We help find jobs for our graduates (From Worcester News)

University of Worcester's credit crunch conference on providing work skills

3:10am Thursday 22nd January 2009 in Search By James Connell

THE University of Worcester has hosted an important conference to help graduates get jobs during the credit crunch.

The event looked at how students and the university can work together to ensure graduates are equipped with all the necessary skills they need to get work.

The conference took place on Monday, the same day that Prime Minister Gordon Brown hosted talks with business leaders and unions about measures aimed at safeguarding jobs during the current downturn.

Carl Gilleard, chief executive of the Association of Graduate Recruiters, who was a key speaker at the event, said: “During 2009 the jobs environment is going to be a lot tighter than it has been for some years.

“We will see the largest number of graduates ever and fewer graduate jobs to go around. Anything that can be done within universities to help individuals to manage their careers in an uncertain world is very important.”

Academics from around the country travelled to Worcester for the Personal Development Planning and Employability Day.

Graduates from the University of Worcester have an excellent record of gaining employment. The National Student Survey places it among the UK’s top universities for supporting students’ personal development.

Dr John Peters, deputy head of academic development and practice at the University of Worcester, who organised the conference and was also a key speaker, said: “The university is nationally recognised for its work supporting students’ employability through personal development planning and this event showcased the huge range of exciting initiatives we are undertaking to help students get much more than a just a good degree from higher education.”