, the Council for the Defence of British Universities (CDBU). Ministers may attempt to trash the council as a clatter of donnish reactionaries, out of touch and out of time. They seem to have decided that the offensive is the better part of...

Billy Bragg: 'education reforms risk stifling creativity'

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Singer Billy Bragg has warned that the government's education reforms risk stifling creativity and leaving the pop charts the preserve of a well-off public school elite. The singer and leftwing activist said the government's proposed new education system threatened to exclude creative subjects from the core qualifications expected of...

Call for employers to play bigger role in classroom

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

School teachers and parents are calling for UK employers to increase their involvement in education by playing a greater role in advising - and providing work experience for - young people (1). That's according to new independent research released today by the Association of Colleges to mark Colleges Week 2012, which runs from 11-18 November...

Hays Travel recognised for apprenticeship programme

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The company was awarded a 'Good - Grade 2' for its 'overall effectiveness' with 'outcomes for learners' reported as 'Outstanding - Grade 1'. The official inspecting body praised the north-east based travel firm, claiming that apprentices, "develop outstanding skills and knowledge and have excellent career progression and promotion...

How work experience in China has boosted my CV

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

China has an abundance of opportunities, as international companies endeavour to gain a foothold on its successful ascent. At the same time, Chinese corporations are looking to breach the international market, and are seeking out those with a keen understanding of how things are done in the west. Sites like The Beijinger and ChinaJOB.com are...

Postgrads opt to do business degrees

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

In a tough market, and with top international companies becoming ever-more demanding, many entry-level jobs require specific skills that only a well designed master's degree can provide. As a result, subjects such as management and accounting have seen a steady growth in student numbers in recent years. According to Higher Education Statistics...

SMEs, our engines of growth are not taking on apprentices. Bad news

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The good news is 84% of our snap poll felt it was an employer's duty to help the career development of those not in employment, education or training - the so-called NEETs. But with complexity a major barrier, fewer than 10% of small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) take on an apprentice. Given these businesses are the very engines of growth...

Do online courses spell the end for the traditional university?

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Higher Education is going to change, says Sebastian Thrun, a German-born professor of artificial intelligence at Stanford University. He has launched Udacity, an online university, and wants to provide mass high quality education for the world. For students in developing countries who can't get it any other way, or for students in the first...

Middle-class pupils shun universities as fees rise

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

University applications have fallen by almost a quarter in some parts of the country, including some of the most affluent regions, figures reveal. The hardest hit is North Tyneside, a part of the country with higher than average unemployment, where there was a 23% drop in the number of applications to university this summer. However the...

Our universities are at great risk. We must act now to defend them

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Universities are among the UK's most successful institutions. Collectively, they enjoy a global reputation that few British institutions can match. Their research produces innovations of the highest order. Their teaching attracts a hugely disproportionate share of the world's international students. Yet their future is being gambled on an...

The only people worse at presidential elections than Florida: UUK forced to rerun nomination

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The vice-chancellors' association named Sir Christopher as its next president last week, with his two-year term due to start in August 2013. Sir Christopher, who is current deputy president of UUK, was unopposed in his bid to take over from current president Eric Thomas, vice-chancellor of University of Bristol. It has now emerged that not...

Universities paying �10,000 to sign up bright students

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Dozens of institutions outside the academic elite are making lucrative offers to applicants with the best A-level grades, irrespective of their household income, it emerged. The awards - for students starting degrees in 2013 - normally include substantial discounts on tuition fees or cash contributions towards living costs. Some...

Will Employers Want to 'HEAR' more about Student Life?

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Universities Minister David Willetts has said HEARs will enable employers "to make more informed choices about who to employ, rather than relying on degree class alone." Well, if degree class is all that matters, why has everyone been wasting their time writing CVs and covering letters, and how will HEARs change that? Does a great HEAR and a 2:1...

A-level overhaul: Cap on re-sits and shift to summer-only exams

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

They are the first of what are expected to be widespread changes to the exams taken by 18-year-olds. The watchdog has published the results of a consultation on proposed changes. Teachers have criticised the plans, saying there is no evidence that A-levels need reforming and that schools and pupils face "huge turbulence". And some exam...

Big thinkers unite to defend 'one of UK's greatest assets'

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

An array of academics and celebrated personalities have joined up to form the Council for the Defence of British Universities including Sir David Attenborough, Richard Dawkins, former poet laureate Sir Andrew Motion, Lord Bragg and Alan Bennett. They are anxious to protect the independence of research, arguing that academics should be free to...

Cost of university accommodation 'doubles in 10 years'

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Figures show that the average weekly rent in university-owned accommodation has soared from �59.17 in 2001/2 to �117.67 in 2011/12. Data from the National Union of Students also shows significant variations between regions and providers. Accommodation owned by private companies, which has boomed in recent years on the back of a sharp hike...

Graduates failing to secure graduate-level roles

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Carried out by Warwick University's Institute for Employment Research and funded by the Higher Education Careers Service Unit (HECSU), the survey looked at the responses of 17,000 university leavers. It revealed that the 40% of graduates surveyed were not in a graduate-level role after leaving university, with the graduate-salary premium down...

Half of graduates could have their student loans written off, admits Government

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Students who borrow money to complete their courses will not begin to pay back money until they earn �21,000. Unpaid loans are written off after 30 years under the coalition's shake-up of university funding. Universities Minister David Willetts told The Independent: "We estimate that around half of all borrowers will have some part of...

Microsoft creates 300,000 training & work experience placements

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The three-year programme, called "Get On", was announced by Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer and Prime Minister David Cameron this week. The technology company will offer the programme to unemployed people aged 16-24. The Get On scheme includes three parts. These include educating participants about future prospects, IT training and...

Career calendar: what students should be doing now

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

First years - 2015 graduates and for those on four year courses Now you've settled into university life, it's time to think about what career might suit you best. Use this year as research year - talk to as many people as you can about what they do. You don't need to make any decisions just yet but getting some form of work experience...

Firsts offer graduates better prospects

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Academics found that 13 per cent of students with an upper second class degree had experienced joblessness, as against 7.7 per cent of students with firsts. More than one in five students with lower second class degrees had been out of work. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/53caa00e-281d-11e2-ac7f-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2Bd2xikvc

Graduate job hunters meet with stony silence

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

While the news that around 40% of university-leavers fail to get a graduate job more than two years after leaving education will come as a shock to many, recent graduates aren't so surprised. It took Emma, who finished her sociology degree in 2011, more than a year to secure a graduate-level paid internship. She spent the time working behind...

Graduate job prospects declining, tracking of university students finds

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Britain's graduates face an increasingly challenging jobs market, with 40% failing to get graduate-calibre posts more than two years after leaving education, around twice the proportion of their peers a decade earlier, according to a study of recent ex-students' career paths. The study by Warwick University's Institute for Employment Research...

Graduate scheme insider: lessons from the first year

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

It has already been a year since I started at Sky. Time has absolutely flown by and with the recent arrival of this year's intake of graduates, I can no longer claim to be new. My first year has seen me complete two different marketing roles, meet and work with hundreds of colleagues, plan media campaigns, test new apps and get half way through...

Graduate view: 'we are not customers'

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

As two recent university graduates we are concerned about the labelling of students as customers who need to be kept satisfied. We believe that positioning students in this way in relation to their learning is deeply damaging to all our futures. Entering the next stage in our lives, at a time of uncertainty and rapid change, we need to be able...

Graduate wage 'premium' cut by a fifth in just 10 years

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The earnings advantage gained by university leavers has been cut by more than a fifth overall since 2003 as a result of the economic crisis, it was claimed. Researchers warned that the value of a degree had steadily declined each year, with students taking arts and humanities courses being hardest hit. Ministers have repeatedly claimed...

How useful was your degree subject in finding a job?

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Telegraph looks at some of the subjects that fared best and worst... For the full report visit www.hecsu.ac.uk http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationpicturegalleries/9661015/How-useful-was-your-degree-subject-in-finding-a-job.html?frame=2391205

'Leadership is part of academic work': talent development in universities

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

In the increasingly competitive - and financially constrained - higher education sector, universities and colleges are placing a growing emphasis on nurturing future leaders from within their ranks to gain an advantage over rival institutions. To this end, a number of institutions are introducing talent management programmes in the belief that a...

MPs call for apprenticeship reform

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Business, Innovation and Skills Committee (BIS) conducted an inquiry into people already in schemes in Sheffield and Northampton, and examined evidence in Westminster to improve work and training initiatives. The report concluded that apprenticeships should take a more prominent role in the learning landscape in the UK. It calls for...

Recession-hit graduates doubt the value of their degrees

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Recent graduates have become rapidly disillusioned with the value of their degrees in the job market, according to a major new study. The study by the Higher Education Careers Services Unit (HECSU) found students' perceptions of the value of their degrees for finding a job dropped sharply immediately after graduating. Two-in-three...

Scholarship scheme won't attract poor students, report warns

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Findings from new study published in The Guardian suggest that the flagship National Scholarship Programme (NSP) is unlikely to encourage youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds to enter higher education. The NSP was introduced following the decision to triple tuition fees to a maximum of �9,000 a year. In its first year, the scheme will...

Solar start-up CEO wins sustainable business leader award

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

These awards celebrate the achievements of individuals across a range of sectors who have demonstrated outstanding practice in business responsibility. The judges commended Toby for his commitment to running his own business sustainably. Accepting the award, he said: "Having weathered the many challenges that have faced the solar industry in...

Student employability: don't forget to harness the power of your alumni

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The debate over higher tuition fees has naturally focused on the impact of rising costs on application rates and student expectations, but where are alumni relations in the post-tuition-rise mix? No one in academia wants to see university education turned into a commodity but the reality of higher fees is that students are all too often...

The AGR Graduate Development Conference 2013!

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

"3D Graduate Development: Direction, Developers, Development" Thursday 14th March 2013 - Inmarsat Conference Centre, London The AGR Graduate Development Conference is a unique event bringing together professionals involved in graduate development and attracted 120 delegates last year. Have you got something...

Action urged as universities 'fail to produce enough graduates to become specialist teachers'

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Mr Levin told The Independent that his school, a private school for boys aged 10 to 18, runs a number of master classes with state school students as well as a gifted and talented programme. "For able students, teachers are very willing but they simply aren't qualified in the specific three separate sciences and modern foreign languages, so...

Apprenticeships: Reform needed for success, say MPs

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Standards need to be improved and schemes need to be better monitored in order to provide the skills needed to boost economic growth, a report by MPs said. The Business, Innovation and Skills Committee report into apprenticeships is urging schemes to be more ambitious. It calls for apprenticeships to be seen as equal to study at...

Graduate nurses don't care? 'Erroneous' media-fuelled anxiety, says report

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

According to the final report of The Willis Commission, published today, the move to degree-level nursing registration has become "a lightning conductor for disquiet, offering a simplistic and erroneous explanation" for a perceived increase in the number of cases where nurses have been found to neglect their patients. "Anxiety among patients...

How to future-proof your career

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Future proofing your career and being ahead of the curve are two sides of the same coin. If you're doing one correctly, you should also be doing the other. Broadly speaking there are two aspects to being ahead of the curve. One is informational. At its most basic, this is simply keeping up with the news that affects your industry. But those...

NES Global Talent launches apprenticeship scheme to tackle skills gap

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

AIM Academy, NES Global Talent's specialist training division, helped the Association for Project Management develop the scheme and has been appointed to deliver it to companies across the country. Lasting approximately two years, the scheme can be delivered at one of the company's training centres or on-site, depending on...

New Zealand Association of Graduate Employers Summit

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The aim of this event is to explore key issues and challenges facing the graduate industry, while providing delegates with the opportunity to explore solutions, share ideas and hear about recent trends from industry experts. This full day event will be open to graduate employers, suppliers, those interested in establishing Graduates...

Recruitment firms: Saviours or exploiters?

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

When Joseph D'Souza left Portsmouth University last year with a 2:1 in Business Economics, he struggled to find a job. After several months of applying with no luck, his father suggested he try interning. Mr D'Souza signed up to job sites including Reed and TotalJobs and was soon contacted by an agency called Inspiring Interns. A visit to...

Government accused of engineering diploma U-turn

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The engineering diploma was among 3,100 qualifications downgraded by ministers in January. Announcing the change, Chancellor George Osborne said the updated qualifications would help Britain "lead the way in science and technology". In January the 14-16 section of the diploma was downgraded from the equivalent of five GCSEs to being worth...

If business owners want to employ bright, motivated young people, they too must take ownership of the problem, says CEO

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Holt, who is CEO of jewellery company Holts Group and founder of not-for-profit social enterprise Holt's Academy of Jewellery, was responding to a call from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) for schools in England to increase their engagement with small businesses. Research from the FSB finds only 9% of small firms have taken on an...

Recruitment apprenticeships launch aims for 2013

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

It announced that the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, a non-departmental public body committed to promoting employer investment in people, had approved its bid last week, following a September announcement by Skills CFA of the plans. While it will still need to be approved by regulator Ofqual, a spokesperson for Skills CFA says: "We...

Tony Blair's companies agree to pay interns

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Tony Blair, whose government introduced minimum wage law which states that those who do tasks that can be classified as work must be paid. Photograph: Rex Features Tony Blair will pay interns working in his profit-making businesses, his private office has told the Guardian. The sudden change in policy comes less than a week after it was...

Vacation schemes: not the really clever stuff, but not all photocopying

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

City and commercial law firms run schemes during the summer, Easter and Christmas holidays, varying in length from two to four weeks. They are open to second year law students and non-law students in their final year. All firms do the schemes slightly differently, but generally students are assigned to a trainee or qualified lawyer and work...

Why creating and articulating your brand is important

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

In a recession the issue of identity, and more crucially articulation of identity, becomes more and more important so you can stand out from your competitors. People need to know why they should invest in you, value you and trust you. This need to articulate a narrative applies to companies, education institutions, even governments - it's...

Aviva unveils 2013 apprenticeship scheme

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The insurance firm is giving young people an alternative option to university, aiming its apprenticeship scheme at high achieving 18-year-olds. Successful candidates will receive on the job experience and industry recognised qualifications. Positions available include roles in Underwriting and Actuarial within Aviva's General Insurance...

Careers advice at every stage of life is crucial to social mobility

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

On a straight word count 'careers' gets 82 mentions in Alan Milburn's recent report, University Challenge: how Higher Education can advance social mobility. The majority of these mentions appear in two contexts. The first looks at the role of university careers services in helping students 'get on' after graduation. Suggestions include: that...

Damning report reveals GCSE marking scandal

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

In a report, the exams watchdog Ofqual claims that a widespread loss of integrity in the profession has led many teachers to deliberately inflate coursework marks. "We are shocked by what we have found," said Glenys Stacey, the chief executive of Ofqual. "The children have been let down. That won't do." The allegations are made in the final...

How to keep your bright sparks motivated

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Create their perfect job. Most bright sparks have a career plan, so work with it. Ask them how their role could be adapted to help them achieve their goals, then bend the rules for them. Hook them up. Introduce them to the CEO; let them shadow you while you meet the MD; get them a mentor. Being around senior people will show them what they...

How to keep your head in a crisis

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

At Nottingham University Business School, students learn to accept crisis as an inevitable part of leading a business, and prove they can manage them. The final module of their MBA programme gives students a fictitious case study of a failing retail business. In groups, they develop sustainable strategies to save it, and their task is...

'Copy BT model' for privatisation

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

London School of Business and Finance - which has denied rumours that it is seeking to buy London Metropolitan University - made the comments in its response to the consultation on last year's higher education White Paper. Consultation responses were obtained by Times Higher Education from the government under the Freedom of Information...

One to Watch: Alan Mak of Magic Breakfast

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Alan is president of school breakfast club charity Magic Breakfast, and is a member of the global advisory board of the sustainability and leadership summit One Young World. Oh - and he holds down a high-pressure job as a corporate lawyer at City firm Clifford Chance. The 28-year-old son of Chinese immigrants could not be a more deserving...

Over half of young Britons wish they had moved abroad

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Fifty-four per cent of those in the age group who hadn't spent time abroad told the survey they felt their career prospects would have been improved by a stint overseas. Yet only 21 per cent of all 18-24 year-olds polled had actually spent a continuous six months or more abroad, either for work or study. The survey follows separate...

Poor awareness hampering Work Programme's success

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The CIPD found that almost four-fifths of employers that have used the Work Programme said recruits met or exceeded their expectations, and 58% said that candidates were better prepared for interviews and demonstrated better presentation skills as a result of the programme, which was launched in July 2011. The aim of the scheme is to get the...

Start-up Star: Toby Darbyshire of Engensa

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

As a consultant at Bain & Co, Darbyshire, 31, spent several years advising large companies on renewable energy. But he realised that if change was going to happen, the focus needed to shift from large corporations to helping the UK's 26 million households, which consume 40% of the nation's energy. Darbyshire's values are put into practice...

Who is responsible for student employability?

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

It's true that universities need to play a stronger role as nurturers of employable, self-aware 'can-doers', not just of subject-specific learners. Employability stats will become harder to ignore as they compete for graduate attention. Meanwhile, over in camp business, employers are slowly inching towards offering more internships and...

Young people to get 'jobs passport' on leaving school

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The proposals brought forward by three Tory councils would mean that every teenager leaving school would have a qualification showing work skills, aptitude and experience. The London boroughs of Hammersmith and Fulham, Westminster and Kensington plan to jointly pilot the idea with 3,500 pupils aged 12 upwards in six London schools, the Times...

Cable admits AAB will save government money

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Mr Cable faced questions from MPs on the Business, Innovation and Skills committee today, looking at issues arising from the publication of the department's annual report and accounts. He said: "The number of students in the current academic year is lower than expected. That's not because of lack of demand, because universities are still...

Maths A-level could include more 'real world' problems to attract pupils

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Sixth formers could be asked to work out the chances of their next holiday flight crashing or discuss whether they should trust political opinion polls under plans to persuade more pupils to study maths after the age of 16 through the use of innovative, real world problems. The Department for Education is to fund an education charity to...

