Download - Student Employability Index 2014: Part One

Student Employability Index 2014Part One

Aaron Porter

NCUB is supported by the following:

Executive Summary

03

Overall, the results painted a compelling picture of the extent to which students are already engaged with issues that relate to and support employability.

Over 95% of students stated it was ‘somewhat important’ or ‘essential’ that their university had business, industry or employer links, with

92% specifically stating it was important to be provided with opportunities for placements, work

experience or internships.

There were a number of interesting variances by

discipline studied. Only 15% of students studying

medicine stated that had used their careers or

employability support, but this rose to 49% of

mathematics and computing students and 48% in

business studies.

The extent to which students engaged with

employability support and part-time work also varied

significantly by home region. Students originally

coming from Scotland (29%) and the East Midlands

(30%) were the least likely to have used their

university employability services, whilst students from

the East of England (45%) and non-EU international

students (49%) were the most likely to have done so.

Home region was also significant in determining

the likelihood of undertaking work experience or

internships with only 21% of the students from

Wales having done so, rising to 38% from Northern

Ireland and 41% from Scotland.

Usage of services such as the careers services

varied significantly by university too. At one university only 23% of students used the careers services, whereas this was as high as 54% at another.

Part two of this report will share the findings from

our research into student views on the extent to

which employability shaped their choice of course

and institution, and their views of various sectors

for future employment. We hope that these

findings will provide a useful source of information

to better understand the landscape in relation to

employability, what students value and how this

varies across a range of factors including university,

home region and discipline studied.

Introduction

04

The survey sought student views in 4 main areas:

Student views on the quality of careers and employability support during

their time as a student.

Feedback on part-time work, work experience and internships and the extent to

which it has aided personal and professional development.

The extent to which employability and destinations shaped

choice of subject and institution - Part 2.

Student views on sectors for future employment - Part 2.

This is the first of two reports which will share the key findings from the survey, with part one primarily focussing on student views on the quality of careers and employability support and feedback on part-time work, work experience, placements and internships. We were delighted to work with Compass Group on this research, as not only do they employ a considerable number of students and graduates across their operation, they also work with more than 320 Universities worldwide, delivering catering and support services that enhance the student experience.

Both Compass and the NCUB, believe this research provides fantastic insight into the importance students place on employability and hope that this new information will support continuous enhancements in the higher education sector as well as how business can engage and add value to it.

05

In its first year, the Student Employability Index has surveyed over 4000 students. (200 from 20 English universities - 100 first year undergraduate students, 100 other year undergraduate students).

The students in the sample were recruited by research agency YouthSight, the students in our sample opted to participate in the research.

The 20 universities selected to participate in this were as follows:

Background

06

Research to understand student views in 4 primary areas:

Quality, usage and value of careers and employability support

01 Feedback on part-time work, work experience and internships

02

Extent to which employability shaped subject choice and institution (part 2)

03 Views on sectors for future employment (part 2)

04

07

Which of these best describes the main subject area, course or speciality you are studying?TABLE 1

500450400

Combined

Education

Creative Arts & Design

History & Philosophy

Languages

Mass Communications & Documentation

Business & Administration

Law

Social Studies

Architecture, Building & Planning

Engineering & Technology

Maths & Computer Sciences

Physical Sciences

Veterinary Science & Related Subjects

Biological Sciences

Subjects Allied to Medicine

Medicine & Dentistry

STUDENTS

350300250200150100500

University careers and employability support

37.9%

OVERALL

24.1%

FIRST YEAR

Percentage of students that have used the university employability services?

