Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 2 What is Employability Skills .................................................................................................................. 2 Background ............................................................................................................................................. 2 Current Research .................................................................................................................................... 3 Current Issues ......................................................................................................................................... 3 Implications for Employers ..................................................................................................................... 3 Implications for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) ............................................................................ 4 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................... 4 Recommendations .................................................................................................................................. 4
Introduction This Paper provides a blend of current research and issues on the topic of The Challenges Equipping Graduates with Relevant Employability Skills. It does not aim to provide an extensive literary works, as the relevant information with this area is vast. Alternatively it bring some valuable findings from the past few years or so, the main findings focusing on the United Kingdom. The paper aims to prompt discussion amongst employers and Higher Education Institutions and how best to develop employability in graduates further. We will focus on certain areas to do with the topic: Background into Graduates employability Current Research Current Issues Implications for employers Implications for HEI Recommendations What is Employability Skills Employability is a set of achievements skills, understandings and personal attributes that make graduates more likely to gain employment and be successful in their chosen occupations, which benefits themselves, the workforce, the community and the economy said Professor Mantz Yorke (2004). Employability is not the same as gaining a graduate job, rather it implies something about the capacity of the graduate to function in a job and be able to move between jobs, thus remaining employable throughout their life. Background When students completed the respective degrees, it has become more apparent over the past few years that it is harder for them to get into the job that relate to the degree or to even get a degree. Almost 50% of graduate take non-graduate jobs as there is no work available (Allen, 2013). This issue has come since the financial crisis in 2008/2009, the unemployment rate had steeply risen and do this day are gradually decreasing as the economic climate improves.
Current Research
The UK government continues to emphasise the importance of higher education credentials, at both a social and individual level. Higher education credentials have been presented as crucial for economic development, particularly in meeting the changing needs of the knowledge-driven economy (Bell, 1973; Castells, 2001). In the Graduate Market report for 2014, it shows that the vacancies available to the students upon completing university is up 8.7% on 2013 which shows there is more jobs becoming available to graduates since the big drop in 2008 and 2009.
Current Issues The current crux of the problem equipping graduates with the relevant employability skills they require for being successful in getting a job is that universities are no providing enough help to their students. Students are meant to have short, medium and long term goals, by having goals, graduates have something to strive for.
Implications for Employers Students come out of university without industry experience, this is seen as a vital requirements for graduate as they are expected to understand how a business is run. By doing this they require the appropriate
Implications for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) More government funding was made available in 2005, this was to help HEI get more students out on work experience roles. That work experience time that they will gain, helps students, mature and become more motivated to achieve their goals for success. Their maturity will also help them progress through the ranks. However, Public funding overall for 2014-15 will be cut by 125 million more than was forecast, falling from 4.216 billion as indicated last year to 4.091 billion under the revised plans. A further drop in funding to 4.008 billion is expected in 2015-16 (Mediafhe, 2014)
Conclusion
Recommendations For HEIs
References Bell, D. (1973) The Coming of the Post-industrial Society: a venture in social forecasting. (New York: Basic Books). Castells, M. (2001) The University System: engine of development in the new world economy. Paper presented at the World Bank Seminar on Higher Education and Development, Kuala Lumpar.
Allen, K. (2013). Half of recent UK graduates stuck in non-graduate jobs, says ONS. [Online] the Guardian. Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/nov/19/half- recent-uk-graduates-stuck-jobs-ons [Accessed 4 Mar. 2014]
Mediafhe.com, (2014). Media FHE Hei News Government cuts HE Funding and criticises VCs pay rises. [Online] Available at: http://www.mediafhe.com/government-cuts-he-funding-and-criticises- vcs-pay-rises [Accessed 2 May 2014]