By The Water Cooler
PERSPECTIVES
There are many issues out there facing our employer and university members. There are many answers and solutions to these issues, but many troubling questions for others.
It is clear that employers and universities don’t always think the same solution is appropriate.
We asked Kate Croucher from FDM and Tim Reed from Kent University who exactly is responsible for skills development?
Skills
development – who is
responsible?
Employer perspective
T
he publicised skills gap between what universities teach and what employers want continues to create debate. Closing off the digital divide and ensuring that the UK has the skilled workforce it needs has resulted in a Government Digital Strategy with recommendations focusing on the responsibilities of both employers and universities.
The high cost of higher education means that students now have higher expectations and want to be provided with the opportunity to develop the skills that will enable them to enter a profession and earn a good living. This direct correlation between graduate employment outcomes and a favourable TEF rating is already resulting in a changing landscape for universities to operate in.
As a recruiter of 1000+ graduates each year we naturally want universities to be responsive to the skills that we require for our workforce and our clients. Employers like us have a responsibility to work with our university partners, inform them of those skills and play a part in guiding the curriculum.
44 TheStudentEmployer
ise.org.uk
We recruit based on potential and recognise that it would be unreasonable and unrealistic to expect universities to consistently supply us with the finished graduate ‘product’. Whilst there are core skills common to multiple sectors, different professions have differing requirements, so expecting universities to deliver for all professions is a tall order.
For example, the technology sector needs a variety of very specific digital skills and this poses a challenge for universities as it is such a fast paced industry. So there is an even greater need for a more collaborative approach such as placement experiences within IT/STEM subject degrees, industry led projects and curriculum input, all of which contribute to a more positive experience for students, better graduate outcomes for universities and more highly skilled graduates for employers.
In all of this we should not forget the responsibility of the individual student. Students increasingly enter university with a consumer mind-set of high expectations looking for a high quality, supportive learning
...there is an even greater need for a more collaborative approach such as placement experiences within IT/STEM subject degrees, industry led projects and curriculum input…
experience, access to internships and the opportunity to develop a portfolio of skills and a network of employers to access. However, they should approach their learning and career planning with the growth mind-set required to take responsibility for accessing the opportunities that universities provide.
In summary, we are all responsible for closing off the skills gap and contributing to the growth of UK-plc. Universities for providing the opportunities for students to develop the skills they need, employers for guiding universities in what is required and students for taking advantage of the opportunities available to them.
Kate Croucher - UK University Partnerships Manager at FDM
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