Firms employing graduates are evenly divided over whether they feel universities are developing students with the right skills for employment in the 21st century' according to new poll, a finding some see as progress
While many employers (53%) in the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) poll felt that universities were producing too many graduates, which is effecting the quality (60%) they are evenly divided as to whether they are employment ready.
None of the 215 AGR members polled 'strongly agreed' that universities were releasing employable graduates but 38% agreed educational establishments were delivering while 36% disagreed - two per cent strongly disagreed.
The AGR believes that while there is some way to go in satisfying employers that graduates leave universities with the right skills for employment, the straight split is a 'much more positive response' than would have been received two years ago.
Universities UK today welcomed the poll results claiming that educational establishments across the UK 'can be proud of the positive responses from employers' and hoped that it would convinced people of the benefits of higher education:
'Universities work hard to ensure graduates are equipped with the skills employers need. Employers' demands for graduate skills are constantly evolving, and university programmes reflect those changes.
'Foundation degrees are a part of this thinking particularly those that are being developed with input from employers to address skills needs. All universities in the UK can be proud of the positive responses from employers' it told HR Gateway today.
However, a survey of employers in November from IRS Employment Review suggested that nearly a third of firms (32%) had problems recruiting graduates because of a lack of people coming from certain disciplines.
Although the problems had eased by 15% from the previous year many firms were left with unfilled vacancies with the private sector being the worst hit. Over three-quarters of firms affected in the sector were unable to fill their quota of new graduates.
The oversupply of graduates - as suggested in the AGR poll - coupled with specific recruitment difficulties were causing the problem, said IRS Recruitment & Retention editor, Neil Rankin. One respondent said it was a matter of 'the wrong candidates doing the wrong degrees', he remarks:
'The existence of an over-supply of new graduates alongside recruitment difficulties remains an enduring feature of the graduate recruitment scene. Universities are offering more degrees in industries where there is not a skill shortage, and are not offering enough courses where there are shortages' he said.
