Solid future for Graduate careers advice

Graduate Prospects, its parent organisation, the Higher Education Careers Services Unit (HECSU), and the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS) have confirmed the terms of a new agreement which will extend their successful 32 year alliance.

Under the new deal, which was unanimously approved at the conference of Heads of Careers Services, Graduate Prospects will increase its trading and sponsorship activities with AGCAS over the next three years. The organisations will conduct joint market research this spring into the information needs of students, graduates and careers services so that new and revised products and services can be introduced from January 2006.

At the same HECSU will be setting up a new charitable fund that will be available to AGCAS, its regional groupings, its member services and other relevant bodies, and will also be increasing its research activities.

HECSU and Graduate Prospects Chief Executive Mike Hill said: ìThe close relationship between HECSU/Graduate Prospects, AGCAS and our largely joint membership is based on a commonality of purpose - we exist to benefit all students and graduates, to support all Careers Advisory Services and their staff and to ensure we capture, collate and communicate as efficiently and effectively as possible the collective knowledge of the sector.î

Endorsing Mike Hillís comments, AGCAS President Tony Butler said: ìThis agreement strengthens an important natural and mutually preferred partnership which, over many years, has successfully served, and will continue to serve, the HE sector throughout the British Isles.î

AGCAS and Graduate Prospects together produce more than 300 careers publications every year. AGCAS, the voice of HE careers professionals, commissions writers to research and write on 200 graduate careers annually - everything from Abstractor to Zookeeper - as well as topics such as CV writing, interview techniques and the pros and cons of postgraduate study. Graduate Prospects distributes more than a million copies and publishes the information on its website. Its service includes over 800 different career guides, graduate marketplace reports and the Prospects Series of recruitment and postgraduate course directories and magazines, e-guidance, career planning software, and web and online options to enhance the careers advice and guidance provided in Higher Education Careers Services.