0909

FEMALE

37.1%MALE

39.2%

54%

OTHER YEAR

PRE-92UNIVERSITY

44.8%

POST-92UNIVERSITY

34.4%

Percentage of students that have used their employability services (by discipline)TABLE 2

10

Highest - 49%Lowest - 13%

Com

bine

d

Educ

atio

n

Crea

tive

Arts

& D

esig

n

His

tory

& P

hilo

soph

y

Lang

uage

s

Mas

s Co

mm

unic

atio

ns

Busi

ness

Stu

dies

Law

Soci

al S

tudi

es

Arch

itect

ure

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neer

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&

Tech

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gy

Mat

hs &

Com

pute

r Sc

ienc

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Phys

ical

Sci

ence

s

Biol

ogic

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cien

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Subj

ects

Alli

ed

to M

edic

ine

Med

icin

e &

Den

tistr

y

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

PERC

ENTA

GE

Vete

rinar

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ienc

e &

Re

late

d Su

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ts

11

Percentage of students that have used their employability services (by home region)TABLE 3

Non

-EU

Euro

pean

Uni

on

Nor

th W

est

Nor

th E

ast

York

shire

&

Hum

bers

ide

Scot

land

Nor

ther

n Ir

elan

d

Wal

es

East

Wes

t Mid

land

s

East

Mid

land

s

Sout

h W

est

Sout

h Ea

st

Lond

on

Aver

age

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

PERC

ENTA

GE


12

Use of employability services by universityTABLE 4

Highest - 54% Lowest - 23%

A

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

PERC

ENTA

GE

TB C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S

Letters A-T represent each of the 20 universities participating in our study. We have not published the university breakdown, but the individual universities have privately received their results.

400

800

2000

1000

600

200

0

1400

1800

1600

1200

13

How do you rate the quality of your university’s employability services?TABLE 5

22%

PERC

ENTA

GE

47% 27% 3%

EXCELLENT VERY GOOD ADEQUATE POOR VERY POOR

1%

0

20

40

60

80

100

PERC

ENTA

GE

14

Quality of careers services rated as (4/5 or 5/5) by universityTABLE 6

A TB C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S



Part-time work

0

10

20

30

40

50

5

15

25

35

45

PERC

ENTA

GE

16

Percentage of students working part-time by home regionTABLE 7

Yes - 34.8% No - 65.2% (Overall)

Rest

of t

he W

orld

Euro

pean

Uni

on

Nor

ther

n Ir

elan

d

Scot

land

Wal

es

East

Ang

lia

Nor

th E

ast

Nor

th W

est

Wes

t Mid

land

s

East

Mid

land

s

Sout

h W

est

Sout

h Ea

st

Lond

on


17

% students undertaking part-time workTABLE 8

Com

bine

d

Educ

atio

n

Crea

tive

Arts

& D

esig

n

His

tory

& P

hilo

soph

y

Lang

uage

s

Mas

s Co

mm

unic

atio

ns

Busi

ness

Stu

dies

Law

Soci

al s

tudi

es

Arch

itect

ure

Engi

neer

ing

&

Tech

nolo

gy

Mat

hs &

Com

pute

r Sc

ienc

es

Phys

ical

Sci

ence

s

Biol

ogic

al S

cien

ces

Subj

ects

Alli

ed

to M

edic

ine

Med

icin

e &

Den

tistr

y

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

PERC

ENTA

GE

Vete

rinar

y Sc

ienc

e &

Re

late

d Su

bjec

ts

Highest - 49.3%Lowest - 22.7%

Industry/business links in the curriculum

1000

2000

3000

2500

1500

500

66%

PERC

ENTA

GE

ESSENTIAL SOMEWHAT IMPORTANT INDIFFERENT NOT VERY

IMPORTANT

29% 4% 1%

19

How important do you think it is for universities to have business, industry or employer links?TABLE 9

NOT AT ALL IMPORTANT

–

0

0

20

40

60

80

100

20

Important for universities to have industry/employer links (4/5 or 5/5)TABLE 10


Com

bine

d

Educ

atio

n

Crea

tive

Arts

& D

esig

n

His

tory

& P

hilo

soph

y

Lang

uage

s

Mas

s Co

mm

unic

atio

ns

Busi

ness

Stu

dies

Law

Soci

al S

tudi

es

Arch

itect

ure

Engi

neer

ing

&

Tech

nolo

gy

Mat

hs &

Com

pute

r Sc

ienc

es

Phys

ical

Sci

ence

s

Vete

rinar

y Sc

ienc

e &

Re

late

d Su

bjec

ts

Biol

ogic

al S

cien

ces

Subj

ects

Alli

ed

to M

edic

ine

Med

icin

e &

Den

tistr

y

PERC

ENTA

GE

21


Important for universities to have employer links - essential or somewhat importantTABLE 11

