Beyond Placement ExtinctionComing up for Air

Francesca WalkerEmployability & Alumni Fellow

Michael BowermanResearch Assistant

1 Walked

2 Bus

3 Train

4 Car

5 Bicycle

6 Other

A warm up exercise for you.....How did you get here today?A warm up exercise for you.....How did you get here today?

1 Yes

2 No

3 Prefer not to answer

eat five portions of fruit and vegetables per day?eat five portions of fruit and vegetables per day?Do you know that you should Do you know that you should

1 Yes

2 No

3 Prefer not to answer

Do you eat five portions of fruit and vegetables every day?Do you eat five portions of fruit and vegetables every day?

Background• Why? • 2008/09 – Commenced Research – 670

students surveyed.• 2009/10 – Recession required greater

research – 650 students surveyed.• Grand total = 1,320

Background• The great decline

Methodology & Rationale 2008/09

• Pilot Questionnaire• Final Questionnaires

– Year 1– Year 2– Year 3 – Finalists– Year 3 – Placement– Year 4

• 670 Students Responded

Which University are you from?Which University are you from?

1 Year Long Only

2 Summer Only

3 Year Long and Summer

4 We don't offer placements

5 We don't offer placements but we should

6 We don't offer placements but we're planning to

Do you offer work placements as part of your courses?Do you offer work placements as part of your courses?

1 Yes

2 No

3 Don't know

in students undertaking placements?in students undertaking placements?Are you experiencing a decline Are you experiencing a decline

1 Yes

2 No

3 Don't know

for students dropping as a result of the recession?for students dropping as a result of the recession?In your experience, are the number of placements In your experience, are the number of placements

a decline in students undertaking placements?a decline in students undertaking placements?Why do you think that we are experiencing Why do you think that we are experiencing

Findings – Year 1Placement Length• 53% felt that a year was ‘just right’• 37% didn’t know whether the length of time was right or not

Student Mobility• 37% of students would be willing to travel up to thirty miles for their placement• 17% were willing to travel over thirty miles • the remainder indicated a preference for an overseas placement.

• 50% lived at home with their families • 50% had chosen to live in University accommodation or were living with a

partner in their own accommodation

Findings – Year 1 (Continued)The Value of Work Experience• 88% of those surveyed indicated that it was of significant importance to the

employer

Students in Employment• 66% of students were in employment of some kind, whether paid or

voluntary• 24% indicated that their work was directly related to their course of study

Findings – Year 2Placement Length• 67% felt that a year was ‘just right’• 20% didn’t know whether the length of time was right or not.

Student Mobility• 38% of students would be willing to travel up to thirty miles for their

placement• 21% were willing to travel over thirty miles • the remainder indicated a preference for an overseas placement.

• 38% lived at home with their families • 63% had chosen to live in University accommodation or were living with a

partner in their own accommodation

Findings – Year 2 (Continued)The Value of Work Experience• 88% of those surveyed indicated that it was of significant importance to the

employer.

Students in Employment• 72% of students were in employment of some kind, whether paid or

voluntary• 32% indicated that their work was directly related to their course of study

Findings – Year 3 - FinalistsReasons for Opting out

A Shorter Placement?• 44% indicated that had the placement been shorter, they would have

reconsidered it

What would be the ideal length of time?• 50% indicated that the placement could be covered over the summer

months • 50% felt that work experience could be incorporated within the three

years of their degree.

Findings – Year 3 – Finalists (Continued)

Student Mobility• 60% indicated that they would be willing to travel up to thirty miles for a

placement.

Opt Out – Reflective View• 56% noted that they had no regrets• 33% regretted not undertaking a placement, indicating that they now lacked

experience and were therefore at a disadvantage when entering the workforce

The Value of Work Experience• 58% indicated that work experience was important and that employers

expected it• 29% indicated that employers felt that it was ‘quite important’

Findings – Year 3 – Finalists (Continued)

Students in Employment• 76% indicated that they currently had some kind of employment• 29% of which was related to their course of study

Preparing for Post-Graduate Employment• 50% of those surveyed indicated that they had not started looking for post-

graduation opportunities• 11% had a secured a job • 20% had interviews

This survey has was taken in February & March 2009

Findings – Year 3 – Students on Placement

A Shorter Placement?• 100% indicated that a year in the workplace was the right length of time to gain

experience within a role

Student Mobility• 72% of the group travelled between 1 and 30 miles to their place of work• 24% travelled over 30 miles• 4% chose a placement overseas

Other Mobility Issues• 25% chose their placement so that they could remain at home• 44% already lived at home with their families when they chose their placement

Findings – Year 3 – Students on Placement (Continued)

Value of the Work Placement• increased confidence• improved organisation skills• analytical and decision-making skills were improved

Skills to be developed• Literacy was an issue that students would like to improve upon, and is one of the

areas noted by employers of graduates as being weak

What would they have done differently?

