Focus On: Graduate Skills - Research Report

In 2018, QAA Scotland commissioned AGCAS Scotland to undertake research in order to gain a better understanding of employers' and graduates' views of the skills developed by students at Scottish higher education institutions (HEIs).

University careers services have a strong track record of delivering creative and increasingly evidence-driven initiatives to support students’ skills development, increasingly in partnership with employers.

One of the key aims of this research was to understand the perspectives of graduates in all degree disciplines, specifically to examine access to skills development opportunities and whether a range of degrees offer appropriate digital skills and prepare graduates to live and work in a global society.

The project surveyed 247 recent graduates of Scottish HEIs, primarily those who graduated in 2017-19, along with 30 employers from a range of sectors and company sizes.

This research uncovered a wide range of areas of good practice at Scottish HEIs, with areas of improvement linked to improved accessibility and advertising of relevant opportunities. The project outcomes will inform future debate around graduate transitions to employment and the extent to which students are prepared to live and work in a global society.

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