Need-to-know employer tips for consumer goods job applications

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The latest survey from the Association of Graduate Recruiters estimated that there were 134 applications for every available graduate vacancy in the most recent recruitment cycle. Target Jobs have prepared the following round-up of news about key employers such as L'Or�al, Diageo and Unilever to give graduates a flavour of current trends in...

Tony Blair's office could face investigation over use of unpaid interns

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Tony Blair's private office may face investigation by tax authorities for breach of national minimum wage laws over the use of unpaid interns. The Office of Tony Blair, which helps administrate the former prime minister's consultancy and diplomatic interests, confirmed that despite its non-charitable status it uses unpaid interns for three...

UCAS warns over creation of 'two-tier' A-level system

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) warned that reforms to so-called gold standard qualifications could create "last damage" to certain disciplines. In a report, officials suggested that changes could lead to a long-term decline in the number of students taking courses such as the arts. The comments were made in an...

Capita launches apprenticeship scheme

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The ten successful applicants will work at Capita's Portsmouth office, with eight working in operations and customer services, one in IT and another in the project management team. Geoff Hardes, Operations Director at Capita, says: "The current financial climate has seen 1.2 million 16-19 year olds unemployed and not in full-time...

Graduate does more to stand out from crowd

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Giles Metcalfe, a 23 year-old European Politics graduate, stood out from the crowd to land a job in a market where there are over 50 applicants fighting it out for every graduate position. Simon Ellis, MD Investments at Legal & General Investments commented: "Giles's stunt was how he came to our attention as one of our employees saw him...

How should the government balance the books in higher education?

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The government has underestimated the costs of its new student fees regime, leaving a black hole of more than �1bn a year, said a report by the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) last week. The report - which led to "unishambles" headlines - says the government's calculations on the net cost to the Treasury of student loans (known as the...

Is our postgraduate system really as bad as Kazakhstan's?

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Higher Education Commission findings place Britain in the unlikely company of Andorra and Kazakhstan as the only three 'Bologna Process' countries where fewer than one-in-10 students go on to postgraduate study. Now, we'd probably welcome being grouped with these nations in the Fifa World Cup Qualifiers. But in higher education? If...

'It's all about being mindful and culturally sensitive'

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Last week, the Association of MBAs (Amba) held its gala dinner in London, gathering representatives from its accredited schools worldwide. The organisation, currently celebrating its 45th anniversary, presented three annual awards on the night for innovation, entrepreneurship and individual achievement. The MBA Student of the Year award...

Monash-Warwick: what does a global university partnership look like?

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Both universities are embedded within their home countries but together they now offer a connected experience to students wherever they come from in the world. Those students will be able to do a course made up of components from either institution, experiencing learning from Europe and/or the Asia-Pacific, and become globally aware and...

The realities of the graduate job market

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

More shocking is the number of graduates who have studied hard at university, only to come out on the other side to no jobs and a bleak working future. The job market has changed significantly and according to The Guardian, there are seven new realities that every graduate must face in order to...

Apprentices losing out in fees grab

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Smaller companies , now forced to go through larger colleges to run apprenticeship courses, are being charged exorbitant "management fees". An official investigation by education watchdog Ofsted has revealed that up to 30 per cent of the funding that should go directly to learners is being creamed off in fees. Yet inspectors found that some...

English students 'can take cheaper courses abroad'

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Undergraduates will rack up more debts studying in their own country than almost any other nation overseas, it emerged, even when the cost of flights are added. The study, by HSBC, found that only Australia, the United States and Canada were more expensive for English students. It found that the average cost for an English student to...

New UCL campus in Stratford given green light

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

University College London's (UCL) proposals to set up a �1 billion centre for science, technology, education and research close to the Olympic Park in Stratford, east London, have been formally approved by the local council, the institution said today. The university said that Newham Council's decision gives it the go-ahead to continue...

O2 'Thinks Big' on youth unemployment

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Youth unemployment has been dominating the recruitment agenda in the past few months. The number of young jobless in the UK reached 126,000 in the three months to August. And a recent report from the Prince's Trust suggests the number of young people out of work for longer than two years had increased by 168%. O2 recently launched its 'Think...

Publishing group Pearson to launch degree courses

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Pearson is opening its doors to degree course students, making it the first FTSE 100 firm to get into the tertiary education business. 'Pearson College' - that's its rumoured name - will first offer a BSc in business and enterprise, with teaching apparently taking place in its HQ in London. Courses are expected to cost around �6,500 per year...

Scottish universities under fire for degree 'inflation'

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Figures obtained by Scotland on Sunday show that 70 per cent of students leave university with a first or a 2:1. That compares to 64 per cent a decade ago and 56 per cent in 1994, the earliest year for which comparable figures are available. The proportion of students gaining a first has risen from 11 per cent to 18 per cent in the past ten...

State schools + maths = rejection by Cambridge

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Maths is the subject with the third-highest number of state-school applicants to Cambridge but it has the lowest acceptance rate - just 18% were successful last year compared with 40% of those from independent schools. The gap is reflected at Oxford where 14.5% of state-school applicants were accepted for maths compared with 22.8% from...

Students win as Edinburgh triples bursary funding

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

More than �2.5 million has been given to undergraduates from low income families this session - an increase of �1.7m on the previous year. The bursary figures came as it was revealed that increasing numbers of university students in Scotland are achieving a first or a 2:1 degree. Around 70% of students in Scotland leave university with the...

We must not waste our most vital resource

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

For all its travails, there is one area where the Coalition is unquestionably on the right path: education. This is fortunate, since it is also the area that will determine whether the Britain of the 21st century thrives or declines. As Mr Gove observed this week in a speech to the think tank Politeia, all the evidence from Britain and...

Complexity, time and funding the biggest barriers to setting up an apprenticeship scheme

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

While larger companies cite lack of time as the biggest barrier to setting up a scheme, smaller companies say they are put off by what they perceive as high levels of complexity and bureaucracy. "Smaller businesses find it hard to navigate the system," said Jason Holt, CEO of the family-owned Holts Group and founder of not-for-profit social...

David Laws: teachers are failing pupils

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

David Laws has accused teachers of hindering social mobility by failing to encourage children to "reach for the stars", reports The Guardian. The Liberal Democrat education minister blamed school staff and careers advisers for the "depressingly low expectations" of many young people. He claimed too many children were led to believe that top...

Graduate Recruitment in the 21st Century - Removing Barriers

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The HEAR project is raising awareness amongst employers about the benefits it could bring to enhance the recruitment of graduates into organisations - from global companies to SME's. Over the next few months, we will be attending sector group meetings, presenting at masterclasses and producing toolkits to raise awareness about the HEAR and it's...

How to recruit the best graduates for small businesses

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Rob Blythe, director of graduate recruitment firm Instant Impact, which specialises in working with SMEs, says: "Of all the issues facing small businesses today, the four biggest are not about cashflow or bank lending, but about people. And many of these companies, especially in the technology sectors, are growing rapidly and need skilled staff....

Universities have unfilled places after clearing scramble for sixth-formers

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

About a third of universities in the elite Russell Group have suffered a drop in their undergraduate intake this year, after government changes to the way institutions recruit students. Universities can now recruit an unlimited number of the highest performing students, those who achieve A-level grades of AAB or above, under coalition changes...

University complaints by students expected to double because of soaring fees

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Rob Behrens, chief executive of the Office of the Independent Adjudicator, told a conference in London he expected the number top rise from 1,605 last year to at least 3,000 by the end of 2013, reports The Independent. "We believe this year even before the introduction of �9,000 fees that complaints will rise by 40 per cent over the calendar...

Upturn in graduate employment in 2011/12

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Despite continuing caution among companies surrounding recruitment and the impact of the eurozone troubles on many employers, 166,280 graduates from the 2010/11 cohort were in jobs, a 7,700 increase on 2009/10. Overall, there was a slight decrease in the proportion of graduates in work, however, and a slight increase in those unemployed, reports...

Dropping out of uni: sometimes it's the right choice

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

According to the Higher Education Statistics Authority (Hesa), 8.6% of students in the academic year 2009-10 withdrew from university in their first year, up from 7.9% the year before. It will be interesting to see what effect 2012's rise in tuition fees has on dropout rates. Knowing that they are going to pay as much as �9,000 a year is...

Hilton apprentices graduate with permanent roles

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Launched two years ago, the Chef Apprenticeship Academy has helped train 60 young chefs. 95% have secured permanent roles as commis chefs at a Hilton venue. The 12-month programme combines on the job training with learning towards an NVQ Level 2 in Professional Cookery. Each apprenticeship includes tuition fees and travel expenses....

Kickstarting your career in accountancy: graduate schemes

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Accountancy graduate schemes are stepping stones between university and employment and every day will be different. The first few years with the firm will still involve a lot of studying in between working on client projects. These can range from working with a FTSE-listed company to a family business or a public sector organisation. The length...

Mike Hill, HECSU, advises SMEs on graduate employment

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

SMEs are playing an increasingly important role in the careers of graduates, presenting a vast array of opportunities and responsibilities that can be much more diverse than any found in a larger organisation. In turn, smaller businesses are finding that graduates provide a welcome addition to their team, bringing not only an additional pair...

O2 and Bauer Media to create 30k youth work experience places

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The campaign entitled 'GoThinkBig' will see the two companies offer placements to 9,000 14-25 year olds across the UK by October 2013. Some 6,000 will take the form of one-, two- or three day "fast track" skills development courses to teach them how to code using html or manage editorial publishing systems, for instance. A further 1,300...

Pharmacy recruitment may be unhealthy in high doses

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

An "unsustainable" rise in pharmacy provision in UK universities risks leaving thousands of graduates without jobs, the British Pharmaceutical Students' Association has warned. The association predicts that the number of students graduating in pharmacy from UK universities will soon outstrip the number of NHS and community pharmacy training...

Record Oxbridge applications as students seek good value

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Almost 57,000 people had lodged applications by mid-October for university courses starting next year, an increase of more than 1,100 or 2 per cent from last year. Demand among English students, who will pay the highest fees, also rose after a fall at the same point in 2011. Yesterday's figures from the Universities and Colleges Admissions...

Reforms' impact on deficit may be less than zero, says Hepi

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The true cost of the new student loans system will be much higher than the government has predicted and could wipe out all its claimed savings from replacing direct public funding with higher tuition fees, according to an analysis by the Higher Education Policy Institute. The report, published today, says that a combination of the...

O2 to help create 30,000 work experience opportunities

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The company has joined forces with Bauer Media, the owner of Heat magazine, to create up to 30,000 opportunities over three years, ranging from one-day work-shadowing schemes to one-year internships, for young people to gain skills and experience in the world of work. Young people who show potential will have a greater chance of getting onto...

Three skills that show retailers you mean business

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Retail is in demand as a career destination for graduates, while other more traditional sectors are cutting back. According to High Fliers Research, retail is the second fastest growing sector for graduate recruitment, with an increase of 44% in vacancies since 2007. The sector holds stereotypical images of working on a shop floor or stacking...

How can teachers help to improve social mobility?

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Creating a school system that delivers greater social mobility now seems to feature on everyone's list of priorities. Alan Milburn, the government adviser on social mobility, has just presented his report calling for a return of the education maintenance allowance and for universities to increase their outreach efforts. Although none of the...

How to build a campus strategy

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

As busy season falls upon us and the fruits of a summer's planning are coming to seed it is important to take a moment every now and then to reflect on the purpose and value of many fairs, skills sessions, networking events and presentations we get ourselves involved with. Are the events we're investing time, energy, effort and money into...

Morrisons offers university degree to staff

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The supermarket chain will give 100 staff the opportunity to gain skills and knowledge in leadership and logistics. Undertaken at the university's Logistics Institute, modules will cover topics from basic HR management and operations to in-depth logistics processes. The initiative hopes to increase the effectiveness of Morrisons' supply chain...

'Postgraduate study is the next social mobility timebomb'

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

With seismic changes planned for school exams and undergraduate fee increases still fresh, the government might have hoped to keep postgraduate issues tucked safely away in a study. But it would do so at the UK's peril, suggests a report to be published next week. In it, the Higher Education Commission, a cross-party group of MPs and...

AGR awarded funding for graduate-to-employment projects

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Jane Clark, Barclays' head of corporate and investment banking campus recruitment, Europe and Asia, has been seconded to the AGR on a part-time basis to lead the projects. Clark says: "The point at which young people make the transition into work from university represents the culmination of several years' hard work and realises a great deal...

AGR project puts spotlight on fair access to graduate jobs

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The AGR will seek to persuade employers to review their selection criteria so that candidates from less well-off socioeconomic backgrounds are not excluded. Carl Gilleard, chief executive of the AGR, commented, 'We will continue to call for understanding of the way in which outdated selection criteria can discriminate against those from...

AGR receives funding for graduate employment projects

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Association of Graduate Recruiters(AGR) has received funding today for two new graduate initiatives, the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) has given them the money to raise awareness around a degree classification scheme called the 'Higher Education Achievement Report'(HEAR) and also around graduates and social...

Bringing graduates into a small business

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

"When our company was at the stage where we needed to recruit it was essential we got the right people for the position. We approached the local authorities and jobcentres to see if there was any funding for staff and were pointed in the direction of the university graduate schemes. We knew graduates would be keen to join the workforce and to...

Graduates to be offered �20,000 to train as computer science teachers

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The move is part of a package of reforms aimed at overhauling computer science education, giving children the skills to write programs rather than simply focusing on word processing skills. The education secretary, Michael Gove, announced on Friday that current information and communications technology teacher training courses will be axed...

Greene King launches apprenticeship scheme

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The pub retailer and brewer is working with Charnwood Training company to encourage licensees to take on apprentices aged 16-24 in their pubs. Apprentices will receive on the job training and gain qualifications in hospitality. The licensee receives �1,500 from the Government for each apprentice, and can employ up to ten hires in their...

Jurys Inn graduate scheme recruits for 2013

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The GROW Graduate Programme includes training sessions in guest care, finance and budgets, revenue management and effective communications. Successful hires are also mentored by senior level employees throughout the two year programme. At the end of the course, recruits are expected to be ready to take on assistant manager...

Make the most of HEARs, AGR to urge employers

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Both are to be undertaken in partnership with the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services, and Jane Clark of Barclays (head of corporate & investment banking campus recruitment for Europe & Asia) has been seconded to the AGR on a part-time basis to lead...

Not in Education, Employment or Training: Europe's lost NEET generation detailed

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The amount is worth 1.21% of the EU's GDP, up from 0.96% when the recession hit in 2008. In the UK, this cost ?18.4bn (�15bn) in 2011, and includes 1,872,403 15 to 29 year-olds. The number of people is second only to Italy, with 2,157,052 people costing ?32.6bn. It costs the EU ?10,651 per person - although it varies across the region...

Social mobility flatlining at best, says government adviser

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Alan Milburn said in a report that social mobility was now "flatlining at best" after gains in the early part of the last decade. The report recommends changes across government policy and the way universities select, fund and encourage students from more disadvantaged areas, who he argues have been shown to do better at university than...

AGR to raise awareness of Higher Education Achievement Report among employers

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) has announced today (18 October 2012) that it has received funding from the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) to carry out two projects, focussing on degree classification and social mobility. The first project will aim to encourage employers to make use of the Higher...

Business leaders should help the younger generation develop soft skills

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Business should play an active role in education - not as a replacement for educators, but as partners with experience from the field. An excellent example of skills development through corporate citizenship will be shown today in Brussels during Leaders-for-a-Day, a successful collaboration between private sector companies, non-profit and...

Businesses attempt to grow own talent and reduce youth unemployment

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The new Graduate Foundation College (GFC), set up by Financial Skills Partnership (FSP), an industry partnership and skills champion for the sector, offers 150 selected unemployed graduates a concentrated 10-week pre-employment training course preparing them to join financial advisory firms. When they have completed their training, these...

Chairman of ABS attacks STEM "tyranny"

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Speaking yesterday at the association's annual conference at the University of Warwick, Angus Laing said that the disciplines had achieved "totemic status" in government, but were not sufficient on their own to create growth. High-cost STEM courses have had their teaching funding protected by the government despite the complete removal of...

IET launches development scheme for young engineers

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

IET's Career Advantage initiative focuses on giving new engineers increased knowledge and experience, providing people with a solid foundation for career success through specialised resources. The programme is open to all engineering graduates within the first three years of their career. The structured career development pathway allows the new...

Jobs hard to find for young people but depends where you live, claims report

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The report looked at three labour market areas of varying strengths: weak, medium and strong. Researchers sent in more than 2,000 applications by fictional characters for real jobs as well as interviews with disadvantaged jobseekers, employers and labour market intermediaries. The report was published as today's unemployment figures were...

London bucks increased youth unemployment trend

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

According to a TUC analysis of government figures, the number of 16- to 24-year-olds out of work for longer than six months in England has increased by 23% since 2010, a rise of nearly 73,000 young people. London was the only region to see a fall, with 10% fewer jobless young people between April to June 2012 than during the same period two...

Network Rail increases graduate intake for 2013

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

There are more than 100 places in total available in engineering, finance, information management and a range of other specialisms. The management scheme now has more than 40 places available; twice as many as last year's intake. Network Rail is also offering suitable students year-long paid industrial placements across the business. The rail...

New report finds that apprenticeships mirror and perpetuate discrimination

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Young people who have a hard time making their way in life because of poverty, rural isolation or disability - or because they face discrimination on the basis of their gender or ethnic identity - face more trouble when it comes to acquiring the skills they need to get decent work. In the job market they face a steep uphill struggle against the...

Training Zone: AGR to raise awareness of Higher Education Achievement Report

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The first project will aim to encourage employers to make use of the Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) in the recruitment and selection of graduates. The HEAR is intended to supplement the degree classification system, by giving a far richer and broader picture of students' achievements at university. A student's degree class will be...

Universities to coach poorest students or cut entry levels

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Alan Milburn, the former Labour minister appointed as the Coalition's social mobility tsar, will say that universities must do more to increase the number of students from poor backgrounds. In a report to be published today, Mr Milburn will call for the use of "contextual data", such as information about family income, social background and...

You will never think in the same way again

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The latest figures from the Graduate Management Admissions Council (Gmac) show that employment prospects for business Masters graduates are holding steady, despite challenging economic conditions. So what value do employers attach to an MBA, and can it still help you get a job? On its own, an MBA won't transform a CV into a golden ticket...

