AGCAS: Employability - a key issue for students

Employability - a key issue for students

The National Student Forum (NSF) has produced its second annual report in which it reports on students' current experiences and sets out its priorities. For the first time, employability receives a chapter of its own in which NSF recommendations to universities, government and national bodies are clearly laid out.

Although not originally identified as a priority area, employability emerged as a recurring issue across the forum's first year discussions. Its continuing importance - especially in the current economic climate - led to it remaining a key priority this year, and the report dedicates a chapter (Chapter 2, pages 34-45) to exploring this in more detail.

NSF priorities include university employability strategies, the better integration of careers information, advice and guidance into university life including into the curriculum, access to high-quality work experience and meeting the needs of groups who may have particular needs (such as disabled students, international students, postgraduate students).

The report can be downloaded from the National Student Forum website.

The Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) will produce a public response, addressing the issues raised in the report and has requested feedback through national partner organisations. Feedback from AGCAS member careers services should be sent by heads of service to Margaret Dane, AGCAS CEO by 30 November 2010.

Individuals can also feedback through the NSF website.

Tags: national student forum employability careers services iag work experience

Created on: 17 November 2009

Last updated: 18 November 2009