Findings – Year 3 – Students on Placement (Continued)

The Value of Work Experience

• 96% noted that work experience was of importance

Findings – Year 4A Shorter Placement?• 96% noted that a year was the right amount of time to be in a placement

Student Mobility• 57% remained within 30 miles of their homes• 14% travelled more than 30 miles • 29% took the option of an overseas placement

Placement Accommodation• 61% either found alternative accommodation, or were assisted in the

relocation process• 39% stayed at home

Findings – Year 4 (Continued)Work Placement Value• increased confidence• team working • communication skills

Areas for Development• negotiating and influencing skills• analysis and decision making skills• numeracy

What would they have done differently?• greater research into the companies that they were applying to• earlier applications to improve the quality and choice of placements available

to them

Findings – Year 4 (Continued)Students in Employment• 65% currently in employment• 19% of which was related to their course of study

Preparing for post-graduate employment• 22% of this group had already secured work after graduation• 14% of whom were returning to their placement employer

Then the Recession Hit!

So what did we do about all that we had discovered?

ImmobilityEncouraging students to talk to students on placement living away from home/university to share their experiences.

Lack of DirectionSome serious hand holding and badgering.

Work Experience is EssentialDevelopment of ‘Employer Forums’.

Key InfluencersMeet the Tutors.

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Faculty of Management - Students Placed 1996/97 - 2008/09

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Significant Events: 1996/97 - Last Grant Funded Intake

1999/00 - Optional Placements Introduced

I couldn't find the right role 26%

3 Years at Uni is long enough 17%

Already had work experience 15%

Didn't want a break from academia 6%

Undertook a shorter work placement 4%

Placements on offer were too far away 4%

Just didn't want to 4%

I had already taken time out (Intercalation) 3%

The course was enjoyable but I didn't want a career in it 3%

Money 3%

Started a placement but it didn't work out 3%

Working would get me used to having money 3%

On reflection, the course was wrong for me 1%

Enjoyed being a student too much 1%

Didn't realise the importance of work experience 1%

Overseas student 1%

Payment of tuition fees whilst on placement was unacceptable 1%

Unexpected circumstances 1%

Wanted to get experience post graduation 1%

Reasons for Opting Out

What would they have done differently?

Apply for more roles 32%

Apply earlier 24%

Get the job offer in writing before starting (so you know what you're to be doing) 12%

Research organisations before application 8%

Use the Placements service more 4%

Choose a placement closer to home 4%

Explore roles in smaller businesses 4%

Don't just apply because it is close to home 4%

Reflect on my personality and the roles suited to me 4%

Would have liked to have experienced consultancy 4%

We continued our research…

…with a recession in mind

Who we surveyed 2009/10• Year 1• Year 2• Year 3 – Finalists who opted out of a placement• Year 3 – On Placement• Year 4 – Finalists

We finished collecting data on April 1st (really)

2009/10 - Findings

• Parents of Generation Y• Living at home is even more important! • Placements influence the choice of Course.• Students want to do a placement.• Future Thinking.• Half fees for the placement year is a barrier.• Too much competition for placements.

What we’re doing now…..• Mock Assessment Centres• Development of online Psychometric tests• Mock Interviews• Peer views• The Parent’s Survival Guide• The Film!• Social Networking• Regular Visits – Year 1 is a priority• Serious monitoring• Gorilla Marketing• Local Marketing Campaign

Coming up for air….

What have we learned?

We have stayed the same….• The students have changed.• The climate has changed.• Communication has changed.• Students are waking up to the fact that the party is

over.• Employers are seeing a rich field of talent – only the

best will do.• We all have to work harder and communicate

better.• It has been a wake-up call for us all.

1 Yes

2 No

Has any of this been a surprise?Has any of this been a surprise?

1 Yes

2 No

3 I'm reflecting on it

the interventions that we have used?the interventions that we have used?Would you be interested in finding out more about Would you be interested in finding out more about

1 Yes

2 No

3 Maybe

Would you be interested in seeing the final film?Would you be interested in seeing the final film?

Has our knowledge and interventions made a difference?

YES!

Thank you for participating

We’re here for the full conference – please come and talk to us….

Francesca Walkerfdwalker@uclan.ac.uk

Michael Bowermanmbowerman@uclan.ac.uk

2006/07

2007/08

2008/09