Ashorne Hill - Beyond the Cap and Gown: Empowering Graduates for Professional Success
During the 2021-22 academic year, over 2 million students were studying in UK higher education, and graduate job applications increased by 41% in 2023.[2] These statistics highlight how graduates are preparing to take on the world of work with academic qualifications, however we need to ask whether they have the necessary human skills to thrive in a professional field. So, how do we prepare recent graduates for the professional world and how can learning solutions empower the future workforce?
Bridging the gap between University and Work
According to the CMI, around 80% of employers believe that graduates arrive in the workplace unprepared with work-ready skills.[3] Similarly, around one-third of recent graduates think their university education has not prepared them with valuable career and management skills. This ultimately produces a gap between graduates finishing their university education and beginning a new professional role. However, organisations can bridge this gap by providing more relevant learning and development programmes to equip their recent graduates with work-ready skills.