University of Wolverhampton just the job for graduates

The number of students from the University of Wolverhampton obtaining jobs or going onto further study following graduation is at record levels.

The Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) Survey is a national audit of everyone who has recently graduated from university or HE college in the UK.

Each year universities, on behalf of the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), contact graduates six months after they have completed their studies to find out their employment status.

Overall, 95 per cent of students who graduated from the University of Wolverhampton in 2014 were in work or further study after they had left - outperforming the UK average for all universities.

The results highlighted that the regional economy is also being supported with 81 per cent of Wolverhampton graduates working in the West Midlands and 66 per cent going on to work in graduate level jobs (professional/managerial) earning graduate level salaries. According to the survey 65 per cent of our graduates reported earnings of between £15,000 and £29,999 while 12 per cent reported that they were earning salaries of between £30,000 and £59,999.

More than 200 University of Wolverhampton students have also gone on to set up their own businesses. The SPEED Plus programme, is a University scheme created to support graduate start-ups. Since July 2012 it has supported 212 students and helped start 106 business ventures, creating 150 new jobs.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ian Oakes, said: “This is a fantastic achievement and a great advert for the success of our students. The simple message is that if you come to the University of Wolverhampton you have an extremely high chance of getting a job afterwards.

“We know from speaking to students and parents that is something that is very important to them. They want to have great courses, facilities and teaching when they are at university but ultimately what they really want is to know they are going to get the career they want after they graduate.

“It also shows that our graduates are helping support economic regeneration and growth, with the vast majority of them going on to work in the West Midlands and also to set up their own businesses and two thirds are getting graduate jobs with graduate salaries.

“We have maintained a strong focus on ensuring our students obtain the right kinds of skills when they are here and have access to the right kind of support. This has included introducing a new employability award for them to work towards alongside their courses, as well as more emphasis on placements, internships and volunteering.

“This means our graduates are more equipped that ever with the skills and training that employers demand.”

Dean of Students, Jon Elsmore, said: “We have had a great inward focus on employability in the curriculum and increased the number of staff in our careers, advice and guidance teams to support students.

“We have also been working with greater number of employers across the region in order to match up our graduates to roles that they have available.”

Graphic Communication graduate Sian Pryce said: “The University’s careers team sourced a fantastic opportunity for me at Bluechilli Design and Print. They provided me with all the support to prepare and be successful in the interview.  I have now secured a permanent role at the company thanks to a placement the University arranged for me.”

Dipisha Patel, who studied Business Management at the University, said: “Studying a Business Management degree at the University of Wolverhampton has been a wonderful experience for me. The University provided excellent teaching and an outstanding level of guidance and also offered a professional graduate recruitment service. The careers team were excellent and proactive in by finding me a marketing role, which I am excited to start at the Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club.”

Last year the survey showed that 94 per cent of the University’s graduates were in employment or further study six months after graduation.

ENDS

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