80

82

84

86

88

100

90

92

94

96

98

PERC

ENTA

GE



22

What sorts of university/business links do you think would be helpfulTABLE 12

0 10060

PERCENT

5040302010

Industry/Business Content In Curriculum

70 80 90

Male Female All

Mentors from Industry or Business

Lectures From Industry & Business Leaders

CV Clinics

Careers Advice / Service

Placements, Work Experience & Internships

0

23

Percentage of students who felt there was not enough industry, business, or employer contentTABLE 13


3530

PERCENT

252015105

Combined

Education



Languages

Mass Communications

Business Studies

Law

Social Studies

Architecture



Physical Sciences

Veterinary Science & Related

Biological Sciences



24

Not enough industry content in their degree (by university)TABLE 14

0

5

10

15

20

50

25

30

35

40

45

PERC

ENTA

GE




Placements, work experience and internships

26

Have you undertaken any work experience or internships since you’ve become a university student? (for second, third and finalists only)FIGURE 1

YES 47%

NO 53%

27


Students who agree placements, work experience would be helpful (by university)TABLE 15

75

80

85

90

95

100

PERC

ENTA

GE



0

10

20

30

40

45

35

25

15

5

28

Undertaking work experience/placements (by university)TABLE 16


PERC

ENTA

GE



PERCENTAGE

0 70605040302010

29

Students undertaking work experience or internships by subjectTABLE 17

Combined

Education



Languages

Mass Communications & Documentation

Business & Administration

Law

Social Studies

Architecture, Building & Planning



Physical Sciences

Veterinary Science & Related Subjects

Biological Sciences



0

10

20

30

40

45

5

15

25

35

30

Undertaking work experience/placements (by home region)TABLE 18PE

RCEN

TAG

E

Non

-Eu

Nor

th W

est

Nor

th E

ast

York

shire

&

Hum

bers

ide

Scot

land

Nor

ther

n Ir

elan

d

Wal

es

East

Wes

t Mid

land

s

East

Mid

land

s

Sout

h W

est

Sout

h Ea

st

Lond

on

Euro

pean

Uni

onHighest - 41%Lowest - 21%

0

200

400

600

800

900

700

500

300

100

30%

PERC

ENTA

GE

YOURUNIVERSITY

31

Who organised your work experience or internship?TABLE 19

YOU A FAMILY MEMBEROR FRIEND

OTHER

57% 11% 2%

0

20

40

60

80

90

10

30

50

70

32

Work experience organised by university (broken down by subject)TABLE 20

Com

bine

d

Educ

atio

n

Crea

tive

Arts

& D

esig

n

His

tory

& P

hilo

soph

y

Lang

uage

s

Mas

s Co

mm

unic

atio

ns

Busi

ness

Stu

dies

Law

Soci

al S

tudi

es

Arch

itect

ure

Engi

neer

ing

&

Tech

nolo

gy

Mat

hs &

Com

pute

r Sc

ienc

es

Phys

ical

Sci

ence

s

Biol

ogic

al S

cien

ces

Subj

ects

Alli

ed

to M

edic

ine

Med

icin

e &

Den

tistr

y

PERC

ENTA

GE

Vete

rinar

y Sc

ienc

e &

Re

late

d Su

bjec

ts

Lowest - 16%Highest - 78%

33

Work experience organised by your university (broken down by university)TABLE 21

0

10

20

40

60

70

50

30PERC

ENTA

GE




To come in part 2...

34

The extent to which employability has shaped choice of institution and course

01

Student views on sectors for future employment

02

35

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