How graduates can help students gain vital careers skills – a presentation by Professor Ella Ritchie, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Newcastle University, at Convocation Weekend (18 June 2011).

1. EMPLOYABILITYWhere we are and how can you help?Professor Ella RitchieDeputy Vice-Chancellor

2. EMPLOYABILITY Increasingly important under the new fees regime. Need to strengthen employability of all our programmes. Communicate this effectively (vox populis says there are no jobs).

3. WE WANT OUR STUDENTS TO HAVE ‘GOOD JOBS’

4. EMPLOYABILITY RECORD (I) In most recent DLHE survey (for 2010 cohort): Only 5.7% of students assumed to be unemployed (versus 7.4% the previous year), 77.7% of employed graduates in ‘graduate level’ jobs, 48.4% of graduates in employment are working in the North East.

5. EMPLOYABILITY RECORD (II) We came 12th in the Sunday Times Guide 2011 for “most in graduate level jobs”, 15th in the Guardian league table rankings for graduate prospects and 15th in the Complete University Guide (in the Independent) – all based on DLHE data. We are consistently in the top 20 of institutions targeted by graduate employers.

6. NO ROOM FOR COMPLACENCY Importance of: Quality of institution, Quality of programmes. Aim to increase opportunity for skills development: Placements, Internships, Study Abroad. All key discriminators......

7. HOW CAN YOU HELP? Promote the University. Use your networks to support placements, work shadowing, mentoring. Link up with your home subject to see what you could do to support them. Career profiles......sign up for Graduate Connections.

8. GRADUATE CONNECTIONS