Young don't want to work, says company with 500 jobs

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

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Alan Milburn: 'school failure creating barrier to university'

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Speaking ahead of the publication of a major report this week, The Telegraph reports that he also called on teenagers in the state system to be given the same rigorous preparation for university applications and interviews as those in private schools. The reforms are needed to dramatically increase the number of pupils from disadvantaged...

Apprenticeships hit half million mark

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The new figures were published by the government on October 11th, and skills minister Matthew Hancock highlighted the strong growth at advanced and higher levels. Hitting the half-million mark is a momentous achievement for this government's apprenticeship programme.?? It shows our passion for skills, and is a ringing endorsement from...

BNP Paribas launches UK Diversity Week

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Comprised of a number of educational events for all staff, Diversity Week aims to engender understanding and learning around diversity issues and further encourage a culture of openness. Diversity Week will serve as an awareness-raising forum, bringing together discussion on gender, ability, sexual orientation, ethnic and religious background...

Graduates reveal UK's Top 100 employers for the first time

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Anonymous career review site TheJobCrowd.com asked 3000 graduates in their first three years of employment to score their company on a range of criteria including responsibility, progression opportunities, colleague interaction, training, work-life balance and benefits. Firms from 17 different industries were featured in the list with...

Jobless graduates should look abroad

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

According to careers experts, working abroad for a year or two can boost your employability back home. It is particularly impressive if you can pick up an in-demand language such as Mandarin. There is also scope for good money, with English teachers making up to �30,000 a year. If you work hard and live like a local, there is even scope for...

Long-term youth unemployment has rocketed, says TUC

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The TUC research also shows that as long-term unemployment has risen, Government support for unemployed young people has fallen by 26% following the replacement of the previous government's Youth Guarantee (which included the Future Jobs Fund) with the new Youth Contract. According to the TUC study, the Government will spend �98 million less...

New apprenticeship scheme offers retail training to young people

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The scheme aims to develop the best young recruits for jobs in small and medium sized retailers. Firms that sign up to the scheme will be provided with a free and comprehensive recruitment service, which will match them up with a suitable apprentice. Each new hire will be employed by the Retail Apprenticeship Training Agency...

Oxbridge admissions: universities to 'raise bar on entry'

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Rising numbers of students will be expected to score elite A* grades in A-levels for the first time to secure admission to Oxbridge, it was revealed. Just days before the deadline to apply to the ancient institutions, it was also revealed that both universities are preparing to set more entry exams in addition to formal interviews....

Pay universities to take poorer students, says social mobility tsar

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The government's social mobility adviser is to call on the coalition to offer extra money to universities for each student they recruit from poor backgrounds, in a report set to reopen the row over the "social engineering" of admissions. Alan Milburn, Labour's former health secretary, will propose a reform of university funding to ensure...

Tuition fees: have increases left the UK government and taxpayer better off?

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

So, how much money did it save the government to increase the fee cap to �9,000 per year? Not as much as you might think. In fact, recently published IFS figures estimate the total saving to the taxpayer of the reforms was around �760m. While that is a substantial amount of money, this represents just a 12% taxpayer saving on the previous system...

Universities drop traditional interviews which could favour private school pupils

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The move follows claims that the usual format, where candidates are questioned by a panel of academics, could give an advantage to confident and articulate pupils who have been coached in how to respond. Instead, interviews are being replaced by a "speed dating" style process where each candidate undergoes a series of brief one-on-one...

BNP Paribas Real Estate recognised as top graduate employer

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The real estate adviser ranked 41 out of the top 100 best companies for graduates in 2012/2013. Rated by employees in their first three years of work, the firm's graduates praised the balance between work and social life, giving the company a rating of 4.5/5 for company culture. Kim Brumley, Resourcing Manager at BNP Paribas Real Estate...

Graduate employment stable with some tech bright spots, finds HECSU data

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

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Graduates versus the world

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The grad-scape has altered dramatically and, perhaps, permanently. Debts, a tough economy and a gnawing scepticism about the value of academic qualifications mean university leavers face an unprecedentedly scary outlook. According to High Fliers, a market research company, an average of 73 graduates are competing for each job, with the number...

The real story behind the rise in apprenticeships under the coalition

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

To the casual observer, apprenticeships are the big success story of the last decade. Having collapsed with the decline of industry in the 1980s, apprenticeships were revived by the Labour government and are positively soaring under the coalition. Government figures released today show a huge increase of 63.5% in the year after the election, and...

Amey creates 163 graduate and apprenticeship roles

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The infrastructure support services provider inducted the new recruits last month to their full time, permanent roles at the firm. Amey pledged at the beginning of this year to have one per cent of its workforce as graduate trainees and two per cent of its workforce as apprentices. This has now been reached with a total of 330 graduates and...

British Gas looks for 1,000 smart energy apprentices

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Smart energy experts install smart technology and provide energy advice to homes and businesses. British Gas managing director Phil Bentley says: "Today, more than ever, Britain needs investment from strong, innovative companies like British Gas in jobs, technology and new skills. British Gas's apprenticeship programme for Smart Energy...

Don't give up the day job to help them secure day jobs

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

That is the central claim of a forthcoming book, Consuming Higher Education: Why Learning Can't Be Bought, by Joanna Williams, lecturer in higher education and academic practice at the University of Kent. Matthew Reisz, who reviewed the book for Times Higher Education reports that, in the view of Doctor Williams, the stress on satisfaction...

Graduate jobs market 'better than feared'

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A third of graduates are working in London and south-east England. There are also signs that more young graduates are self-employed. This UK report from the Higher Education Careers Service Unit (Hecsu) and Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services provides a detailed look at the paths taken six months after graduation - based on...

Graduates fill menial jobs as post-university unemployment rises

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers warned that highly qualified young people were routinely being expected to take on "low-skilled" roles to fill gaps in the workforce. It emerged that the number of ex-students in "non-graduate" jobs such as office juniors or shelf stackers has soared by almost 3,500 - six per cent - this year compared with 2011. At the same...

Is this law degree irrelevant?

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Are law degree courses dull - or worse, irrelevant? With students now thinking twice about whether to pay �9,000 a year to study for a degree, is it time for university law schools to re-think what they offer their undergraduates? The Times reports. http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/law/student-law/article3559115.ece

One in five employed graduates in the UK starts work in London

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

More than a fifth of graduates who find work in the UK start their careers in London, researchers say. While there are jobs to be had around the UK, they aren't spread out evenly, a study based on official figures shows. In 2010-11, 21% of graduates employed in the UK were working in London six months after leaving university, while 3.8%...

Oxbridge deaf to the Hear's siren call

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Last week, Universities UK and GuildHE gave their backing to the Higher Education Achievement Reports (Hear), which will provide a detailed breakdown of students' marks and record their extracurricular activities. As of last week, 109 of the UK's higher education institutions had requested starter packs for implementing the Hear, including 14...

Students drop 'soft subjects' during recession

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Colleges are reporting a fall in enrolments for courses such as hair and beauty and the arts this autumn compared with last year. Demand for construction qualifications is also down on the back of a stalling housing market, it was revealed. But at the same time, colleges told of an increase in demand for courses in science, technology...

Proposed degree overhaul to impact first year students

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The University explained its decision to examine implementing the scheme, stating: "We will monitor its impact in other universities and will consider introducing it next year". The decision to move to an electronic system, and therefore the reports scheme, is dependent upon discussions by relevant University staff to determine the actions...

QinetiQ extends apprenticeship scheme

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

QinetiQ is currently recruiting a further 75 trainees within the next 12 months. This will add to the 109 already in place on QinetiQ's four-year programme centred at the company's training facility at MOD Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, run by the company. Dave Bradley, Group HR Director, QinetiQ, says: "We want to find the raw talent that is out...

Why you should consider a career in procurement

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Procurement is starting to get recognition as a major contributor to company growth. In fact, as the economy continues to present a bleak outlook, chief procurement officers (CPOs) are becoming increasingly important members of the boardroom. Procurement is responsible for both optimising costs and reporting on any savings achieved, and...

Are British universities really destined for long term decline?

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The latest university rankings have prompted another round of questions about the future global distribution of higher education excellence and strength. There has been slippage in the position of some universities in the western hemisphere, with Ireland and Scotland both experiencing this phenomenon. Ireland no longer has any university in...

Engineers can graduate with a big smile on their faces this year

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

New Scientist has this month published a Graduate Careers Special, in which the AGR's most recent survey is quoted as showing that job vacancies in engineering have increased by 60 per cent compared with last year's recruitment season. http://rbiuk.ceros.com/graduatesupplement/sept29/page/1

The music-graduate human scarecrow: 'You've got to take every opportunity'

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Flapping his arms at a distant partridge on a chilly autumn morning, the graduate employed as a human scarecrow might seem a desolate symbol of contemporary austerity. But Jamie Fox has brought a ukulele, a sketch book and some podcasts to pass long days in the field, and the cheery resolution of a young graduate determined to make the best...

Boomers, Gen-X and Millennials: SHL report suggests one concrete generational trend

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

SHL's talent report 'Big Data Insight and Analysis of the Global Workforce', given to Recruiter ahead of its general release later this month, reads: "Where the broader research data is more consistent is in showing a general trend towards declining employer loyalty from generation to generation: 65% of Boomers would consider staying with an...

Dragon's Den's Dupsy Abiola on internships

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Her website enables employers to connect with student and graduate internship candidates online. In this report she speaks to HRZone about her views on the market and how HR directors can best avoid common pitfalls when hiring young people to give them this kind of work...

Graduate starting salaries down 13pc over year

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Ann Swain, chief executive of the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCO), which commissioned the study, said: "The slowdown in the professional-recruitment market, combined with the huge number of graduates competing for jobs means that starting salaries have edged downwards markedly this year." The survey also shows that...

Higher education plc: cheating in the marketplace of ideas

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

More than half of US university students admit to cheating in some form; slightly fewer do in the UK. Much of that cheating is in the form of not attributing others' writing, cutting and pasting sentences from the web - but this is only part of the story. Essay mills, which provide papers for students to pass off as their own for a fee, account...

MITIE recognised for efforts to tackle youth unemployment

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The strategic outsourcing and energy services company has been awarded The 'Economic Regeneration' prize at the Lord Mayor's Dragon Awards. This award identifies companies that are contributing to the economic re-generation of an area through employment initiatives and small businesses. MITIE's Real Apprenticeship Scheme was launched in 2005...

Report highlights benefits of part-time study

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Research commissioned by the Higher Education Careers Services Unit (HESCU) and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills found 69 per cent of students said their part-time undergraduate course had improved both their confidence at work and their job performance, reports Times Higher Education. Half said they were taking on more...

New report card for graduates could spell end of the 2.1 cut-off

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Carl Gilleard, the chief executive of the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR), said that the HEAR would allow students to present a fuller picture of themselves when applying for jobs, and would help employers move away from using the achievement of a 2.1 degree as a cut-off point when filtering applications. He said, 'It is widely...

Top graduates needed in children's social work

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

There are always many challenges facing graduates trying to enter the workforce, and the current economic crisis only compounds the difficulty of moving from learning to employment. Graduate unemployment levels are soaring, and many students fear poor employment prospects no matter how good their results are. At the same time, there is a...

Transport for London to recruit 100 graduates

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The graduate roles will be available in areas including engineering, project management, and technical and corporate roles as TfL continues to upgrade London's transport network. Depending on their subject, graduates will spend up to three years as trainees, joining teams at various sites across London. The new hires will be involved in...

Tuition fees for part-time students threaten skills gains of combining work and study

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

According to Futuretrack: part-time students1, 69% of students said their part-time undergraduate course had improved their confidence at work. The same number claimed their job performance had improved, half said they were taking on more responsibilities and 66% reported that they had used what they had learned in their jobs. These benefits...

Best graduates to be sent into frontline social work

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

New graduates could find themselves dealing with some of the country's most troubled and dysfunctional families within a few months of leaving university. The graduates would be offered intense tuition over the summer, followed by one year of largely on-the-job training in a local authority children's services department. Graduates would have to...

Ed Miliband's education vow - end elitism

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Ed Miliband will put himself on the side of the "forgotten 50%" on Tuesday by drawing on his state school roots and promising to reform an education system that he says fails half of Britain's teenagers by giving them second-rate vocational qualifications of little value to employers. In his address to the Labour party conference in...

Experiential enterprise: can-do students need hands-on teaching

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Universities have failed to react to changes in the labour market that render some traditional business teaching methods defunct, according to an expert in entrepreneurship. That is the view of Colin Mason, professor of entrepreneurship at the University of Strathclyde, who said that a more hands-on approach to teaching entrepreneurship was...

Fujitsu to create more apprenticeships

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

'Intermediate' apprentices who are school-leavers with GCSEs, will join a one-year training programme. The apprentices will receive a salary of �7,800, which is 50% higher than the recommended minimum salary of �2.65 per hour. 'Advanced' apprentices who are college-leavers with A-levels, will start a two-year programme on a salary of �14,500....

How to use volunteering to kickstart your career

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

After graduating with a degree in English, Cat Clark worked in a series of temping jobs that did very little to fulfil her ambition of working in the events industry. So, after seeing an advert for volunteers for Oxjam, she applied for a position in the Bath team. "After working for Oxjam, I applied to an events company for an admin-based job...

Miliband's �1 billion apprenticeship plans welcomed by companies

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Former HR director at Morrisons and chairman of social enterprise group Create, Norman Pickavance, has welcomed the plans. He told HR magazine: "If we're going to compete in the premier league of business with other countries we need to raise the technology and industry skills of our young people." He added: "Far too many young people are...

University student's reports to acknowledge both 'work and play'

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new project is to be implemented that will add a detailed account of the non-academic achievements of students in university reports. The project is being led by Sir Robert Burgess, a sociologist and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester. Sir Burgess said the new system would move society away from a "damaging obsession with...

World University Rankings 2012-13: Asia's high-flyers challenge Western supremacy

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Outside the elite Golden Triangle of Oxbridge and London, the relative performance of the UK's research-intensive universities is slipping, analysis of the 2012-13 Times Higher Education World University Rankings shows. Despite UK institutions on average improving scores across most criteria, a surge in performance elsewhere has seen UK...

AGR advice to school leavers considering Clearing

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

On the eve of A-level results day, Carl Gilleard, Chief Executive of the Association of Graduate Recruiters, said: "A-level results day is highly anticipated by students and their families both as the culmination of two years' work and as a gateway to higher education, vocational courses or employment. It is important that we celebrate...

Association of Graduate Recruiters responds to report recommending HEAR

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

"During the past decade we have seen the average number of applications per graduate vacancy rise by 150%, which has led to the 200 year old degree classification system become used more and more frequently by employers as an automatic cut-off point. Today, over three quarters of AGR members require graduates to have a 2:1, yet it is widely...

Blomfield backs calls for a graduate tax

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Paul Blomfield, MP for Sheffield Central and a member of the Business Innovation and Skills Committee, made the comments last night at a fringe event during Labour's conference in Manchester. Labour's current policy is to lower the fee cap from �9,000 to �6,000 if it were in power today - leaving the door open to establish a new policy for...

'It will become even more of a can of worms, even more unfair, and all in pursuit of fairness'

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

According to a report in The Telegraph, The Office for Fair Access (OFFA), led by the controversial figure of Professor Les Ebdon, formerly vice-chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire, has been negotiating targets with individual universities for admissions based on what sort of school applicants attended. Cambridge, Durham and Exeter are...

Student reports to show work and play

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Carl Gilleard, chief executive of the Association of Graduate Recruiters, said three quarters of its members now used an upper second class degree - a 2:1 - as a cut-off point, excluding anyone below this grade. "Yet it is widely accepted that the degree classification system is not fit for purpose. As a recruitment tool it is a blunt and...

University records scheme aims to end degree classifications 'obsession'

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Students graduating from scores of universities and higher education colleges will have records detailing their academic performance throughout the course as well as their extra-curricular achievements, after pilot schemes across the UK, reports The Guardian. Participation is up to individual institutions in the UK's four higher education...

Aldi to create 4,500 jobs

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The new roles being created at the German retailer include 250 new apprentices and over 100 new graduate positions. Aldi has allocated �181m for 40 new stores by the end of 2013. The number of Aldi stores in Britain will surpass 500 after the expansion, and the firm plans to look at opening 35-40 supermarkets each year after the initial...

Internships help graduates secure higher salaries

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The research, conducted by Inspiring Interns, looked at recent graduates and their roles. University leavers who completed unpaid internships typically secured jobs with a �19.4k starting salary, compared to �17.9k for those without an...

Ucas launches new application scheme for GCSE students

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Over four thousand further education providers including schools, University Technical Colleges and other training providers are listed on the new platform, which features nearly 200,000 courses to which students can apply. "It's something higher education institutions are keen on - widening participation, and increasing information," said...

Economy needs '10,000 extra science graduates'

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Royal Academy of Engineering report, Jobs and Growth: the Importance of Engineering Skills to the UK Economy, seeks to provide evidence for the value of engineering skills to the economy and to probe industry's common complaints about the shortage of such skills. It calculates that the UK needs an annual minimum of 100,000 graduates in...

Five consideration when taking on an apprentice

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

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Graduate unemployment: there is a silver lining

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

In 2010 I graduated with a first class honours degree in journalism. Since then I have had just a handful of temporary jobs lasting no longer than a couple months each. I have been on and off jobseekers support and have now been referred to the infamous work programme. I was under no illusion when I graduated that I would step straight off...

'Grow your own': One firm's plan to boost engineers

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

They get their tuition fees paid and work at Sevcon during the university holidays. Providing they pass all their exams, they will be offered jobs at Sevcon once they graduate, reports BBC News. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-19763965

IBM increases graduate scheme places and salaries

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The multinational IT and consulting giant will recruit up to 300 graduates next year, in addition to the 200 it took on last year. Graduate schemes on offer will include business, consulting and technology. Starting salaries for the majority of roles have risen from �27,000 to...

