eureka! an academic portfolio informed by specific employment trends

Eureka!An academic portfolio informed by specific

employment trends

Dr Jamie Mackay | Business Development Manager for HEe: [email protected] | t: 07740 344750

mailto:[email protected]


www.economicmodelling.co.uk

Outline• Universities and colleges as

Economic Developers?• A new vision• Why understand your regional

economy?• Planning a strategy• Shaping a curriculum portfolio

http://www.economicmodelling.co.uk/

Universities and colleges as Economic Developers?


Universities and colleges as Economic Developers?

• Providing skills and knowledgefor employers

• Creating businesses and jobs• R&D activity to (e.g.) raise productivity• Attracting investment and talent to the

region - domestic and foreign• Support delivery of LEP strategic

priorities



Insights fromIncome created by Scotland’s Colleges

For every £1 spent…



Insights from

For every £1 spent…



Insights fromIncome created by Bucks New University



See also:

So where next?



The traditional modelUniversities perceived as supply-driven producers of workforce talent:



What’s missing? • The needs / demands of:– the labour market– the local / regional / national

economies– (the learners themselves)


A new vision


A new vision(Ref. Andy Westwood)

Universities take on a larger role in balancing supply/demand components of education and the labour market:


Why understand yourregional economy?


1. Devolution / Combined Authorities2. Apprenticeship reforms3. FE Area-based Reviews4. Graduate migration…





> 70%61 – 70%51 – 60%41 – 50%31 – 40%< 31%

• ‘Loyal’ graduates from 2012/13 employed after six months in each region*– Scotland: 84.3%– Wales: 64.8%– North East: 62.3%– North West: 58.9%– Yorkshire & Humber: 45.9%– West Midlands: 45.4%– East Midlands: 40.4%– South East: 36.1%– East of England: 31.4%– London: 28.9%

* Reference: Ball, C. 2015. Loyals, Stayers, Returners and Incomers: Graduate migration patterns. HECSU.


http://www.hecsu.ac.uk/assets/assets/documents/hecsu_graduate_migration_report_january_15.pdf







> 70%61 – 70%51 – 60%41 – 50%31 – 40%< 31%

* Reference: Ball, C. 2015. Loyals, Stayers, Returners and Incomers: Graduate migration patterns. HECSU.

31 – 40%21 – 30%11 – 20%0 – 10%

‘Loyal’ graduates from 2012/13 employed after six months in each region*

‘Returner’ graduates from 2012/13 employed after six months in each region*








Why

und

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and

your

regi

onal

eco

nom

y?

Planning a strategy


Planning a strategy…• to improve graduate employability?• to get a better understanding of the

regional labour market?• to improve income streams via

employer engagement?• to develop a demand-led curriculum

model?• to become a leading economic driver in

your region?



Planning a strategy• Which industry sectors are growing

fastest in your region?• Which graduate level occupations

are driving these industries?• Which graduate level occupations in

your region are set to see the most growth?



Insight from

• Professional education provider, looking to expand HRM provision into new regions

• Wanted to establish a business case, citing occupation figures and growth projections

• Also wanted to compare regional growth• Result: Recently partnered with Sheffield

Hallam University to validate a Masters in Professional Practice Strategic HRM and Development.



Insight from

• Drastic change to the regional economy amid 12-year lows in the price of crude oil

• University curriculum portfolio partly aligned to the Mining & Quarrying industry

• University’s Outcome Agreement to demonstrate contribution to creating sustainable economic growth for Scotland

• Result: Now using LMI to inform growth.


Shaping a curriculum portfolio



• Where are your students coming from?• Local?• National?• Overseas?

• What are your students’ expectations?• Accessibility and inclusivity?• Flexible delivery?• Graduate employability?




• Where are your graduates going?• Local?• National?• Overseas?

• How does your curriculum portfolio map to the needs of these regions?

• What is the competition doing?• Other universities?• Alternative / private providers?• Colleges?



Insights fromthe classes of 2012-14*

2011/12

2012/13

2013/14

Graduate employment rate 72.6% 74.7% 73.8%Unemployment rate 8.5% 7.3% 6.3%Graduate-level employment 64.0% 65.6% 67.7%

* First degree graduates excluding Postgraduates.Reference: Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education, Higher Education Statistics AgencySee also: What do Graduates do 2014? / What do Graduates do 2015?. HECSU.


https://www.hesa.ac.uk/index.php?option=com_pubs&task=show_pub_detail&pubid=1708&Itemid=286

https://www.hesa.ac.uk/index.php?option=com_pubs&task=show_pub_detail&pubid=1708&Itemid=286

http://www.hecsu.ac.uk/current_projects_what_do_graduates_do.htm





Insights fromthe class of 2015

• More career-focused than predecessors• Researching careers in first year• Undertaking work experience including

placements and internships• Higher salary expectations - £41k by

5yrs – although these are not always met• Feel underemployed by some businesses• Commonly looking to work in SMEs

References:The UK Graduate Careers Survey 2015, High Fliers ResearchAccenture Strategy 2015 UK University Graduate Employment Study, Accenture


http://www.highfliers.co.uk/

http://www.highfliers.co.uk/

https://www.accenture.com/us-en/insight-uk-university-graduation-research.aspx




Summary1. Universities as Economic Developers2. Balancing supply/demand

components of education and the labour market

3. Regional insights are key4. A strategic plan and curriculum

portfolio both informed by LMI5. Transform lives.


Dr Jamie Mackay | Business Development Manager for HEe: [email protected] | t: 07740 344750

