Graduate Job News

Government plans to allow employers to influence what degrees universities offer have been questioned by a leading educational thinktank.

A recent government-commissioned study by Lord Leitch argued that employers should potentially be able to determine what degrees universities offer.

By asking employers to co-fund certain courses, the scheme would aim to provide more targeted, vocational training and get a greater proportion of the population educated to degree level.

However, in a new report the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) says there are risks involved in such a strategy.

As the BBC reports, The HEPI report emphasises: "There is a risk that what employers want will often not be what students want - especially where courses depend on attracting students who are not employees of an employer-customer.

"This process can be taken only so far."

Many commentators are uneasy that the demand for courses may no longer be led by what school-leavers actually want to study.

However, Bill Rammell, the further education minister, insisted that such fears are misplaced.

He said: "We are not moving to employer-led demand at the expense of student demand - we're doing both."

He continued by saying that in order to encourage more people into higher education we "need to refocus some - but not all - of the higher education sector to widen participation amongst older people".

Graduate Job Salaries Lowest For Nearly A Decade
On 16-Apr-2012 under Graduate
A new report from Incomes Data Services (IDS) shows that starting wages for a graduate job this year could be at their lowest real term level for 9 years. According to the research, graduate startin read more...

John Lewis To Boost Ranks With 50 New IT Jobs
On 29-Mar-2012 under Graduate
John Lewis, the UK retailer of furniture, fashion, toys, homeware and electrics, has announced that it is looking to fill up to 50 new jobs in IT this year. At present, John Lewis has an IT team of read more...

Engineering Firm Assystem To Create 300 Derby Jobs By 2015
On 28-Mar-2012 under Graduate
The French-owned engineering company Assystem is expanding and will be creating up to 300 new jobs in Derby before 2015. Some of the engineering positions on offer will be graduate jobs in Derby and t read more...