Ladder for London: Goldman Sachs to take first 10 apprentices for Standard jobless campaign

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Goldman Sachs has agreed to take 10 apprentices for one year "starting as soon as possible" and urged the City to "step up" and follow suit by backing our Ladder for London initiative "with action, not just words". Each Goldman Sachs apprentice will be paid the London living wage of �8.30 an hour for 30 hours a week, earning a salary of...

Listen Without Prejudice

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

UK universities are implementing a new student achievement record – the Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) – meaning that from Autumn 2012, all students entering undergraduate degree programmes of study in UK higher education institutions will leave with a HEAR, as well as a degree certificate. So what does it mean for...

National student survey: UK student satisfaction reaches new record

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Eighty-five per cent of UK students said they were either "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with the quality of their course - up from 83 per cent last year - while eight per cent of students reported themselves dissatisfied. Around 287,000 final-year students responded to the annual National Student Survey this year, which was published...

New graduates face tougher struggle in their search for jobs

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Around half of all this year's graduates will struggle to find full-time jobs for many months after leaving university if current employment trends continue, according to new research. Analysis conducted by the Local Government Association (LGA) reveals that 51% of graduates were in full-time employment within three months from leaving...

NHS apprenticeships: jobs for the boys and girls

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

When young people are thinking about where to get a job, the NHS may not immediately spring to mind, but North Bristol Trust has been using its apprenticeships - through the Skills Funding Agency contract - to shine a light on its job opportunities for young people. "As a big employer we're keenly interested in securing our future workforce, but...

Practise what you preach: Transfer your skills

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

When looking at today's competitive job market it is clear to see that an increasing number of positions, including graduate roles, require today's jobseekers to be self-starters who are able to effectively communicate, lead a team and learn from their colleagues, as well as possessing a whole host of other 'soft skills'. Where previously it was...

RBS becomes next bank to take on young apprentices

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The apprentices will be employed in the bank's corporate banking division for six months and it is hoped that as many as possible will stay on in permanent roles. They will be given "hands-on" experience in key areas such as client relationship management, risk analysis and...

Scientists and engineers most keen to switch jobs to move up career ladder

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

In total, 59% of workers in this sector said it was more important to change employers than remain with their existing one. Finance and accounting & marketing were the sectors in second and third place in terms of keenness to move. The survey questioned 170,000 people across the world, and Dominic Graham, UK director of Kelly Scientific...

The end of the degree as we know it?

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Warwick - amongst other leading universities such as UCL, LSE, Nottingham and York - is in the early stage of discussions seeking to replace the current degree classifications with a Grade Point Average (GPA) system, as used in North America. Under the new system, set percentage boundaries would be done away with. Instead, modules would be...

Top ways to boost your job prospects while you're at university

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Carl Gilleard has recently contributed a piece to the site, looking at how to boost your job prospects whilst at university. In this piece, he urges students to set themselves regular careers objectives and make the most of their university careers advice service, use contacts creatively and take the opportunity to gain experience through...

Young workers: 'Never forget your dreams'

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

As part of a series of features published by BBC News about youth unemployment around the world, BBC News readers share their stories of how they got their break in these tough circumstances, and what advice they would give to others still searching. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19464117

A degree in architecture. but all I can get are menial jobs

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

On the second day of the Evening Standard's special report, David Cohen interviews a young Londoner who spent three years getting an architecture degree - only to face a choice between menial work and joblessness. The Evening Standard reveals that the rate of graduate unemployment has almost doubled in the last five years, creating a climate of...

Back to school: the benefits and challenges of recruiting school leavers

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

As adulthood approaches in the guise of A-level subject selection, summer jobs and university open days, teenagers face a range of exciting choices, writes Terence Perrin, Chairman of the Association of Graduate Recruiters, for Ask GrapevineHR. Selecting a university course is another big decision - yet as tuition fees increase once more, to...

Employers 'need more support to hire young people', warns CIPD

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The survey of 800 employers revealed that one-quarter had not recruited anyone aged 16 to 24 in the last 12 months, and only 56 per cent intended to do so in the coming year. But of those businesses that had employed young people, nine out of ten were either 'very satisfied' or 'fairly satisfied' with their new hires. The research is the latest...

Gilleard to step down in mid-2013

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Carl Gilleard, who has led the Association of Graduate Recruiters since 1998, has announced his intention to relinquish the role of chief executive next July, reports Ri5. Over the period of his tenure the AGR has expanded its influence, membership and range of services to consolidate its status as the recognised national voice for employers...

Graduate job application tip: first, think like a recruiter

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Target Jobs writes that if you try to see the graduate recruitment process - and your own part in it - from the employer's point of view, it will help to clarify what you need to show in your application. Understanding what the recruiter is looking for will help you to get the graduate scheme place, internship or job you want. However, even if...

Graduate recruitment: Getting to grips with the rights and wrongs

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The outlook for the UK economy remains gloomy, with graduates reportedly facing the worst job market in a generation. Here, Sara Booth, employment specialist at Shoosmiths LLP, looks at how recruiters can select the best candidates without falling foul of the law for Personnel Today. Graduate recruitment programmes require a significant...

GCSEs are dead: the EBacc is the future, says Michael Gove

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The new English baccalaureate - the EBacc - will eventually replace GCSEs, doing away with "modules" that allow students to retake parts of their course, cutting back heavily on the use of classroom assessment and coursework, and returning the emphasis to a traditional end-of-year exam. The education secretary, Michael Gove, said that it would...

Mars begins application intake for UK graduate programmes

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The programmes available include Finance, Research & Development and Engineering and Procurement. Mars is also offering candidates a three-year Mars Management Development Programme (MMDP). The programme gives graduates the opportunity to develop their leadership skills and gain experience across the...

Recruitment in academia: is there no room for compassion?

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

We all know the score: despite the continued growth in postgraduate degrees, full-time permanent positions in academia are increasingly rare. With so many qualified individuals for each post, the question arises: how can one ethically respond to unsuccessful applicants? The problem here is multifaceted. With many more new graduates than...

Association of Graduate Recruiters chief executive to step down

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The AGR represents employers involved in graduate recruitment, with 750 members from both the public and private sectors that, between them, offer a high proportion of graduate opportunities in the country. Over the past 14 years Gilleard has expanded both the organisation's membership and influence considerably, as well as improving the range...

Career vs economy: the graduate jobseeker conundrum

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Music graduate, Ben Williams, once tweeted: "@BenCasablancas Been turned down so many times by McDonald's, it doesn't bear thinking about. Is it a graduate thing?" My immediate response was to question why, as a graduate, he had applied to an institution such as McDonald's in the first place, not to mention repeatedly. The effects of...

Degree programmes need to be business-ready

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Over the past year, admissions tutors at university open days have been faced with what used to be unfamiliar questions. No longer are students content with details on lectures and tutorial hours, the mix of modules, or the blend of coursework and exams. They now have questions such as how will the course develop business acumen? What practical...

Ministers want to 'disaggregate' overseas students from net migration

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

David Willetts, the universities and science minister, said the Office for National Statistics was working on ways to "better count students in immigration flows". However, the announcement - made at the Universities UK conference on September 13th - appears to stop short of meeting widespread calls to remove international students entirely...

Over half of younger workers feel unappreciated by employers

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A survey by Canada Life Group Insurance suggests that feeling unrewarded in the workplace negatively affects working relationships, with nearly a third (31%) of younger employees stating that they are likely to have a major dispute with another colleague who is making their lives difficult, compared to 23% of those aged 51-60. A quarter of...

REC launches recruitment apprenticeships with Skills CFA

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Skills CFA develops business standards and apprenticeships representing 10m employees in the UK. The REC joins Skills CFA's Pan Sector Partnership, whose nine member organisations include the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) among other industry bodies. REC chief executive Kevin...

Young children's ambitions 'hint at emotional strength'

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers at London University's Institute of Education asked more than 11,000 seven-year-olds what they wanted to be when they grew up. They found ambitious children from poor homes had fewer behavioural problems than those with lesser dreams. The study was based on data from the Millennium Cohort Study, which has been following...

Young people are sorting themselves out without help from the hand-wringing elite

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A recent poll of Americans aged 18 to 34, for example, found that more than half would like to start their own firm or had already done so. A separate survey found that 35 per cent of people under 30 in employment had started their own business on the side. While a study of four million Facebook profiles for people aged between 18 and 29...

Are SMEs a silver bullet for graduate employment?

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A recent survey of heads of careers services painted an unusually optimistic picture for those leaving university. 79% said that they felt that the market is "more buoyant" than the previous year, and many specifically mentioned that they'd observed increased engagement from small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and niche graduate jobs....

Association of Graduate Recruiters' Chief Executive to step down

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The AGR is the recognised national voice for all employers involved in graduate recruitment, with 750 members from both the public and private sectors that, between them, offer a high proportion of graduate opportunities in the country. Over the past 14 years Gilleard has expanded both the organisation's membership and influence considerably, as...

BAA highlights importance of apprenticeships

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The apprenticeship scheme at Heathrow has been so successful, that 70% of all apprentices that have gone through the scheme since 1977 are still employed there. "There is a strong business case for us to invest in apprenticeships in this way," said Milton. "It is essential to customer experience that all employees at Heathrow are skilled in...

Carl Gilleard: Degree classification for the 21st Century

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The UK Honours degree is a robust qualification which garners worldwide respect; however, we are betraying our graduates by leaving them with nothing but a blunt degree classification with which to express their attainment. The Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) has consistently supported the development of the Higher Education Achievement...

Microsoft, Newton Europe & National Grid voted graduates' top employers

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Graduates in their first three years of employment were asked to rate their company on a range of criteria, including progression opportunities, colleague interaction, responsibility, training, work-life balance and benefits. Following close behind in second and third place are finance specialists Newton Europe and National Grid. Other...

Starbucks to hire 1,000 apprentices

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Starbucks apprenticeship is a qualification equivalent to five A-C GCSE grades. Recruitment will run throughout UK stores during the year and apprenticeship training will happen over 12 months, involving a combination of on the job, classroom and webinar-based training. Those that successfully complete the year-long scheme will be offered a...

The higher education revolution - is there any evidence for it?

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Universities are currently experiencing an unprecedented volume, velocity and variety of change. In commissioning contributions for the 2012 UK edition of Blue Skies, Pearson Think Tank's collection of essays on HE, it became apparent that the drivers for change can be group under the following headings: funding, quality, fairness, and...

Civil Service graduate scheme opens

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The scheme - a talent management programme for graduates looking for a career in government - will be open to applicants on 17 September 2012, and will include improved career development and management to the Graduate Fast Stream scheme. These changes will have a key role to play in strengthening the capability of the service, equipping...

Generation E

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A NEW generation of entrepreneurs will lift the UK out of its devastating economic recession, according to a report out this morning by a leading educational society. The proportion of surveyed twenty-somethings who want to start their own business rocketed from 17 per cent in 1998 to 29 per cent in 2010, the research shows. A separate...

Graduate intake falls 11% at top UK law firms

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Legal Week's report into the graduate intakes at UK law firms predicts that the number of trainees will drop by 11% across the period, with Linklaters, Allen & Overy, Herbert Smith and Eversheds making the biggest reductions. Allen & Overy Training Principal David Campbell says: "Our aim is that, as far as possible, the number of...

Graduates abandon City to teach the poorest children

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Schools attended by poor children should within a decade get results that are similar or close to those in the most affluent areas, he said. Brett Wigdortz, the founder and chief executive of Teach First, which recruits top graduates to train as teachers in England's toughest schools, told The Times that more students were turning their...

MIT beats Cambridge and Harvard to top spot in world university rankings

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Cambridge has lost its place as the number one ranking university in the world, with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the US university that specialises in science and technology, taking over the top slot. MIT came first, while Cambridge, which topped the list in 2011, came second and Harvard third in the QS World University...

Negative opinions among graduates could leave the banking sector short-changed of talent

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

According to a report in yesterday's HR Magazine, a YouGov poll last week placed 'all banks' at the top of a list of brands that angered the public. Phrases most commonly associated with the bank were 'greed', 'bonuses' and 'ripping off the public'. With such a negative attitude towards banking and bankers, it is predicted that the...

Top employers to help deliver careers info in schools

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new partnership between the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) and leading careers organisation Push has been announced today (Tuesday 11 September) to help both students and employers by delivering careers education in schools. The partnership aims to encourage members of the AGR to get involved in Push Talks, an award-winning...

Top internship and work experience employers revealed

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Number one in the survey compiled by RateMyPlacement.co.uk, a student review website, was Barclays Investment Banking arm, which leapt up 13 places from last year's ranking of 14. New entries that broke into the top 50 for the first time, meanwhile, came from the entertainment and fashion sectors. They included film companies, Warner...

Cambridge rejects call for universities to admit poorer students with lower grades

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The university said it would resist pressure to make "adjusted offers" to working-class candidates, according to a report in The Telegraph. The institution's outgoing admissions director even warned that such a move would be a "cruel experiment that could ruin lives". Geoff Parks, who has led the Cambridge admissions office for the...

Graduate jobs: Best universities for high starting salaries

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

These figures - published this week on the Which? University site - were disclosed after universities and colleges were ordered by ministers to provide data on everything from where their students end up working and how much they earn, to the amount of contact undergraduates can expect with professors and how much it costs to live in halls of...

Student loans 'will make it harder for graduates to get a mortgage'

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Students who graduate with high loan debts will struggle to service mortgages and debt repayments after graduation, new calculations have shown. Figures from Royal Bank of Scotland show that student loan repayments, which increase as the graduate's pay increases, will eat up 7pc of the amount that a potential first-time buyer has left over...

Study in London for big salaries but head north for the nightlife, new university guide reveals

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The best-paid graduates of the London School of Economics are earning an average salary of almost �29,000 six months after they leave, while the average holder of a new medical degree is on an a salary of �31,383, reports The Telegraph. The figures were disclosed after universities and colleges were ordered by ministers to provide data on...

CIPD launches Higher Apprenticeship in HR

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The institute hopes that the new programme will broaden access to careers in both business and HR, and provide a rich and diverse talent pool for the future. By 2016, more than 700 people are expected to embark on the training, which has been supported by government funding of nearly �800,000. The CIPD said that the scheme would...

Harvard and MIT online courses get 'real world' exams

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Education company Pearson will provide test centres for the edX online courses provided by Harvard and MIT. This will give online courses "real world" value, says the edX president. There have been claims that the emergence of online universities, and the accessibility of lectures and study groups online, will have a far-reaching...

Scrap tuition fees for engineering students, urges James Dyson

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Sir James Dyson has urged the government to create a generation of manufacturing entrepreneurs by waiving tuition fees for science and engineering undergraduates, while paying the brightest students �40,000 a year to continue their research at a postgraduate level. The billionaire inventor of the bag-free vacuum cleaner said the...

University of Southampton reveals fall in undergraduate intake

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The University of Southampton, a member of the Russell Group, has recruited fewer British undergraduates to start this autumn in a decline the vice-chancellor described as a "wake-up call". The slump has happened because the university was unable to attract enough of the best-performing A-level candidates - those achieving grades of AAB...

How to get ahead in ... NHS management

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Simon Pizzey believes the NHS graduate management training scheme is crucial to the success of the government's reforms because it creates fresh-thinking managers not held back by traditional ways of working. Pizzey, business intelligence development lead at the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust who graduated from the programme...

Top universities warned over class bias

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

In his first interview since taking office, Professor Les Ebdon, the head of the Office for Fair Access told The Independent his regime would be "robust", demanding tough new targets for taking in poorer students and monitoring the most elite institutions "very closely". At present, most universities take in equal numbers of students from the...

Good News Britain: How British recruiters have exported their skills around the world

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

In response to the intense economic pressures, businesses have faced a stark choice - wither away or change, and seek new areas to generate revenues and profits. I am pleased to say that Hays has chosen the latter option, writes Alistair Cox in The Daily Telegraph. Faced with low growth at home we have taken our long-established skills...

Investment banks raise starting salaries to attract graduates put off by scandals

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Salaries for new recruits have been raised to around between �45,000 and �50,000 a year at the top investment banks - a 5pc rise from last year in reflection of the "reputational issues" around City firms. The rise is on top of a big jump in starting salaries at the banks last year as the "social stigma" of working for a bank rises again...

JCB Academy teenagers become apprentices for first time

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The 15 academy school teenagers are 16 and 18-year-olds who first went to the �22m facility when it opened at Rocester, Staffordshire, in 2010. JCB said the number of young people recruited now was more than double the 2011 figure, of about 40. North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce said the figures were "excellent news"...

Apprenticeships: Why we would do well to value them more highly

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

His presentation - delivered in near perfect English - is so confident and slick, it is easy to forget he is just 21, reports The Guardian. But he has just been selected to join a fast-track IT management programme and hopes to progress on to a degree in the future. Switzerland consistently scores well in world education rankings, has...

Gove is stuck in the past. We must look beyond grades

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

First, it was suggested, employers and professional bodies should be prohibited from setting entry barriers in terms of general educational qualifications, such as five higher grade GCSEs or upper second-class degrees. Discrimination against the uncertificated, it was argued, is as unjust as discrimination against black or disabled people. Job...

Graduates finding career start difficult

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The public services sector has long complained that it has struggled to attract the best talent but over the past couple of years even it has been having to turn graduates away because there are too many applicants and too few positions, reports the Chartered Management Institute. Indeed, figures from the Association of Graduate...

Meet the graduate start-ups rejecting City jobs

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

In a depressed job market, has the 22-year-old Nottingham University graduate taken leave of his senses? "There are options other than applying for 20 graduate jobs you don't really care about," he says. Mr Mitha is at least in good company, reports The Daily Telegraph. He has spent the last two weeks at a "boot camp" at Cambridge...

Bank of Ireland staff graduate with management and leadership degrees

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The first cohort of senior managers at Bank of Ireland Group who participated in their in-house delivered leadership programme have graduated with a university qualification. Fifty seven employees within the financial institution have been awarded the internationally-recognised Post Graduate Certificate in Managing and Leading People. The...

Graduate recruits reckon they have fewer opportunities than in 2007, reports Hay Group

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Graduates believe they have fewer job opportunities than five years ago, despite most companies continuing to offer graduate schemes, according to research by global management consultancy, Hay Group. Just under two thirds (64%) of graduates believe significantly fewer schemes are on offer than in 2007 and three out of five (61%) say the...

