Degrees of skill

The Council for Industry and Higher Education (CIHE) and Graduate Prospects launch the Student Employability Profiles Guide for Employers.

The guide gives employers an insight into the skills developed during specific degree courses and how these skills fit with competencies required by the recruiter. Ultimately this will enable organisations to recruit from a wider pool of graduates.

Work related skills delivered by degree study have been identified for 24 degree subjects, for example, graduates in philosophy will typically be able to analyse problems in a multi dimensional way, be able to think creatively, self-critically and independently etc. These skills were then matched against core competencies required of potential recruits.

The key competencies identified by employers are:

- Cognitive skills ñ problem solving and information handling;

- Generic competencies ñ communication, influencing, organisation and interpersonal skills;

- Personal capabilities ñ desire for self-improvement, initiative;

- Technical ability ñ IT capabilities;

- Business and/or organisation awareness ñ business understanding delivered through relevant curriculum and work based learning including work experience;

- Practical and professional elements ñ continuous professional development.

Mike Hill, chief executive of Graduate Prospects, commented:
ìGraduate recruiters often get caught in a trap of recruiting graduates from particular degree courses. By highlighting the competencies delivered by different subject areas, the guide gives employers access to a greater diversity of potential candidates. Business requirements can be fulfilled more effectively, with a potential boost to the bottom line as a result.î

Barbara Blake, director of programmes for CIHE, said:
ìThis has been a real collaborative effort by higher education institutions and employers with useful relationships built as a result. Iím confident that this guide will be an invaluable tool for all employers looking to recruit appropriately skilled graduates into their workforces.î

Dr Kim Howells, Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, added:
ìIt is a good time to be a graduate and the skills they can offer employers are often much wider than some realise. Although many graduates have been studying degrees in specific subject areas, these profiles show that graduates from quite different disciplines are developing a wide range of competencies that are highly relevant to employersí needs.î

Ample endorsement comes from Gary Argent, UK graduate recruitment manager for LogicaCMG:
ìThe Student Employability Profiles are an important step in promoting better shared understanding of the content of different degree disciplines. As a graduate recruiter, I have already used the profiles to improve my knowledge of the skills sets and experiences that a graduate might gain from various degrees, helping me to cast the net wider when looking for new graduate talent for our company.î

The Student Employability Profiles for Employers Guide is available from The Council for Industry and Higher Education, Studio 11, Tiger House, Burton Street, London WC1H 9BY or online at: