NEW OPPORTUNITIES
THE RESEARCH ISSUE
JOINING JISC – NEW CONVERSATIONS, NEW OPPORTUNITIES
Nearly 50 years after CSU was first set up by Universities UK (then CVCP), HECSU Prospects joined with fellow sector agency Jisc on 1 May this year to form its student services directorate. HECSU Prospects’ charitable mission to support the work of careers services is now embedded in Jisc’s charitable objectives. Jayne Rowley, Executive Director of student services at Jisc, looks forward to the next 50 years.
W
e could not have imagined that our next chapter would begin in such extraordinary and turbulent times. Our priority has been to answer the call from Universities UK, careers services and recruiters to deliver services to support students and graduates completely online.
RESPONDING TO THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS We recently joined an emergency summit convened by Universities UK that brought together major players in graduate employability, including AGCAS and ISE, to discuss how we ensure that sufficient support is provided to graduates who are entering the labour market during the coronavirus crisis.
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PHOENIX JUNE 2020
As well as exploring what immediate actions are required, we discussed the long-term implications for what we do now. In response to the pandemic, one of our immediate actions has been to review content throughout prospects.ac.uk to ensure it is relevant to current times. We have also focused on pushing out advice on pertinent topics through our core online channels, such as newsletters and social media. We have turned to virtual fairs to ensure students and graduates continue to have a forum to meet employers and educators while campuses are closed. Interest in postgraduate study has snowballed over recent weeks. The Prospects Postgraduate Virtual Fair last month was attended by nearly 2,000 students and graduates from all over the world. About 30 universities exhibited and more than 170 representatives managed to talk to almost 1,000 students about their options. Thank you for your support in making the fair a success.
NEW RESEARCH Our latest research project has been to better understand how the coronavirus crisis is affecting student and graduate careers at a time when speculation and commentary in the media is fuelling anxiety and doubt. While we continue to analyse the 5,000 responses, you will find a summary of the key findings on Luminate. Our analysis of final year student data paints a stark picture. Almost a third (29%) have lost their jobs and 26% have lost their internships, while 28% have had their graduate job offer deferred or rescinded. As we have seen in previous years, downturns drive students to further study; we found that almost half of final year students are now contemplating a postgraduate course. Now more than ever people need support with relevant and current careers information, advice and guidance. We will be working with you and with AGCAS on this journey, every step of the way.
Being part of Jisc opens up new conversations and opportunities for the careers community, and we want to work with you to identify your priorities for us going forward. Over the last few weeks we have embarked on a regional programme of communication. We have got together with groups of careers professionals and teaching and learning experts in universities. We have asked about their concerns and needs for careers information provision, as well as where the gaps are and areas they may want us to explore. Here’s some of what we have heard so far: • Careers services’ move online has been very successful, however student engagement continues to be challenging. • Labour market information is required to help students make career decisions. This should be in a user-friendly format with both industry and regional context. • The lack of work experience is a pressing issue and may be eased with virtual internships. How do we smooth the way for employers? • Mental health and wellbeing advice and resources are particularly important. • How do we keep students motivated to continue their career aspirations and not get stuck? • There’s a need for practical advice for those who are self-employed. • How will industry change its recruitment and working practices in the ‘new norm’? • There is a variation in student digital literacy. How can we level the playing field? This is a tremendous opportunity to build on the excellent careers, advice and guidance for students and graduates already provided by you with the potential for new employability and skills initiatives using Jisc’s digital expertise and reach. Please share your experiences and ideas with us by emailing marketing@prospects.ac.uk so that we can develop a plan together.