Graduates won't abandon principles despite tough jobs market

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

This year's graduates are shunning decent salaries, bonus potential and employee benefits in favour of more altruistic aims, according to research. Graduates are placing less importance on overall earnings and benefits than in 2011, with fewer than one in 10 (8%) saying a basic salary is in their top three considerations when applying for a job....

Housing associations take a chance on graduate schemes

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Public services often struggle to attract the best talent. The stereotype of a bureaucratic and bloated sector, crippled by spending cuts and haunted by the threat of redundancy, can set jobseekers clamouring for lucrative private sector roles, reports The Guardian. But in a crowded job market with fewer graduate roles, is there now an...

Youth Unemployment - It's Not As Bad As You Think, Say Career Advisers

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Despite a gloomy forecast, youth unemployment is not as bad as many young people think, a careers advice service has reassured. More than one million 16 to 24-year-olds in the UK are currently jobless, leading to the common perception youth unemployment is at an all-time high. In fact, the highest level recorded was during 1984, when 1.2m youths...

A-level results 2012: A and A* grades fall

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The share of A-level entries getting the top grade has fallen for the first time in two decades in results published last Thursday for more than 300,000 candidates. The results show that 26.6% of grades issued this year are A or A*, a fall of 0.4% compared with last year. The overall pass rate at all grades rose for the 30th successive year, to...

A-level results 2012: Advice for disappointed students

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Does getting your dream job depend on getting good grades? You can still be a journalist, a documentary maker, a city accountant, work on high-profile advertising campaigns or even work for MI5, if you're disappointed with your A-Levels, reports The Huffington Post. [.] Recruiters stressed the need not to panic if your grades are not what...

And for their next trick. the students who have opted out of university

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

University applications have fallen, many believe as a direct result of the rise in tuition fees. The Guardian talks to some of the 'lost' students who have decided to take another route. The increase in tuition fees, due to rise to up to �9,000 at many universities from this year, was widely expected to be a game changer for higher education -...

Good grades alone won't get you anywhere

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Not every employer wants a straight-A student. A candidate with Bs or Cs is sometimes much better suited to some roles, despite the annual frenzy to secure the right slips of paper. When the A-level results came out last week, the usual debate on "grade inflation" was turned on its head when, for the first time in 20 years, the number of...

Learning. Or time to start earning

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

There's more to life after A-levels than uni, writes Martin Thompson in The Independent - could an apprenticeship, a gap year or even a full-time job be right for you? Year 13 could prove to be your lucky year. You may have emerged from school with your A-levels to set you up for the next step in life. But what's it to be? If you've got the...

Off to the university of life

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Paula Murnin always thought she would go to university. But she fretted about tuition fees and the prospect of unemployment, and earlier this year she changed her mind. When the 18-year-old picked up an A and two Bs in her A-levels last week, she had already turned down a place at Queen's University Belfast to become an apprentice at a...

Study abroad and broaden your mind

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Continental Europe has a lot to offer the traveller and tourist, but the appeal for students is even more attractive, reports The Guardian. The benefits of language and cultural awareness are enormous, and studying abroad could even be a bargain in terms of how much you pay for tuition. [.] So what is the added value of studying abroad? Carl...

The old model of 'graduate recruitment' is dead: why few employers are winning the war for talent

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

James Uffindell writes for HR Magazine that he believes graduate recruitment is a great example of the 80-20 rule; 80% of the best graduates are being attracted to the 20% of recruiters who are doing something the rest aren't. So, what are the best recruiters doing to get the best talent and why is the rest of the industry missing the mark? "I...

Third of young people 'receive no responses to job applications'

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

More than a third of young people have not received a response to any of their job applications in the past year, according to new figures from the Prince's Trust. Three in five 16 to 30-year-olds described looking for work as "demoralising", and 22 per cent felt that finding a job in the next year would be "unachievable". Almost three-quarters...

Are graduate management schemes a fa�ade for talent on the cheap?

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Last month, Asda unveiled a fast-track retail management scheme, which will offer 15 graduates an opportunity to become a manager in a year. Asda launched a programme of apprenticeship training designed to offer a vocational alternative to university and joined employers including McDonald's, Aurora Fashions and KFC in training graduates and...

Demand for vocational training doubles as degree costs soar

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Ahead of this week's A Level results, new data has revealed the number of 14 to 19 year olds starting higher level vocational training has more than doubled in the past year. The figures from City & Guilds show that the popularity of vocational qualifications has risen as the cost of university tuition fees has hit �9,000 a year. People...

Gap Year travel: Does time out really enrich?

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Each year some 50,000 young people do work placements abroad. Numbers have been growing since National Service ended in the late Fifties, as has the number of companies which organise gap years. "Rather than being an extended holiday our placements involve learning to take responsibility for others," says Nick Adie of Lattitude Global...

Heads fear clearing confusion over university applications

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

There are fears that the annual rush for last-minute university places will be more fraught than usual this year. Students and their parents and teachers could face extra stress due to changes in the system, head teachers' leaders are warning. BBC News Online reports that for the first time, universities can take as many top-performing students...

Leading article: Not slavery, work experience

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

There are any number of justifiable criticisms that can be made of the Government's welfare-to-work programme. But, as the High Court ruled recently, the accusation that it amounts to slave labour is not one of them. The two claimants - a geology graduate required to undertake a spell of work experience at Poundland and an HGV driver whose...

Pricing young people out of higher education would be a tragedy

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Fees matter in deciding whether to apply to an English university - but while the impact is plain, it is as yet modest given the scale of the fee increase. Whether you are an optimist or a pessimist, for or against the fees increase, it will take more years yet and more analysis to see what the long-run impact will be. Nonetheless, raising fees...

Blogging students: Why getting a 2:2 isn't the end of world

Wed, 08 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

"If I don't get at least a 2:1 I'm going to be unemployed for the rest of my life!" I still remember the melodramatic wail of a fellow student in the library. Given the flood of negative reports about the job market - and the news that 76% of employers are using a 2:1 as their recruitment cut-off point - is it any wonder that so many believe...

Eurozone crisis 'driving students to British universities'

Wed, 08 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Demand for courses abroad has soared by more than 150 per cent among students from Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal, figures suggest. Britain is the most popular destination for young people educated in southern European countries which have been hardest hit by the sovereign-debt crisis dogging the eurozone, reports The Daily Telegraph. The...

Partnering with industry: more than just a logo to help recruit students?

Wed, 08 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

With graduate employability remaining high on the agenda, many universities are seeing a greater demand, both from students and industry, for more career-focused postgraduate degrees, reports The Guardian. But how much scope is there to do something different with postgraduate courses and - given the economic necessity - how can universities...

Student jobs: How to start looking for graduate jobs

Wed, 08 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The graduate jobs market is increasingly competitive, with up to 150 university leavers vying for each job, figures have shown. The labour market has become so tough that some employers are only accepting applications from graduates with first-class degrees, suggesting even a 2:1 grade is not enough to cut it in some companies. Up to a fifth of...

Thousands of ex-students over-pay loans

Wed, 08 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The controversial company in charge of collecting student loan repayments for the Government has taken tens of millions of pounds extra from unwitting graduates, reports The Independent. Tens of thousands of people have been advised to apply for refunds from the Student Loans Company (SLC) after it emerged that the firm had collected an...

University students demand 'real relationship' with tutors

Wed, 08 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

As a new generation of undergraduates awaits their A-level results, attention is moving to what they should expect when they arrive at university. Most will have deliberated long and hard about their chosen place of study. But how many will have thought seriously about the sort of work they will be doing when they arrive? Or how much of it? It...

More bang for UK knowledge exchange buck despite austerity

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The amount of money that UK universities earn from knowledge exchange rose by 7 per cent to just over �3.3 billion between 2009-10 and 2010-11, according to a report by the Higher Education Funding Council for England. Times Higher Education reports that Hefce's analysis of the 11th annual Higher Education - Business and Community Interaction...

Scottish graduates told to 'dumb down' their CVs

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Jobcentre staff have advised university graduates to "dumb down" their CVs in order to find work, a survey has suggested. Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) said two-thirds of the students it surveyed found the Jobcentre unhelpful in finding work. And only 1% said it was helpful in finding graduate-level work. The Department of Work and Pensions...

Spread your wings and help Britain, students urged

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Students should be bolder about studying abroad, according to David Willetts, the Universities and Science Minister, who has urged young people to gain overseas experience for the sake of the economy. The Times reports that almost one million foreign students are studying for British degrees, with more than half doing so from abroad by using...

Don't blame the universities for the lack of state-school students

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Vince Cable's calls for elite universities to admit a greater proportion of working-class students or face financial penalties are a little empty, writes Archie Cornish in The Daily Telegraph. As of September, proposals state, "elite" universities will face penalties of up to �500,000 if they do not admit an externally set quota of state school...

In defence of university careers services

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Guardian work section recently published an article entitled 10 things every graduate should know before they start job hunting. Writer Tanya de Grunwald's advice was practical and sensible. However, the article also suggests that HE careers services are part of the problem, not the solution, for today's graduate jobseekers. This seems...

One fifth of graduates now working part-time

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

More than one-fifth of recent graduates are working part-time, official figures have revealed. Only six in ten (63 per cent) of degree students who graduated in 2010/11 reported that they were in employment six months after graduation, according to a report from the Higher Education Statistics Agency. People Management reports that of the...

Shortened LPC will aid transition from Bar to law firm

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has introduced a new policy that will make it easier for graduates to make the transition from a career at the Bar to a career as solicitor, reports TargetJobs.co.uk. The accreditation of prior learning will allow those who have passed the Bar professional training course (BPTC) or the Bar...

Degree classifications are extremely crude - and pretty useless

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

When they graduate, students should simply be given a transcript of their marks as a record their study, says Jonathan Wolff in The Guardian: In Geneva a few weeks ago, as the American and European participants were discussing which insect repellent to use on their post-conference hikes, I had to leave in order to attend yet another meeting of...

Game plans for graduate recruiters

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

In keeping with the memorable sporting summer of 2012, this year's Association of Graduate Recruiters' annual conference took as its theme 'Getting ahead of the Game'. Welcoming delegates to the Celtic Manor for the conference's official opening on the morning of Monday 9th July, AGR chief executive Carl Gilleard thanked the conference team for...

Graduate skills for sale - to the lowest bidder

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The UK government's policy towards universities mirrors a global divergence between highly paid graduates who are given "permission to think" in their jobs, and those leaving university who will end up in low-paid and low-skilled work. This is the view of Phillip Brown, a professor in the School of Social Sciences at Cardiff University and...

Postcode lottery reveals where young people will prosper

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The likelihood of young people going to university and finding full-time work can be predicted according to where they live thanks to a new website. The data, studied by the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, shows those living in Kensington and Wimbledon in London were destined for a good education and career, with 30 in 100 18-year-olds...

Saturday jobs: You've got to start somewhere

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The number of teenagers taking Saturday jobs is down dramatically. So what are they missing? Writers in The Independent share what they learned from their youthful stints of weekend work, discussing working as a server in a deli, assisting in Marks & Spencer Menswear, and volunteering at...

School leaver data published

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Over 15% of schools and colleges in England (330) did not send any pupils to top universities, figures show. The Department for Education data shows how many students went to Oxford, Cambridge or other leading Russell Group universities in 2009-10. Of the 13 schools sending the highest proportion to these research-intensive and highly regarded...

Students shun degrees in civil engineering

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Fears of a prolonged downturn in the industry have been raised after applications to civil engineering university courses plummeted by more than a tenth this year. UCAS data showed there were just 22,827 applications to take the subject at university in 2012 - down 12.1% from 2011. New Civil Engineer online reports that this fall is far sharper...

Tackling young unemployment: lessons from Europe

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

While policymakers debate the implications of levels of growth and debt across Europe, the unsung difference between how European countries have fared since the downturn is unemployment, and particularly youth unemployment. A report from IPPR, funded by the CIPD and the TUC, investigates the topic. Although the proportion of unemployed young...

Top 10 universities for getting a job

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Daily Telegraph's top university for graduate employment is north of the border, in Aberdeen. Robert Gordon University maintains strong links with industry in sectors such as engineering, computing and healthcare, and can trump all competition with its 97.1% employment rate. Robert Gordon is closely followed by the University of Northampton...

Exeter makes history in Newport

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

For the first time since the AGR awards were launched back in 1978, the Blue Ribbon award - recognising the year's 'best of the best' - has gone to an HEI, the University of Exeter. This year's awards were presented by comedian Hugh Dennis at a gala dinner held at Newport's Celtic Manor Resort on the evening of Monday 9th July. Among the six...

Men and Women still live in separate worlds

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The study reveals some dramatic differences 1. Men and Women seek to work in different industries The stereotypes are prevailing: while men wish to work in the banking sector, financial services and engineering & manufacturing, women aspire to work in educational & research institutions, the public sector & Governmental Agencies...

Attracting the best talent - Summer vs Autumn

Wed, 18 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Graduate-Jobs compared the profile of over 32,000 graduates who registered on graduate-jobs.com during the Autumn (1st Sep- 30th Nov) and Summer (1st May - 31st July) term in an effort to investigate if there was a difference in the profiles. Click here to see the results...

Asda launches fast-track graduate management scheme

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Asda has launched a fast-track retail management scheme for graduates. The programme, which starts in September, will offer 15 graduates an unrivalled opportunity to become a store manager in 12-months. Operating alongside the Asda graduate schemes, where trainees spend two years in Asda's home office, distribution...

Degree classifications: time for a change?

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

If you're nervous about results day, you're not alone. The news can bring either elation or despair, depending on which side of a grade boundary you fall. With more than three-quarters of graduate employers using a 2:1 degree as their cut off point for recruitment, top academics are calling for a shake-up of the grading...

Ernst & Young, Barclays and Allen & Overy receive graduate recruitment awards

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Ernst & Young, Barclays, Allen & Overy and The University of Exeter have been recognised for their graduate recruitment programmes at the annual Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) awards. The University of Exeter won the Graduate Development Award and the Blue Ribbon Award for best overall entry due to the...

Investment in the future: financier's �75m gift to help poor into Oxford

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Oxford University's poorest students will be spared �9,000 tuition fees thanks to the biggest philanthropic gift for undergraduate support in European history, the university has announced. A �75m gift from the venture capitalist Michael Moritz and his wife, the novelist Harriet Heyman, will mean that students with...

OECD predicts Sino-Indian dominance of young graduate numbers

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

By 2020, more than four in 10 young graduates in countries that are members of either the G20 or the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development will be Indian or Chinese, according to a report. The analysis, part of the OECD's Education Indicators in Focus series, says that in 2010 China's share of...

Unemployment looms for generation of British youth poorly prepared for world of work

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Charting a path from school or university into the 21st century workplace was already tough for young people even before the Great Recession tore into businesses throughout the country and left more than a million under-24-year-olds unemployed. But a new report, produced jointly by the Chartered Institute of Personnel...

Unsettled weather ahead for graduates

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

There's a mixed outlook for career prospects in law as firms report retention rates up, but graduate vacancies down. Those hoping to become solicitors received a mixed forecast this summer as law firms posted improvements in their retention rates, while reporting that graduate vacancies are set to drop, reports The...

AGR announces 2012 award winners

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The winners of the 2012 Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) Awards were announced yesterday (Monday 9 July) at the association's annual conference at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, South Wales. The Awards aim to champion best practice in the industry, showcasing campaigns and initiatives which are innovative, creative and effective...

Graduate salaries to rise, following three-year stagnation, finds AGR

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

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Graduate starting salaries begin to rise

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new survey shows that graduates can look forward to higher starting salaries this year, contradicting previous expectations of salary rises. Employers surveyed in the AGR's bi-annual report earlier this year said they expected a four percent increase in average starting salaries, taking them up to �26,000 per annum. However, the report shows...

Graduates from ethnic minorities face an even harder time

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

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Graduates missing desirable mindset qualities, finds Reed

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Graduates are missing mindset qualities that employers want, new research suggests. Surveying 1,000 graduates registered at reed.co.uk, the firm found that most UK graduates rate themselves highly or very highly against the mindset qualities desired by recruiters. However, a further in-depth assessment of 100 graduates found that they are...

Most graduate recruiters now looking for a 2:1

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Guardian reported on the fact that more than three-quarters of graduate recruiters now use a 2:1 degree as their minimum entry requirement amid an intense scramble for graduate jobs, a poll of top employers has found. A total of 76% now use 2:1 as their threshold, up from 52% in 2004, in order to sift through a high volume of applications...

Number of teenagers with Saturday jobs slumps

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The number of teenagers with Saturday jobs has slumped over the past 15 years, making it harder for young people to acquire experience for their CVs - a crucial step towards getting full-time work, a new report warns. The Guardian reports that the proportion of teenagers combining part-time jobs with school or college has slumped from 40% in...

Obsessed with Oxbridge: Is the preoccupation with the dreaming spires damaging social mobility?

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Laura came round on the floor of the examination hall and saw a huddle of medical staff looking down at her. The sheer stress of the occasion had caused her to black out during the second of her third-year final exams. And it was at that moment, as medics fussed around her, that she decided she had had enough of Oxford. The exams had sparked a...

Graduate starting salaries continue to rise beyond predicted levels

Wed, 04 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

In the winter edition of its bi-annual survey (published Thursday 26 January), AGR members had predicted a 4% increase in graduate salary, to �26,000. New data in the summer edition reveals an even more positive picture, as recruiters exceeded their estimate and indicated an expected increase of 6%, to �26,500. This follows three consecutive...

BBC plan for paid apprenticeships is welcome but more needs to be done

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The BBC's plans to recruit scores of new entrants for paid apprenticeships, in numbers deliberately above those it needs internally, rolled out at last week's Apprenticeships and the Media event at Broadcasting House, is part of a desperately needed and belated attempt to improve the supply of well-trained staff in the UK TV industry, argues The...

The role of university careers services in the skills supply chain

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The recent review of business-university collaboration led by Prof Tim Wilson recommends that every full-time undergraduate student should have the opportunity to experience a structured, university-approved, undergraduate internship during their study, reports The Guardian. Furthermore, university careers services and their local enterprise...

Willetts: employers pick graduates from just six universities

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

David Willetts, the Universities Minister, said graduate employers were "fishing in an unduly narrow pool" of talent in a move that risks discriminating against students from less prestigious institutions, reports The Daily Telegraph. In a speech, he criticised company recruitment programmes that prioritise applicants from just six universities....

Channel 4 launches first ever graduate programme

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The television broadcaster has announced the launch of its first ever graduate programme, offering graduates hands on experience at the centre of the organisation. Channel 4 is also offering graduates the opportunity to bolster their CV with a Skillset Creative Media Leadership MA. AskGrapevine HR reports that three successful applicants will...

Management Today Sky Future Leaders Awards: Judges announced

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The MT Sky Future Leaders Awards aims to recognise sustainability champions across all disciplines and areas of enterprise. From the Start-up Star category, which is aimed at new firms using sustainability and ethical values to build better businesses, to the Corporate Ace, spearheading sustainability initiatives within large businesses, to the...

Number of graduates in basic jobs doubles in five years

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

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Students say they will work for free after graduating

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Almost all students are prepared to work unpaid or take minimum wage positions to secure a graduate job, according to a national survey. Half of university students are willing to work for free to kickstart their career, while 40% said they would take a minimum wage position, according to research carried out by studentbeans.com. The findings...

We treat children too softly to succeed. If they don't learn discipline at school, they'll never be worth hiring

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

This week we learned that more than half of secondary school teachers have never sent unruly pupils to see the head, reports The Daily Mail. Of course, none of us wants our children to be miserable in the classroom: we want them to succeed, and to emerge, if not exactly garlanded with prizes, then at least with a clutch of respectable exam...

Apprenticeships scheme to train pilots and lawyers

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Young people will be able to train as airline pilots, lawyers, accountants and engineers as part of a government apprenticeship scheme. Some 4,230 placements will be funded in the second round of the �25m higher apprenticeships initiative. BBC News Online reports that Business Secretary Vince Cable said they would help sectors tackle skills...

Loans system can't go on like this, senior figures say

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The new student loans system designed by the government to support higher tuition fees is "unsustainable in the long term", according to a survey of senior figures in higher education conducted by Barclays. Times Higher Education reports that the poll, of 46 higher education professionals, was carried out at a "Future of Higher Education" debate...

More than 1,500 graduates apply for IT software scheme

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Just six graduate positions are still available with leading business software solutions provider m-hance, after a scheme was launched which attracted 1,162 job applications. Since the job position was posted four weeks ago, m-hance has received a staggering number of applicants for the role, which will be based in the firm's headquarters in...

New degree checks for graduates to combat 'CV' fraud

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Graduate job applications are to be subjected to rigorous checks amid fears rising numbers of university leavers are committing "degree fraud", it was announced this week. A new degree verification service is being launched following claims that ex-students are deliberately lying on CVs and inflating their qualifications to get ahead in the race...

New University of Leicester employability summit aims to maximise graduate prospects for students

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Academics and teaching staff across the University of Leicester will shortly gather for a ground-breaking conference to promote student employability. The University's inaugural Employability Summit, which will feature talks from leading figures in the field of graduate recruitment, will be held on 2 July. Carl Gilleard, Chief Executive of the...

Should medical postgrad courses teach management skills?

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A report published in January called Liberating the NHS: Developing the Healthcare Workforce From Design to Delivery is about to shake up postgraduate healthcare training, reports The Guardian. Based on the work of the NHS Future Forum, a consultation begun under the last Labour government, the report recommends that there should be less focus...

61% of school leavers lack work skills

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The CBI / Pearson Education & Skills survey of 542 organisations, employing around 1.6 million people, reports that 61% of firms say school and college leavers have not developed the self-management skills they need for work while at school, reports HR Magazine. The persistence of this finding suggests that there are structural issues within...

Are tuition fees really to blame for a drop in student numbers?

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

New figures from Ucas show that 46,413 fewer English students have applied to go to university in September 2012 than had applied by this time last year. So far this year, student demand in England has dropped by 10% in total, reports The Guardian. It seems enough to conclude that tuition fees have had a severe impact on university...

Private providers set to go head to head with universities on places

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Private providers are to compete directly with universities for undergraduate places for the first time after the government announced that it aimed to bring them under the same controls on the number of students accessing public loans, and the same quality assurance regime, as the rest of the sector, reports Times Higher Education. In its...

University entrance exams - Testing times

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

At the gates of Shanghai Beijiao Middle School on the morning of the gaokao, students thumb their textbooks frantically. The number sitting China's notoriously tough university-entrance exam each year is falling (6,000 fewer students took the exam in Shanghai this year; an effect of the one-child policy). But the atmosphere is as panicked as...

Are tuition fees really to blame for a drop in student numbers?

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Employers report school leavers don't have work skills, forcing them to invest in learning and development, finds CBI/Pearson Education

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

No summer jobs for teens is a sideshow in this economic crisis

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

David Howell writes on Guardian.co.uk that the jobs deficit in the USA affects teenagers, too, but what they need is to graduate from college, not flip burgers for the minimum wage. After the dismal employment numbers reported by the Labor Department for May, media attention has begun to focus on the summer job shortage for teenagers. According...

Umunna takes coalition to task over HE turf war

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Labour's shadow business secretary has warned that moving responsibility for universities from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to the Department for Education would cause "disruption and uncertainty" for the sector. In a speech to the Institute for Public Policy Research, Chuka Umunna said that BIS was the "right place for a...

Placements useful because PhDs need Plan B

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Universities are struggling to balance recommendations to send PhD students on internships with the fact that their supervisors often fail to see the value of such placements. The government-commissioned Wilson Review of Business-University Collaboration, published in February, called for all PhD students to do an 8- to 12-week placement during...

Tesco's Sir Terry voices support for higher tuition fees at universities

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Sir Terry Leahy, the former Tesco boss, has claimed that higher tuition fees would boost academic standards because students treated university like a "three-year gap year" when degrees were cheap, reports The Independent. The tough-talking former supermarket chief executive said education levels were dropping before fees were introduced. Sir...

The 100 Under 50 university rankings: results

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Republic of Korea's Pohang University of Science and Technology has topped the first Times Higher Education ranking of the 100 best universities under the age of 50, leading a strong showing for East Asian universities. The THE 100 Under 50 aims to show which nations are challenging the US and the UK as higher education powerhouses - and...

Unemployment in Europe: resources for jobseekers

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Multinational employers are looking for the global leaders of the future. Carl Gilleard discusses what UK graduates need to do to compete in an increasingly competitive international marketplace. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/may/31/jobseeking-europe-employment-guide

University applications drop by 50,000 amid rising fees

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

University applications have plummeted by 50,000 as growing numbers of students are put off by annual tuition fees of up to �9,000, it emerged. Figures show that demand for degree courses across Britain is down by almost nine per cent in just 12 months, reports The Daily Telegraph. Students from England - who face paying the highest fees - are...

Barriers to professions reinforced by employers who recruit from socially exclusive universities

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Barriers to entering many professions are being reinforced by employers who recruit from a small cohort of socially exclusive universities, according to the government's independent reviewer of social mobility. Former Labour minister Alan Milburn has published the first of three government-commissioned reports looking at how to increase social...

Over 12,500 students on a mission to become global graduates

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

More than 12,500 UK undergraduates are heading abroad for a portion of their studies this year, in order to gain the "global knowledge" desired by leading graduate employers. A survey conducted by the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR), Council for Industry and Higher Education (CIHE) and research agency CFE at the end of last year found...

Student immigration policy will not harm UK, says government

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The government is on course to meet its immigration targets without "fiddling" the figures to exempt foreign students, minister Damian Green has said. He rejected calls from 70 of Britain's universities to stop counting foreign students as immigrants. The universities are angry about new rules on visas which they say is harming their efforts to...

Government provides funds to employers who recruit young people with disabilities

Fri, 25 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Government has launched a wage incentive scheme to encourage employers to give young disabled people further work opportunities. A payment of up to �2,275 will be made available for employers who recruit young disabled people through Work Choice - a specialist disability employment programme that provides tailored support to help disabled...

Neets 'lack skills needed for first jobs'

Fri, 25 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Too many young people lack the social skills needed to get their first job, says a report on the issue of "Neets". The Work Foundation says more than 450,000 Neets - youngsters not in education, employment or training - have never had a regular job. Report author Paul Sissons says young people can lack the "soft skills" needed for the jobs...

CIPD launches campaign calling on employers to engage with young people and improve their recruitment prospects

Fri, 25 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Employers, including Marks and Spencer, Deloitte, Nestl�, O2 and NHS Employers, have joined forces with the CIPD in the launch of a campaign designed to generate a step change in employers' engagement with young people, in order to boost their employability and job prospects. Research, conducted by the CIPD as part of its quarterly Labour Market...

Internships v paid work: which would you choose?

Fri, 25 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

As the graduate employment market becomes increasingly competitive, we need to make ourselves stand out from the crowd - good grades and experience are a must, writes Ellis Schindler of The Guardian's Blogging Students. But we also have to pay the rent. So, when juggling student life, which do you prioritise: your degree, unpaid CV-boosting...

Join the continental drift: UK plc needs you

Fri, 25 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Every week, business studies student Andrew Bell sits down in a Coburg cafe to chat in German with his language buddy - a fellow student who in turn is trying to boost his English. Learning a language was one of the reasons the Bournemouth University student wanted to study abroad - he knows employers prize international experience. He's one of...

'No benefit' to short apprenticeships

Mon, 21 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Apprenticeships of less than six months provide "no real benefit" to trainees or their employers, a parliamentary report warned today. The Commons Public Accounts Committee praised the Business Department's drive to boost the number of apprenticeships, which quadrupled from 79,000 in 2006/07 to 325,500 in 2010/11, with the proportion...

Erasmus at 25: what is the future for international student mobility?

Mon, 21 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Erasmus Programme was initiated by the European Commission 25 years ago, in a time that the commission didn't even have a mandate on education. The community only had 11 members and the Iron Curtain was still present. Humble beginnings aside, 25 years on, the programme continues to have a great impact on the development of Europe and its...

Impact - The University of Nottingham's Official Student Magazine

Mon, 21 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

There is a rumour going around university that I've been hearing since my first lecture and that I've yet to see any proof of. Everyone believes it, despite having no clue as to where the idea started. The rumour I'm talking about is that a first class degree at university isn't worth the hassle; all you need is a 2:1 and you're home and dry...

Students 'see no rise in lectures' despite tuition fee hike

Mon, 21 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Universities have been accused of ripping off students after figures showed that a sharp rise in tuition fees has failed to translate into more teaching. A tripling in the cost of a degree under Labour has made almost no difference to the number of lectures and tutorials undergraduates receive, it was revealed. New figures show that students...

US debate heats up: just the job, or skills for life?

Mon, 21 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Ryan Hoyle has one of the toughest tasks in Detroit. His job is to hire engineers and other skilled employees for an information technology company called GalaxE Solutions. Yet in the midst of high unemployment, and in a state where joblessness has long been above the national average, his and two neighbouring tech companies have a total of...

Financial services firms 'may struggle to retain graduates'

Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Financial services firms need to work harder to retain their graduates as many are likely to leave for greener pastures at the first opportunity, research has claimed. A new PwC survey of graduates working in financial services found that there is a 'significant gap' between what graduates currently working in the sector expect from their...

Government launches plans to enhance global work experience of graduates

Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A report commissioned by Universities and Science Minister David Willetts has outlined a range of ways to help students gain vital international experience from overseas study and work placements. The report by Professor Colin Riordan, chairman of the UK HE International Unit, looks at the incentives and obstacles to students studying and...

Lancaster University introduces soft skills training to prepare students for work

Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Lancaster University Management School is supplementing its teaching capabilities with soft skills learning to provide core practical skills for students on its business, management and marketing programmes. The Management School has online access to 10 programmes from training company Video Arts, covering issues such as working in teams...

An education in overseas study

Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Carl Gilleard has been quoted in a piece discussing students attending foreign universities. Russ Thorne writes in The i that the rising cost of university education in the UK has prompted an increasing number of students to think about applying to study abroad. It's a big decision, with students needing to weigh up the positives and negatives....

ITV tunes into graduate programme

Tue, 08 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

ITV launches its first-ever graduate recruitment campaign today. Ten graduate roles will be offered for two-year placements, according to Catherine Schlieben, ITV head of recruitment. The broadcaster already offers 10 one-year news traineeships for entry-level journalists. That initiative will run alongside the new graduate recruitment programme...

UK Power Networks invites graduates to design graduate recruitment programme

Tue, 08 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

UK Power Networks has introduced an assessment scheme for recruitment, designed by graduates for graduates. This year's assessment centre for graduates who are interested in joining the electricity distribution firm was different to ones candidates may have experienced elsewhere. Personnel Today reports that the candidates were given three team...

Why some graduates believe university was a waste of time

Fri, 04 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Public debate about the purpose and practice of higher educatation is currently dominated by a discourse of employability which privileges the financial rewards of achieving a HE qualification over the personal and social rewards associated with the experience itself, argues The Guardian. Critics of this discourse argue that attempts to isolate...

Black graduates more likely to be unemployed than white

Fri, 04 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Black graduates are three times more likely to be unemployed than white within six months of leaving university, a study has revealed. Black graduates finding work can expect to earn as much as 9pc less for the same work as a white graduate over five years, the report by Deloitte showed. The study claims black students are not being given the...

Who'd be a graduate in 2012?

Fri, 04 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Being 21 isn't what it used to be. Fresh out of university with a good degree under your belt, you'd expect the world to be your oyster and to land an interesting job, move into your own place and enjoy your freedom. But with a fifth of new graduates out of work, today's reality often means returning to the family home, spending a lot of time...

Willetts pledges partial grant to encourage overseas study

Fri, 04 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Funding council grants will partially cover the cost of years abroad under England's system of higher fees but students will face some charges, the universities and science minister has announced. In a communiqu� from the eighth Bologna Process/European Higher Education Area Ministerial Conference, held in Bucharest last week, the European...

Young people want access to employers to improve career prospects

Fri, 04 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Young people want to bridge the gap between education and work, and improve their chances of finding employment by obtaining greater access to employers, according to research published today by City & Guilds. City & Guilds says the research, "Ways into Work: views of children and young people on education and employment", is the first...

A third of graduates forced to claim Jobseekers Allowance, reports Totaljobs

Tue, 01 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

More than a third of UK graduates have been searching for work for over six months, forcing the same percentage to claim Jobseekers Allowance, according to recruitment website Totaljobs. Almost two fifths (16%) of graduates have applied for more than 100 jobs, without success, with one quarter not managing to secure a single interview. HR...

MBAs compete for �5,000 sustainable business prize

Tue, 01 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Guardian reports that students are thinking green as Marks & Spencer and Cranfield University unite to reward the best sustainable business idea. Rebecca Smithers writes: I've never been a dragon before, never mind a "green" dragon, so as I took my seat at the top table with the other judges of the M&S Sustainable Retailing Challenge...

EMI leads paid internships plan for creative industries

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A groundbreaking programme spearheaded by EMI Music is offering paid internships and apprenticeships across the creative industries, reports People Management. Led by the music major, the Creative Channels initiative includes the BBC and Thomson Reuters, and aims to offer upwards of 50 internships, apprenticeships and work experience placements....

Google tops poll of employers graduates most want to work for

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Google has taken the top spot of the most desirable employer amongst graduates, with BBC TV at number two, whilst the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) and the Security Service (MI5) also feature in the top 10, reports HR Magazine. The findings from the Guardian UK300 compiled by research company Trendence reveals the most desirable employers as...

Job adverts seeking graduates could be outlawed

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Supreme Court on Wednesday said an older employee was indirectly discriminated against on the grounds of age when he was denied access to a new top salary band at work, because he did not have a law degree, reports The Daily Telegraph. The judgment ruled that Terence Homer, an ex-police officer who worked as an adviser on the Policy National...

Work experience 'needs more than parent networking'

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The quality of teenagers' work experience is strongly linked to future careers but must rely on more than just their parents' connections, a heads and employers report says. The report, covered by BBC News Online, calls for the potential of work experience to be better used to broaden pupils' horizons. Head teachers' leader Brian Lightman says...

Building professional accreditation into traditional degrees

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Universities and professional bodies need to work together to develop graduate employability, reports The Guardian. Higher education institutions are increasingly aware of the need to set themselves apart from their competitors. With students seeking out degrees that help them stand out in a crowded graduate job market, academics and higher...

Dispatches from South Africa: the case for vocational training

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

In January, Angie Motshekga, the minister for basic education, announced with some fanfare that 70.2% of the pupils who sat the examinations for the national senior certificate - usually referred to as matric - passed. In a country with high levels of deprivation and poor resource allocation, this appears to be a magnificent achievement....

Young Britons lack the 'work experience' to get jobs? Nonsense - it's a matter of aptitude and attitude

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Young British workers lack get up and go in comparison with migrants competing for the same jobs, according to an employment minister. Not strictly accurate. In many cases, they don't go as far as the get up bit, claims The Daily Mail. Chris Grayling is concerned that local youngsters who have just left school or college have insufficient...

David Willetts: admit student on 'potential' rather than grades

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Academics should look beyond raw A-level grades to select pupils by their "potential" to succeed in higher education, said David Willetts, the Universities Minister. He was also quoted, in a piece by the Daily Telegraph, as suggesting that rising numbers of poorly-qualified students should be given a "foundation year" - before the start of their...

Pakistani students applying for UK visa will face compulsory interview

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Every Pakistani student applying for a visa to come to study in Britain will face a compulsory interview with consular officials following a secret pilot study indicating that up to 40% could be ineligible. The Guardian reports that Theresa May, the home secretary, will soon announce that "bogus" students will be blocked from entering Britain...

'School work placements boost apprentice success'

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A meaningful work experience placement while still at school is crucial to a successful apprenticeship, says Ofsted. BBC News Online reports that the education watchdog wants schools to organise better placements and the government to develop stronger careers guidance for over-16s in England. In a report, it says official figures suggest around...

