The National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB), which comprises of senior university and business leaders promoting greater collaboration, and is supported by government, has today welcomed a report from University Alliance which recommends greater links between companies and institutions in order to improve graduates’ career prospects.

The report titled ‘Closing the gap: Unlocking opportunity through higher education’ says that careers guidance is patchy at best and that greater collaboration between universities and business would lead to better knowledge among students of routes to career progression.

The findings compliment the NCUB report ‘Career Portfolios and the Labour Market for Graduates and Postgraduates in the UK’ published in April 2014 which found that only by universities working with businesses could graduates be ensured the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the work place.

Aaron Porter, NCUB Director of External Affairs, said:

“The old understanding of graduates careers where studying a particular subject leads to a related career no longer holds true for most people.

“Businesses have made clear to us that they value graduates who not only have specialist knowledge but are also able to demonstrate their ability to adapt to rapidly changing industries and can move easily between job roles and sectors.

“Collaboration between universities and business must go beyond careers advice to help universities provide the hard and soft skills employers need, and to create effective work placements that give students useful experience.”

ENDS

NCUB Press Office – Will Hoyles 07772 512519 will.hoyles@ncub.co.uk

The NCUB Career Portfolios report is available here.

The National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB) develops, promotes and supports world-class collaboration between universities and business across the UK. Our aim is to find practical ways of harnessing the talent being developed in our universities, and the UK’s strength in ground-breaking research and development, for the benefit of the nation’s economy. Drawing on the 25 years’ experience of our predecessor body, the Council for Industry and Higher Education (CIHE), NCUB is committed to a programme of research, policy development and practical partnerships. From facilitating collaborative R&D, to developing the entrepreneurial and employability skills of students at all stages of their education, NCUB is working to support UK business and higher education in a competitive global market.