Survey reveals trust in careers services
High Fliers, in association with The Times, have released their annual review of students' perceptions of careers, career expectations and future aspirations. Over 17,000 final year students from 30 of the country's higher education league table leaders took part in The UK Graduate Careers Survey 2012. The data shows how trusted careers services are, with 93% of finalists surveyed having used the service. It also suggests more and more students are undertaking work experience and internships, supported by their careers service.
AGCAS President, Anne-Marie Martin, commented:
"The survey adds to the extensive evidence that quality-accredited careers services are the best way to support students, both in terms of developing skills for employability and engaging with future prospective employers, as well as developing their understanding of the core concepts of self-awareness and opportunity awareness for their own employability. It also highlights that services are doing things right in delivering in a way that students want and can access."
Innovative practice
The survey results indicate that careers services' innovative practice to reach out to students is paying dividends, with more engaging via the web and in their own academic schools rather than the more traditional model of a 'place to go'. Those who do go, on average, go three times indicating how they have found value in each visit and continue to make use of good quality impartial information, advice and guidance.
By students changing how they want to engage and the services responding, those services continue to add value to their institutions and to their clients. This makes them the central choice for employers looking to engage with students.
Quality position
AGCAS members' own research indicates that the services offered to students are consistently valued by students. Unlike commercial services, AGCAS members are quality accredited and impartial, focusing solely on the needs of their student clients. Whilst the survey covers some but not all of the institutions in the UK, evidence from our members highlights that those best placed to support students are the universities' own services, who understand both the individual and the labour market. With an increasing focus amongst prospective students and government on employability, this survey reinforces the quality position of careers services and should make informative reading to institutions and central government.
Tags: High Fliers careers survey The Times Sector AGCAS career decision career confidence finalists internships work experience employability Career Education Information and Guidance in HE (CEIGHE) quality
Created on: 23 May 2012
Last updated: 25 May 2012