University fees and careers

Jonathan BlackMagdalen College School12 May 2011

• What jobs students take today…

• …and how they decide• Changes we anticipate• Some recommendations

This evening we’ll consider

Paid work is not the only destination on graduation from Oxford – further study is

almost equally popular

3Source: DLHE 2011 census of leavers from 2010

Undergraduates

6 months a

fter leaving

Undergraduates

6 months a

fter leaving

…though further study is less popular elsewhere

4Source: DLHE 2009 census of leavers from 2008

6 months a

fter

leaving6 m

onths after

leaving

A minority of Oxford undergraduates work in the City

5Source: DLHE stats 2007; CS analysis

6 months a

fter

leaving6 m

onths after

leaving

And there’s a variety of further study

6Source: DLHE stats 2010 of 2009 leavers; CS analysis

6 months a

fter

leaving6 m

onths after

leaving

For example, humanities graduates follow a wide variety of careers – this example is History

7Source: DLHE survey 2008

• What jobs students take today…

• …and how they decide• Changes we anticipate• Some recommendations

This evening we’ll consider

We find students fall into one of three groups…

Source: CS annual 2009 survey of 600 students

Friends and family most frequent source of careers advice

10Source: CS annual 2011 survey of 950 students, 2010 survey of 830 students

Around 85% of undergraduate finalists engage with university careers service – a significant rise on last year

Source: CS annual 2011 survey of 950 students, 2010 survey of 830 students

And almost 50% of freshers engaged with Careers this year

Possibly important ProbablyNot important

Employers see work experience as one of the most important hiring factors…

Source: CS survey 2009 of 300 employers

…confirmed by recent leavers who are unemployed: experience was most often the cause of not succeeding at applications

Source: Unemployed Leavers 2010 (Careers Service), 3-11 March 2011

About the same Better Much better

Work experience helps students in their weakest area

Source: CS survey 2009 of 300 employers

15

ExtremelyVerySlightlyNot at all

…and has become the most important careers activity for 1st year undergraduates

Source: CS annual 2011 survey of 950 students, 2010 survey of 830 students

How important are the following?

“Careers” helped elect the new OU Student Union president

• What jobs students take today…

• …and how they decide• Changes we anticipate• Some recommendations

This evening we’ll consider

• Implying employment is most important outcome

• Agencies are trying to provide more transparency for decision makers– New Key Information Statements (KIS)– The critical salary data are useless

Recent fee changes emphasise HE’s employment training role

• Frequent ministerial speeches• Media fanning the flames• HE sector naturally conservative /

resistant• Scary statistics bandied about

We observe a more nervous and unsettled environment…

• Timing and level of engagement• Work experience• Service and support from the HEI

– “I’m paying £3K / £9K / £16K a year”

• Results of access initiatives

…and predict more demand from anxious students…

• More sensitive to peer pressure & family expectations

• Just as much prevarication• Less further study – more paid work• Focus on higher-paying jobs• Demand for “value for money”

…maybe leading to more polarised behaviour

“Careers” has reached the front page of student newspapers

• What jobs students take today…

• …and how they decide• Changes we anticipate• Some recommendations

This evening we’ll consider

• Resist peer and family pressure• Don’t be driven by the money / fees:

your career is a long game• Don’t believe the media• There are many local effects

Advice to students: Steer your own course

• Transferable skills will always be key• Gain extra-curricular experiences• Network to find work experience

Advice to students: Start building the CV soon (even at school)

• 1st year– Don’t worry about it

• 2nd year– Start thinking about it

• 3rd (final) year– Get on with it!

Advice to students: Overall programme

• Take responsibility• Achieve things• Experienced the world of work• Have any necessary technical /

transferable skills• Are positive to have around

Fundamentals haven’t changed; employers will recruit students who:

QUESTIONS