Access and Success Academy: Supporting Students into Graduate Careers – Reducing Gaps in Graduate Employability and Postgraduate Study

Access Academy Training

Please note that this is an online event.

The focus on widening participation students not just “getting in” to university, but also successfully “getting on” is more important than ever. In a post-lockdown, cost of living crisis context, many underrepresented students are facing the biggest impact and additional barriers to progressing into positive graduate outcomes. We know that there is a clear earnings pattern by POLAR group, with those from areas with the lowest HE participation earning less, and this pattern is sustained over the ten years following graduation. There are also differences for those from certain ethnic backgrounds and for those with a disability. The OfS expects HEIs to address these differences and narrow the current gap. Universities are keen to play their part in helping students to address these barriers, but what’s needed and what works?  

Join this event to reflect on the context of graduate employability and challenges faced by underrepresented students in the UK, as well as discuss the types of approaches universities can take to address these challenges and inequalities.  

By taking part in this event, participants will be able to:  

• Consider the context of employability and graduate outcomes in the UK higher education sector.  

• Reflect upon the UK graduate labour market, including employer attitudes to social mobility.  

• Critically evaluate the role of universities in supporting positive student outcomes at different stages of the student lifecycle.  

• Examine the definition of ‘underrepresented’ in a graduate employability context.  

• Identify barriers faced by underrepresented groups in progressing into positive graduate outcomes.  

• Discuss approaches to address these barriers, considering how to evaluate their effectiveness.