UK Graduates Miss Out On Target Jobs

New 14-country global study by education technology company Instructure assesses how well universities are preparing students for getting a job

LONDON, Oct. 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Instructure, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) company and creator of the Canvas virtual learning environment (VLE), announced the results of a global study that shows students in the UK are not gaining the relevant skills and experience they need for the workplace. The research reveals the UK falls into the bottom quartile in terms of graduates working in their chosen field.

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In a study among nearly 8,000 students and former students across 14 countries worldwide, the UK ranked 11th in terms of degree-holders getting the job they wanted – lagging behind those in other developed countries. Almost a third of graduates (32 per cent) in the UK have not been able to find employment in the role they aspired to.

The criteria defining graduates' employability has broadened in recent years, with employers now looking for more than just grades.¹ However, whether universities are preparing students with the breadth of skills and experience they need is in question – the study found students have high expectations that their university is equipping them well for the workplace, but the reality among graduates was quite different.

Students in the UK were found to be 'overly optimistic' about the experience they're gaining in university, with fewer graduates finding they had career-relevant skills, placing them 10th in terms of career preparedness.

The disconnect between what current students think about employability and what graduates know about employability is not only a UK-wide problem. Students in Australia were also found to be 'overly optimistic', while expectations in Japan and South Africa were 'inflated'.

However, in contrast, graduates from the U.S. and India ranked top in terms of experience they gained and overall career readiness. Additionally, those from Denmark and Norway were two most likely to see graduates working in their chosen fields (83 per cent and 78 per cent, respectively).

The research comes as UK company chiefs reveal that the shortage of talent is now a bigger concern to growth than the threat of Britain leaving the EU and the Bank of England increasing borrowing costs.² According to the Federation of Small Businesses, skills in self-management, communication and team working are particular issues.

Some argue more students should take a vocational route into their career and, in a separate study³ by Instructure, 85 per cent of sixth form college teachers voted for more vocational subjects to be introduced.

Others believe gaining the transferrable skills required today by employers is developed through a culture of lifelong learning, but globally the study found that just 38 per cent of students and former students felt their university valued this.

Jared Stein, VP of research and education at Instructure, commented: "The role of universities has evolved to where its purpose isn't simply to instil knowledge and information, but to teach students how to be prepared in their field and how to continually learn on their own throughout their life. Interfacing the world of education with the world of work is a challenge, but the variety of technological advancements in the education ecosystem can help bridge this gap.

"In the UK, companies need more talent, and the consensus among employers is there's a real risk to business growth. The job market for graduates couldn't be more competitive, particularly with companies having the option of turning to global talent pools as well. Education that aims for career preparedness should play a role in helping students get the job they want, and in anticipating uncertainty in their career path and changes in the field."

About Instructure:

Instructure, Inc. is the software-as-a-service (SaaS) technology company that makes software that makes people smarter. With a vision to help maximise the potential of people through technology, Instructure enables organisations everywhere to easily develop, deliver and manage engaging face-to-face and online learning experiences. To date, Instructure has connected millions of teachers and learners at more than 1,400 educational institutions and corporations throughout the world. Learn more about the Canvas Virtual Learning Environment at www.Instructure.com and http://www.CanvasVLE.co.uk.

Notes to editors:

Research was conducted by Instructure among 7,848 current and former students across 14 countries: US, UK, Australia, China, India, Brazil, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, South Africa, Japan, Colombia, Turkey and Singapore. The research was in the field from 4 September to 8 September 2015.

1. Source: YouGov research 2013 – just 17% of employers focus on final grades when considering graduates for a job.

2. Source: Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (September 2015)

3. Source: Research conducted by PCP Market Research Consultants on behalf of Instructure, which questioned 500 teachers by telephone, representative of age, gender and region. The survey ran from Monday 21^st September to Friday 2^nd October 2015.

Contacts:

Susanna Walker-Robson
Third City
+44 20 3657 9774
+44 7861 253652
susanna@thirdcity.co.uk

Rachel Finlay
Third City
+44 20 3657 9779
+44 7850 339727
rachel@thirdcity.co.uk

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