Manufacturers 'reject school leavers in favour of older workers'

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

New research shows employers in manufacturing and engineering are far less likely to offer opportunities to inexperienced young people - whom they would have to train up and supervise more - when there are plenty of "job-ready" older people available to do the work due to Britain's rising unemployment toll. The Daily Telegraph reports that the...

Paid-for gap years on offer to young adults in new scheme

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Up to 7,000 people who choose to delay their studies will get heavily subsidised trips to volunteer abroad in areas including teaching, HIV awareness and water conservation. The placements, which include flights, visas, insurance, vaccinations, food, accommodation and an allowance, will start in July. Applicants aged between 18 and 25 will be...

Graduates faces earnings slump

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

After being battered by high tuition fees and soaring youth unemployment, new figures out this week show young people are set to suffer further as real graduate pay falls to its lowest level in almost a decade, reports City AM. Starting salaries for university leavers are unchanged this year at an average of �25,000, a significant fall once...

Citizens' Advice Scotland launches new graduate survey

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) is launching a national online survey of recent graduates who are struggling to find work. The move comes after its advisers across Scotland reported a rise in graduates facing financial problems because they could not get jobs. CAS wants to investigate the extent of the problem and to give those affected "a...

Accenture gets to grips with Gen Y

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Accenture has picked up a top award from the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR), thanks to the coaching it offers management to help them relate to the learning style of Generation Y. The 2012 Graduate Development Awards also recognised the quality of the induction the firm offers to new recruits and interns. Judges particularly admired...

Citizens' Advice Scotland launches new graduate survey

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Employability: university education isn't just about developing skills

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The debate around employability and skills is important, but we must not lose sight of the critical and theoretical talent universities are also required to deliver, says David Docherty in The Guardian: Lord Heseltine, to whom I once awarded an honorary doctorate in business administration when I was chairman of the University of Bedfordshire...

Exam regulator's research backs case for A-level reform

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

University students today have a shallower subject knowledge despite record improvements in A-level results over recent years, a report from the exams regulator Ofqual said last night. The Independent reports that research paves the way for a return to traditional A-levels with exams at the end of a two-year course, scrapping the modular...

TV chef, music mogul and skills minister join forces to launch National Careers Service

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Model turned TV chef Lorraine Pascale and skills minister John Hayes joined forces with music mogul Pete Waterman to launch a new service which will transform careers advice by combining highly-trained advisers with an interactive website, "helping countless people to reach their potential". HR Magazine reports that Pascale gave up modelling in...

Universities express fears about Gove plan for lecturer-set A-levels

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Universities, headteachers and examiners have expressed concern over the coalition's plans to ask lecturers to set A-level exams in two years' time, claiming that the system is "not broken". The Guardian reports that Michael Gove, the education secretary, has written to the qualifications watchdog, Ofqual, calling for exam boards and ministers...

Does graduation mark the start of your quarterlife crisis?

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

As the end of term draws near, the prospect of a summer filled with applications, interviews and rejection looms and many graduates dread waving goodbye to the comforts of student life, reports The Guardian. Student life couples the one positive of unemployment, an abundance of free time, with the prestige of a degree. With graduate unemployment...

Major university admission shake-up axed, says Ucas

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Radical proposals to allow students to apply for degree courses after receiving their A-level results were dropped following concerns it would cut sixth-form teaching time and undermine the quality of exam marking, reports The Daily Telegraph. University leaders also suggested that the move would put too much pressure on admissions tutors by...

Michael Gove wants universities to create new A-levels

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Universities should dictate the content of A-level papers and review them each year, the Education Secretary has said in a letter to exam regulator Ofqual, reports BBC News Online. Michael Gove says he is concerned current A-levels fail to properly prepare students for university. Any change would apply to English exam boards, whose papers are...

Study highlights fees deterrent for postgraduates

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Higher fees for UK master's courses are deterring students from continuing their studies and the deterrent is strongest for those from poorer backgrounds, according to a new study reported in The Times Higher Education. An analysis of fees by Philip Wales, a PhD student at the London School of Economics specialising in the economics of higher...

Apprenticeship numbers increase with 256,500 starting a scheme since August 2011

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

There has been an increase in the number of people starting an apprenticeship, reports HR Magazine. Provisional data shows that in the first half of the 2011/12 academic year (August 2011 to January 2012) 256,500 people started an apprenticeship, including 79,100 young people (aged under 19), 77,100 19-24 year olds and 100,300 adults aged 25 or...

University drop-out rate soars

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

More than one-in-five undergraduates are failing to compete the first year of their degree at the worst-performing universities, it emerged, prompting fears that millions of pounds of taxpayers' money is being wasted on unwanted courses. The Daily Telegraph reports that at some universities, an estimated four-in-10 students will fail to finish...

Most universities set to have fewer places

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Most universities in England are going to have fewer places to offer students this year, as the funding changes in higher education are implemented, reports BBC News Online. The Higher Education Funding Council for England suggests that about three out of four universities could reduce places - some by more than 10%. But there will be an...

2012 Graduate Development Awards

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

AGR's 2012 Graduate Development Awards were announced earlier this month. We were delighted to have a record number of entries, and the judges were once again impressed by the high standard of entrants across the board. The awards were established in order to promote innovative and effective practice in graduate development, in line with...

BT uses leadership coaching scheme for apprentices

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

BT has completed a successful pilot of a scheme which saw young apprentices given a style of leadership training and coaching usually reserved for senior executives, reports People Management. The telecoms firm put ten of its apprentices, all aged under 30, through the 3-month programme which included a week's classroom training, 11 weeks of...

Budget 2012: Enterprise loans to curb youth joblessness

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Government has pinned its hopes on tackling rising youth unemployment via start-ups, introducing a �10m enterprise loan scheme to help under-25s set up their own business. The one-year pilot scheme will work in a similar way to the student loans system, which helps thousands of people go to university each year. Up to 7,000 young people aged...

Hit by cuts, bankers run from London's square mile

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Reuters reports from a small French village, nestled deep in Languedoc-Roussillon wine country, where Gary Langton is putting the final dabs of paint to his bed and breakfast before the first guests arrive. Langton was previously Italian bank UniCredit's global head of loan syndications, and a top UK boss. He is one of a growing group of London...

Jobseekers call on Government to provide more apprenticeship and intern placements

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The vast majority of jobseekers strongly agree that local and central government should encourage organisations to employ more interns and apprentices, according to recruitment firm Hays, the leading recruiting expert. Its survey, reported in HR Magazine, questioned more than of over 1,000 jobseekers and found when asked which type of...

New university bursaries tell students what to spend the money on

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

When Tom Vonier started the second semester of his journalism degree at the University of East London last year, the university handed him �500. The fact that he could only spend it in certain university shops and on certain things did not really bother him, reports The Guardian. It topped up his Oyster card (for travel on London transport)...

RBS now appeals more to women

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Women do not want to be recruited on the basis of gender - they want to be hired because of their abilities, the Royal Bank of Scotland has found after recent campaigns to bring more women into investment banking. In fact, that sentiment has been incorporated into an RBS campaign, as Emily Bryant, head of candidate attraction on RBS's graduate...

Youth employment schemes too complicated, says LGA

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Schemes to get jobless young people into work are being harmed by excessive bureaucracy and Whitehall control, local government leaders have said. BBC News Online reports that The Local Government Association (LGA) said the �15bn system was awash with different strategies and age ranges. In a report, the LGA claimed councils could provide...

A modern outlook to learning

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A stay in a four-star hotel, the best of new Dutch cuisine; universities in the Netherlands know how to woo prospective students, reports The Independent. These facilities are actually part of Stenden University and the waiters, receptionists and managers are students learning the nitty gritty of international hotel management. Small wonder...

Exams boards in 'race to the bottom'

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Sir Mark Walport will argue that the competitive market between the three leading exam boards has pushed standards even lower since he led a critical review of science and mathematics teaching two years ago, reports The Daily Telegraph. Speaking at an education seminar on Tuesday where MPs are set to discuss the ongoing national curriculum...

Overseas students 'to increase in UK universities'

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The number of overseas students in UK universities will rise by a further 10% this decade, says a study for the British Council, reports BBC News Online. Only Australia is set to have a bigger increase in overseas students. It forecasts that India rather than China will send the most students in this lucrative global market. Jo Beall, the...

Russell Group extends membership to four more universities

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

An elite group of universities that counts Oxford and Cambridge among its membership is to admit four more institutions. York, Durham and Exeter universities, as well as Queen Mary, which is part of the University of London, are to join the Russell Group, a powerful lobbying organisation that holds considerable influence in Whitehall. The group...

University is about job prospects, say parents

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Only a quarter of parents believe the primary purpose of university is to broaden children's minds, according to a new survey reported in the Times Higher Education. Just 25 per cent of 1,000 parents polled by OnePoll felt higher education was primarily valuable for its own sake, while 60 per cent felt children should go to university because it...

A third of recent graduates in unskilled jobs

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Official figures show that more than a third of recent graduates are employed in low-skilled jobs, reports Guardian.co.uk. In the final quarter of 2011, 35.9% of those who had graduated from university in the previous six years were employed in lower-skilled occupations, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. This compares with 26.7%, or...

Could your Facebook page ruin your job prospects?

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Most students have indulged in an occasional spot of "Facebook stalking", writes Catherine Noonan for Guardian.co.uk's Blogging Students. It's hard to resist the temptation to have a peek at the virtual lives of others when a wealth of personal information can be accessed within seconds. But when our social bubble expands to involve our careers...

Internships improve job prospects, government report recommends

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Students should spend a summer holiday working as an intern in order to improve their employability, a government-commissioned report suggested this week. Sir Tim Wilson, the former vice-chancellor of the University of Hertfordshire, has published his recommendations in the Review of Business-University Collaboration, reports The Student. He...

Les Ebdon row was a Downing Street 'stitch-up'

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Business Secretary Vince Cable was summoned to the Commons last month to explain his decision to appoint Prof Les Ebdon, despite "fundamental" objections from the cross-party on the Business Innovation and Skills committee. However it has now emerged that Brian Binley, the senior Conservative on committee, was chided shortly afterwards by a...

Margin won't widen too much next year, Willetts suggests

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

David Willetts has given the clearest signal yet that universities may be spared a huge jump in the number of student places opened up to price-based competition between institutions in 2013-14, reports Times Higher Education. Speaking at a conference on collaboration between higher education and further education, the universities and science...

Share of graduates in low-skilled work rises

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

More than one in three recent graduates are working in lower-skilled jobs compared with around one in four a decade ago, according to new data from the Office of National Statistics. Carl Gilleard, chief executive of the Association of Graduate Recruiters, was quoted by Times Higher Education as saying that the results demonstrated "the...

Association of Graduate Recruiters responds to ONS Graduates in the labour market - 2012

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

MEDIA STATEMENT 6 March 2012 Carl Gilleard, Chief Executive of the Association of Graduate Recruiters, said: "The ONS Graduates in the labour market - 2012 shows an increase in the amount of graduates taking on 'lower skills' jobs, from 27% in 2001 to 36% in 2011, demonstrating the competitive nature of the graduate jobs market. However...

Association of Graduate Recruiters responds to ONS Graduates in the labour market - 2012

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Carl Gilleard, Chief Executive of the Association of Graduate Recruiters, said: “The ONS Graduates in the labour market – 2012 shows an increase in the amount of graduates taking on ‘lower skills’ jobs, from 27% in 2001 to 36% in 2011, demonstrating the competitive nature of the graduate jobs market. However...

A job-personality psych out

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Personality testing is big business - In 2009, personality testing was a $500-million industry, reports Business Spectator. In the UK, the Association of Graduate Recruiters reported that 92 per cent of employers surveyed considered psychometric testing an important tool for recruitment. In Human Resource Management in Australia, Helen De Cieri...

AGR conference season gets under way

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Ri5 recently caught up with Carl Gilleard, chief executive of the Association of Graduate Recruiters, to find out more about the Association's busy upcoming conference agenda. "When I arrived at the AGR, we only held one conference a year," he tells us. "This year, it'll be three, all taking place between March and July." The theme for this...

Ancient universities warn SNP against politicising admissions

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Daily Telegraph reports that Mike Russell has told MSPs he will press ahead with new laws to ensure more youngsters from less well - off areas of the country get a university place. However, his parliamentary statement contained few details on how this would be achieved or whether he was dropping controversial proposals to introduce quotas...

Companies told: stop prioritising job applicants with top degrees

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Recruitment programmes that filter out candidates who fail gain at least 2:1 degrees run counter to many employers' duties to hire a "diverse" workforce, it is claimed. It is believed as many as three-quarters of top employers currently require good grades as a minimum threshold for an interview, reports The Daily Telegraph. But Prof Sir Tim...

Government report says all students should sign up for internships

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Every student should go on an internship giving them up to 12 weeks of work experience while they study for their degree, a top-level government inquiry recommends. The report, covered in The Independent, acknowledges that many of the internships will be unpaid and urges universities to use their hardship funds to subsidise those from poorer...

It's about more than sandwich degrees: reaction to the Wilson Review

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

David Docherty writes in The Guardian that Sir Tim Wilson's review of business-university collaboration is out, and most of the Twitter chatter (including mine) has been around employability, sandwich courses (we need a new name), internships and business-funded students. But the report is wide-ranging and focuses on some difficult issues...

Speculation grows that Gove is making play for academy brief

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Would bringing universities back under the control of the Department for Education improve social mobility by restoring the policy link between schools and universities? Or would it be a case of "rearranging deckchairs" as the economy struggles, and expose universities to the "interventionist" policies of Michael Gove? The Times Higher Education...

Spend Offa cash on interns, Wilson says

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Money set aside for widening access should be used to subsidise internships for all students, according to a major review of the links between business and universities. The Times Higher Education reports that the government-commissioned Review of Business-University Collaboration, published on 28 February and led by Sir Tim Wilson, former...

Arts and humanities offer Hobson's choice

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The number of different undergraduate degree courses being offered in UK universities has dropped by more than a quarter in the past six years - with one English region seeing a fall of almost half, according to new research reported in Times Higher Education. Programmes in single subjects have also dropped significantly over the period, with...

Employers worry two-year degrees will harm graduate employment prospects

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Carl Gilleard wrote an article for the Guardian's Careers website, discussing the implications of two-year degree courses. Carl writes that the latest survey from the Association of Graduate Recruiters shows the state of the market: More than 200 of our members, who between them recruited more than 21,000 graduates last year, took part. As well...

Graduate recruiters should stay away from 'career experience' if they want to find the best candidates

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

So many young people now attend Britain's Universities that it is becoming prohibitively expensive and difficult for employers to sift through a growing surge of CV's marked "graduate", reports HR Magazine. The University expansion of the 1990's, and the questionable quality of some degree courses, is in danger of harming business confidence in...

How Brunel University gets female students to consider business careers

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

After Brunel University announced the appointment of its first female vice-chancellor, Professor Julia Buckingham, it seems timely to write about a programme that we are running to encourage more of our female students to consider a career in business, writes Pauline Seston on The Guardian's Higher Education Network. The programme is not...

New graduate software engineering jobs for Scotland

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Fancy a graduate software engineering job in Scotland? Then you're in luck, because 75 of them are to be created in Edinburgh, as part of Swiss company Avaloq Innovation's decision to set up a software development centre in the Scottish capital, reports Target Jobs. The organisation predicts that it will employ 400 software engineers in its...

Student loans: No early repayment penalty, says Cable

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

There will be no extra charge on students who want to pay back their loans early after they graduate, Business Secretary Vince Cable has confirmed. The UCU lecturers' union said it was a "policy designed to make life easier for the wealthiest", reports BBC News Online. Mr Cable had denied claims from MPs that this was a "trade off" for making...

Student volunteering: building a brighter future

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The answer is volunteering. Speaking from personal experience, volunteering is something that enhances not just your chances of finding a job but also helps to boost confidence, social and leadership skills as well as broadening your horizons. Research has shown that 83% of students who have volunteered feel that it has increased their general...

Tesco agrees to pay work scheme interns

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Supermarket chain Tesco was forced to act ahead of expected protests outside its shops on Wednesday by campaigners who have described it as "slave labour", reports The Daily Telegraph. Argos said it wanted assurances that young people who do not take part will keep their benefits. Other leading high street names including Burger King and Pizza...

Universities making 'background checks' on applicants

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The number of institutions carrying out checks on candidates' social class and school performance is set to increase by more than 50 per cent to coincide with a sharp rise in tuition fees this year, reports The Daily Telegraph. In most cases, admissions tutors are relying on so-called "contextual data" to review borderline candidates from...

University graduates just as likely to be unemployed as school leavers with one GCSE

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Carl Gilleard is quoted in this Daily Telegraph article about Office for National Statistics (ONS) that found almost 26 per cent of 16-year-olds who left school with "only a GCSE qualification" are unemployed, and almost 25 per cent of all 21-year-olds who left university with a degree are unemployed. The figures are included in a breakdown by...

What will the Olympics do for Higher Education in the UK?

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

What will be the legacy of London 2012 Olympic Games for higher education? There is more to the impact of the Olympic and Paralympic Games on HE than just how academics have researched and evaluated them. Back in 2005, I attended a pre-win event about how education would be affected by the London 2012 Games. Some of the speakers - many of who...

Association of Graduate Recruiters responds to ONS Characteristics of Young Unemployed People survey

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Carl Gilleard, Chief Executive of the Association of Graduate Recruiters, said: “The statistics from the ONS’s Characteristics of Young Unemployed People survey clearly show that a degree remains a worthwhile investment, as the unemployment rate drops significantly to just 5% for graduates aged 24. Studies have shown that over...

Cable holds firm to appoint Ebdon

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Professor Ebdon will take over the helm of the Office for Fair Access from Sir Martin Harris later this year, despite the coalition coming under huge pressure from Tory MPs to rethink the choice, reports the Times Higher Education. His selection was rejected in a report backed by four Tory MPs on the business, innovation and skills committee...

Go-getters don't have to go home: government tweaks student visas

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Graduates entrepreneurs with "world-class innovative ideas" will be allowed to remain in the UK beyond their university studies, as the government responds to criticisms of its new visa regime for overseas students, reports the Times Higher Education. Up to 1,000 places for non-EU students will be made available under the Graduate Entrepreneur...

