Employment is said to be at its highest level in 17 years. The jobs market is a subject that features heavily in society's attitude towards higher education. Some say that many degrees do not lead to jobs, therefore are worthless in the world of work. Others say that in order to even have a chance in the competitive market, a degree is an absolute. In any case, unemployment is a real concern for today's alumni, with up to a quarter of graduates without full-time jobs, three years after graduating. Furthermore, many are in minimum wage jobs, much below their levels of training. However, the government has recently vowed to create more job opportunities for graduates and youths alike.
Data source: DWP Press Office
View Youth unemployment in a larger map
The map above shows the number of 18-24 year-olds claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in October 2011.
The green areas show where claimant numbers are the lowest in comparison to the UK average, in yellow areas there is a generally lower than average amount of claimants, in orange, numbers are on or above the UK average, and in red, they are considerable more.
Friday, 2 December 2011
Why study in the UK?: International students
The perceptions of a UK education vary across the globe, however, we can make certain generalisations on the factors that have attracted international students to the UK depending on what university they attend.
Overseas students, who choose to study at redbrick and other respected universities, are certainly intelligent, but must also come from wealthy families, due to the high tuition fees – around £12000 a year. They tend to be driven and looking to study a specific subject.
In other cases, it’s the university that reaches out to the student. Financially motivated institutions, and those struggling to compete with others, offer cheap courses (£4000 fees) and work permits to attract larger numbers of students. In some cases, they benefit directly from international student recruitment.
In India, the principal reason that students come to the UK to study is a degree guarantees a decent job in India, and opens the door to more executive roles. This is because a UK degree is recognised across the country and allows a competitive edge in a caste system in which it is very difficult to move up the hierarchy.
International students often want to experience the traditional British culture and a good standard of living. Some may also choose to work part-time to help repay their debts. For other young people, studying is seen as short-term immigration and a way of earning and saving money for their return to their home country.
The UK also attracts overseas students who see the move as an opportunity to network and form personal and business contacts, which could benefit them in their pursuit of international work. Few are in search of a career in the UK. This contact-making would be especially important for those living in small rural areas, where the job market is limited.
But as international students generate £10 billion for our economy each year, it seems that the UK needs them more than they need the UK.
Overseas students, who choose to study at redbrick and other respected universities, are certainly intelligent, but must also come from wealthy families, due to the high tuition fees – around £12000 a year. They tend to be driven and looking to study a specific subject.
In other cases, it’s the university that reaches out to the student. Financially motivated institutions, and those struggling to compete with others, offer cheap courses (£4000 fees) and work permits to attract larger numbers of students. In some cases, they benefit directly from international student recruitment.
In India, the principal reason that students come to the UK to study is a degree guarantees a decent job in India, and opens the door to more executive roles. This is because a UK degree is recognised across the country and allows a competitive edge in a caste system in which it is very difficult to move up the hierarchy.
International students often want to experience the traditional British culture and a good standard of living. Some may also choose to work part-time to help repay their debts. For other young people, studying is seen as short-term immigration and a way of earning and saving money for their return to their home country.
The UK also attracts overseas students who see the move as an opportunity to network and form personal and business contacts, which could benefit them in their pursuit of international work. Few are in search of a career in the UK. This contact-making would be especially important for those living in small rural areas, where the job market is limited.
But as international students generate £10 billion for our economy each year, it seems that the UK needs them more than they need the UK.
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| The path to a international career Kaplan International Colleges |
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
Video Skills Test
Below is a short video that offers advice on how students can make themselves more employable. The video has been edited, and titles have been added using iMovie for Mac.
Friday, 4 November 2011
The Digital Newsroom - Workshop 7
A short story made in Storify, discussing the domino effect of the hike in higher education fees.
The Digital Newsroom - Workshop 6
A workshop task to demonstrate how to record and upload a video, add titles in Windows Movie Maker, and embed on to a blog post.
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