Graduate recruitment: You need a good attitude not a good degree says Ernst & Young

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

With over 22% of 16-24 year olds out of work, graduates will need to build resilience and get out of their comfort zones if they are going to realise their potential, according to the findings of a survey by Ernst & Young, reported in HR Magazine. The survey of over 1,000 UK university students was devised by the Centre of Applied Positive...

Graduating with the wrong skills

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Despite more graduates than ever before entering the market, graduate recruiters often struggle to find candidates with the appropriate technical skills for employers, reports Recruiter. Carl Gilleard, chief executive of the AGR, agrees that graduates recruiters have to up their game in response to continuing shortages in some areas. However...

I'm not waiting for graduation to find recruits

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Writing in City AM, chief executive of Travelodge Guy Parsons comments that whilst over 1m 16-24 year olds are still unemployed, he believes in a simple solution. With university fees rising and continued uncertainty in the global economy, how are we going to be able to help our young people enter the workforce and begin their careers in...

Recruitment technology passes intelligence test

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Finding a graduate job is now harder than ever, reports The Times in their Graduate Career Supplement. According to the Association of Graduate Recruiters, the average number of applications for graduate jobs now stands at 83 per vacancy, a record figure. These increases mean that companies are now having to process far more applications than...

Tuition fees case: Callum Hurley and Katy Moore lose

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Two teenagers have lost much of their legal battle against the raising of tuition fees in England, reports BBC News Online. Callum Hurley, from Peterborough, and Katy Moore, from London, claimed the decision to allow fees to rise breached human rights and equality laws. The 17-year-olds had argued that higher fees would discriminate against poor...

A vocational element is vital to a full education

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

We are blighted by a notion that divides academic and vocational into first- and second-class educations, while the non-cognitive abilities making up employability are an "extra" instead of an integral part of learning, argues The Guardian's Editorial. In Scotland, by contrast, the Curriculum for Excellence teaches skills for learning, life and...

Cameron admits defeat in battle to block new university access tsar

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The prime minister's spokesman said he had no powers to block the appointment made by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) selection panel including the business secretary Vince Cable, Tim Melville-Ross, chair of the board of the higher education funding council for England, and the social mobility tsar Alan Milburn. The BIS...

Graduates: is a 2:1 the best qualification for landing a job?

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Is the 2:1 an effective gauge of a graduate's employability - and if not, why are employers increasingly using it as a filter? That was the question under discussion by graduate recruitment and higher education experts in London last week, reports The Guardian. Delegates at the Graduate AnswerTime event, hosted by the Association of Graduate...

Making sense of the graduate job market statistics

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

In January, the big name in town is the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) Graduate Recruitment Survey, reports the Guardian Careers Blog. The survey is well known and well conducted and is the source of much of the popular and widely-quoted information about the graduate labour market. The headlines can tell us the basic figures [.] but...

Time to take stock: will further education make you more marketable?

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

From courses in advanced mechanical engineering to luxury brand management and sustainable heritage, postgraduate students have never had such a wide choice of subjects, reports The Daily Telegraph. As universities vie to attract graduates, hundreds of new courses are added each year. But prejudice against postgrads still exists. Carl Gilleard...

UCAS applications figures: overview of the figures and of the coverage

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

UCAS has released its official 2012 application figures. Home student numbers are down by almost 10% in the wake of the fees increase to �9,000 per year. The Guardian's Higher Education Network blog assessed the coverage of the statistics by a range of publications. It reports that The Daily Mail and Telegraph writers are particularly concerned...

Recruiters 'have racial bias', claims report

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Recruiters are at loggerheads with equality campaigners after a controversial report suggested racism was prevalent among recruitment agencies during the hiring process, reports The Daily Telegraph. Based on more than 2,500 job applicants' experiences over the past year, the report showed just 29pc of black and ethnic minority candidates were...

Graduate construction jobs to rise by 30% at biggest employers

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Target Jobs reported on the Winter Survey, noting that the number of graduate jobs in construction looks set to increase by nearly 30% this year. The increase of 29.4% reverses the findings of the AGR's two previous reviews, where the number of vacancies were predicted to decline. The rise has been put down to international expansion and...

How to make your CV stand out

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

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How will �9,000 tuition fees affect students? We'll be finding out

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Will Hutton writes in The Guardian that a vast social experiment begins in September. Many of England's universities and colleges will start charging �9,000 tuition fees a year plus real interest rates for their students - money that will have to be borrowed. As a result very few students will escape leaving university with debts of less than...

Number of UK university applicants drops 8.7%, Ucas figures show

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The number of UK university applicants has dropped by 8.7% compared with last year - but school leavers have not overwhelmingly been deterred by the tripling of tuition fees, official figures show. The Guardian reports that they also reveal a sharper drop among more affluent candidates than among those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The...

Report on the AGM and the proposals to introduce a new Constitution

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The meeting also considered a new set of Articles of Association, a revised Constitution, for the Association. The Articles were last revised in 1991 and the new Articles have been drawn up to be fit-for-purpose in the 21st century; to provide more opportunities for member involvement and greater transparency of Board decisions. For the past...

The private sector is ushering in a university revolution

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

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University access tsar threatens to impose 'nuclear' penalty

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

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Graduate recruiters struggle to find well-qualified candidates

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Following on from their piece on the AGR Winter Survey, Personnel Today have reported on recent research carried out by XpertHR that suggests graduate recruiters are struggling to find well-qualified candidates to fill their roles. Nearly two-fifths (38%) of 182 employers surveyed by XpertHR believe that there are too few graduates to fill...

BBSRC unveils new doctoral training courses

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Fourteen doctoral training partnerships for the biosciences have been unveiled, reports the Times Higher Education. Speaking at the University of Reading today, universities and science minister David Willetts announced the names of the partnerships chosen as training centres by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. The...

Business schools braced for sharp decline in MBA students

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Times Higher Education reports that business schools are facing a 10-15 per cent drop in applications for MBA programmes, according to new figures. The Financial Times reports that, on the 16 full-time MBA programmes participating in its 2012 rankings, enrolment of overseas students is down 10 per cent on this time last year while the...

Carl Gilleard on BBC Radio 5 Live's Wake Up To Money

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Carl Gilleard, AGR Chief Executive, was interviewed about the findings of the Winter Survey 2012 on BBC Radio 5 Live's Wake Up To Money. Asked about survey's predictions of a fall of 1.2% in graduate vacancies, and the contrasting increase of 4% in graduate salary, he pointed out that the decrease in vacancies was quite modest. Indeed, he said...

Graduate starting salaries predicted to rise - for some

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The average starting salary for a graduate is predicted to increase by 4% to �26,000 this year, according to a poll of more than 200 blue chip employers. The Association of Graduate Recruiters says this year's rise is the biggest since the credit crunch. Starting salaries have remained static at �25,000 since 2009, according to the AGR. The...

Graduates battle tougher job market

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Daily Telegraph Business section reported that companies have raised the alarm over the value of two-year degrees - which have sprung up at several universities in response to the tuition fees rise - as students will have less time to take part in the extra-curricular activities and work experience that employers value. The latest survey...

HE bill 'to be shelved indefinitely

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

David Cameron is reported to have made a dramatic intervention in the university reforms, shelving the higher education bill that was due this spring. According to the Times Higher Education, the bill, which would have introduced major regulatory reform including new legislation making it easier for private providers to enter the market, is now...

Third of companies 'struggling to recruit skilled graduates'

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Some 32 per cent of businesses fell short of recruitment targets last year after complaining that graduate skill levels often "did not meet their requirements", reported the Daily Telegraph. Figures show the number of organisations failing to hire enough students increased by almost a quarter in just 12 months. Some employers said the quality of...

UK university applications down as fees rise

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The BBC reports that with fees rising to up to �9,000 a year, university applications from UK students for the first year of higher tuition fees are down by 8.7%, according to figures from the admissions service. Figures published by UCAS, the organisation responsible for managing applications to higher education courses in the UK, show that by...

Unpaid internships: the hidden 'further study' that stand between graduates and a job

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

I am writing as an arts graduate with a strong degree, but even with this qualification the hunt for a job can leave you despondent about the three years of study you have just completed, let alone your prospects for the future. Paid entry-level jobs for graduates are hard to come by, and those that there are often place emphasis on attributes...

Graduate salaries predicted to rise in 2012 after three year stagnation

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

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Fee hike will leave government facing 'huge liabilities' in 30 years

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Times Higher Education reported on a study undertaken by investment managers Skandia that looked at the affordability of the hike in tuition fees, which will see many universities charging �9,000 a year from this autumn. Students who enroll in 2012-13 could face debts of �34,000-�49,000, meaning that they will have to earn salaries of �50,000 a...

HE rationing: we should not limit the number that universities can recruit

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Kim Catcheside writes that by stifling universities that want to expand, we are denying those who want to study the chance for better employment. Reflecting on current levels of unemployment, she argues that while some of the people who fail to get HE places this year will have or will get jobs, it is likely that many will be unemployed and...

One in five firms prefer school-leavers to graduates

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Daily Telegraph reported on a survey by recruitment giant Adecco, which has found that one in three of the 1,000 firms surveyed believed that the education system was failing to equip young people with the skills required by British businesses. Newcomers to the world of work were found to be most lacking in interpersonal and computer skills....

Students 'believe they have necessary skills' for job market

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Most final-year students are optimistic about their long-term career prospects but are realistic about the problems they face making their first steps in the jobs market, research has shown. Students who had developed high numeracy skills were significantly more confident about finding a job than history, philosophy, creative arts and...

Students expect degree grades to rise with fees

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Universities are being told to guard against grade inflation as rising numbers of students demand better degrees in return for higher tuition fees. David Willetts, the Universities Minister, said institutions had to prioritise "academic integrity" and resist pressure to mark up students' work. He also warned that the traditional system of...

University doors may open wider for ABB students

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Times reported that limits are to be lifted again next year on the number of students that universities can recruit. Ministers are proposing to let universities offer places to as many students as they choose in the autumn of 2013, provided that the candidates achieve A-level grades of ABB or above. The new rules are intended to allow more...

Network Rail launches graduate recruitment scheme across 27 companies in the rail sector

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

HR Magazine reported the launch of a new graduate scheme. Network Rail has devised the Track & Train scheme to give up to 100 graduates employment experience and training to help further their careers. The initiative, which is supported by 27 companies across the rail sector, is structured to give graduates an insight into each of the main...

AGR's Carl Gilleard discusses the number of first class honours awarded by universities

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Last week, the Higher Education Statistics Agency published figures that showed the number of students leaving university with a first class honours degree had more than doubled over the past ten years. AGR chief executive Carl Gilleard was quoted on the front page of the Daily Telegraph in relation to these findings, about employers' opinions...

MP says graduates should have a course in workplace skills to help them in job search

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Rushanara Ali, Labour MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, recently wrote in The Sunday Times, about the need for graduates to have a course in workplace skills to help them in their search for employment. She makes a case for establishing a finishing school that would teach manners, communication and presentation. Soft skills, such as how to...

REC/KPMG Report shows signs of positivity for 2012

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

HR Magazine reported that the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and KPMG monthly Report on Jobs was published last week. It found that recruitment for permanent jobs fell in December, for the third successive month, but most employers are still planning on hiring this year....

So who is good enough to get into Cambridge?

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Also at The Guardian, a feature in G2 gave a rare behind-the-scenes insight into Cambridge University's admission process. Cambridge wants to give a clearer picture of the effort that goes into the assessment of each candidate, and the numerous factors that are taken into consideration when deciding who gets offered a place. And of course...

UK graduates ready to move abroad for career development opportunities

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Trendence Graduate Barometer UK, which surveyed 15,000 UK students, found that half of UK graduates are prepared to move aboard in order to access better career development opportunities. USA was the favourite destination of graduates, followed by Australia and Canada. It also found that many of the students surveyed were willing to work...

What does 2012 hold for higher education policy?

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Guardian's Higher Education Network asked many educationalists their predictions for 2012 and the development they expect to see this year. Nicola Dandridge, the chief executive of Universities UK, believes we will see the impact of the government's reforms to teaching funding, whilst Pam Tatlow, the chief executive of think-tank Million+...

Recruitment falls, but most employers still set to hire this year says REC/KPMG

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

http://www.hrmagazine.co.uk/hro/news/1020686/drop-recruitment-employers-set-hire-rec-kpmg

PwC gets record number of applicants for graduate scheme

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

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Universities to make lower grade offers to poor students

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/8961034/Universities-to-make-lower-grade-offers-to-poor-students.html

SMEs need infrastructure for bringing grads on board

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

http://www.recruiter.co.uk/smes-need-infrastructure-for-bringing-grads-on-board/1012078.article

Students should see the world - or watch it sail past

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/public/Appointments/article829817.ece

University applications from UK-born students fall 15%

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/nov/28/university-applications-uk-students-fees?newsfeed=true

Private firm graduates 'paid more'

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5j7ppQo517rtPnld-cJyyHqBKU2RQ?docId=N0008531321961421662A

'Global Graduates' Needed

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Graduates seeking work are being urged to develop ‘global employability skills’ to help them succeed in an increasingly competitive international marketplace. Multinational employers are looking for graduates who can bring something ‘over and above’ core graduate skills. In a groundbreaking research project, the...

Graduates learn some networking skills

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/nov/14/students-networking-skills?newsfeed=true

Association of Graduate Recruiters appoints new operations manager

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

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Raleigh International launches grant to help young people volunteer abroad

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The grant, known as the Global Discovery Grant, is available to any young person who can clearly demonstrate how they will benefit from joining a Raleigh International expedition. The youth and sustainable development charity launched the Global Discovery Grant...

Association of Graduate Recruiters Appoints New Operations Manager

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 18 October 2011 The Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) is delighted to announce it has appointed Claire Adams as its new Business Operations Manager. Claire joins the AGR from Nestlé UK, where she was a Resourcing Lead. She previously worked as the graduate programme manager for Schroders Investment...

Young people 'unaware' of apprenticeships

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jobs/hr-news/8825521/Young-people-unaware-of-apprenticeships.html

More British students vying for American universities

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/8468493/More-British-students-vying-for-American-universities.html

Teaching 'better at school than university' - survey

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-15150382

Demand for top university places 'may be higher'

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-15079683

Allen & Overy promotes diversity in its graduate recruitment strategy

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

http://www.hrmagazine.co.uk/hro/news/1020158/allen-overy-promotes-diversity-graduate-recruitment-strategy

The Search is over..

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

For future engineers, IT firms continue to embody their ideal employers, with the top three positions being held by the same three companies as in 2010. The data comes from Universum's global talent attraction index, "The World's Most Attractive Employers 2011", based on over 160,000 career seekers, with either a business or engineering...

Undergraduates complain of lack of TLC during recruitment process

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

http://targetjobs.co.uk/news/202292-undergraduates-complain-of-lack-of-tlc-during-recruitment-process

Overseas student numbers rise in the UK

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-15018449

Private schools may shut as parents turn to state sector

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/private-schools-may-shut-as-parents-turn-to-state-sector-2356585.html

Good teachers 'boost test results by 45 per cent'

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/8766060/Good-teachers-boost-test-results-by-45-per-cent.html

Pushy parents 'applying to university on children's behalf'

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/8752818/Pushy-parents-applying-to-university-on-childrens-behalf.html

PwC welcomes 1,200 graduate recruits across the UK this week

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

http://www.hrmagazine.co.uk/hro/news/1020070/pwc-welcomes-200-graduate-recruits-uk

Pay gap between graduates and those without degrees widens with age

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/sep/07/pay-gap-widens

Engineering graduates choosing to work in other sectors

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/engineering/8729050/Engineering-graduates-choosing-to-work-in-other-sectors.html

AGR offers advice to school leavers

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

On the eve of A-level results day, Carl Gilleard, Chief Executive of the Association of Graduate Recruiters, said: “The pressure on this year’s students is intense, fuelled by the hike in demand for places with the imminent rise in tuition fees from 2012, but we should remember that exam results are a measure of what each...

KPMG to hire 75,000 graduates worldwide

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

http://www.accountancyage.com/aa/news/2100320/kpmg-hire-75-graduates-worldwide

Twice as many universities now looking for A* grades

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2023588/Twice-universities-looking-A-grades.html#ixzz1UQxSQmns

Reality TV 'harming young people's confidence in job market'

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/aug/05/reality-tv-harming-youngsters-confidence

Universities may 'buy' top A-level students

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/jul/31/universities-buy-top-students

GCSE and A-level exam board plans interactive test based on performance

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/jul/24/gcse-exam-interactive-test-performance

Research identifies 'workplace realities' for graduates

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

http://www.ri5.co.uk/site/news/article/research-identifies-workplace-realities-for-graduates/_u=tracy@agr.org.uk

HSBC unveils pilot apprenticeship scheme

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

http://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/pm/articles/2011/07/hsbc-unveils-pilot-apprenticeship-scheme.htm

Association of Graduate Recruiters announces its 2011 annual award winners

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

• Grant Thornton wins Graduate Development Award • RBS picks up Best Employer Brand • Linklaters wins Graduate Integrated Marketing Campaign • Ernst & Young picks up Graduate Selection & Assessment Award • Centrica takes Literature Award The winners of the 2011 Association of Graduate Recruiters...

Higher Education White Paper

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/8604249/Higher-Education-White-Paper-A-level-predictions-could-be-axed-in-admissions-overhaul.html

Figures show increase in graduate vacancies and boost in starting salaries for first time in 2 years

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

• Employers estimate 3% increase in graduate vacancies • Average graduate starting salary rises to £25,500 • Number of applications soar to an average of 83 per vacancy The number of graduates applying for each graduate job has reached the highest number ever recorded by the Association of Graduate Recruiters...

Literacy and numeracy tests toughened for new teachers

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-13910793

Women driven by workplace skills

Mon, 27 Jun 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Research conducted by Hobsons has revealed that women are more focused on developing long-term workplace skills than men – women being prepared to change jobs in order to get better training opportunities. In the new Hobsons Young Professionals Recruitment Review, 21% of women surveyed cited lack of training in their first career job as a...