Students unconvinced that courses prepare them for the
workplace
LONDON, Aug. 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Concerns about
whether university prepares graduates for the world of work is
casting doubt over the value for money it provides students, new
research suggests.
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The study from Canvas, the virtual learning environment (VLE)
for academic institutions and companies worldwide, reveals that
just one in three (30%) current undergraduates believe they are
getting their money's worth from their degree course, and with
university tuition fees set to rise next year, the figure falls to
just a fifth (21%) among sixth-formers who are considering their
next move.
The research shows that students believe higher education
curricula should be equipping them for the world of work but
universities are falling short of expectations. The study finds
that less than a third (31%) of undergraduates believe their
studies are relevant to the workplace, and one in four (23%) says
their current course is doing little to prepare them for work.
This is far from the expectations of sixth-formers who want to
come out of their degrees ready for work. The majority (55%) of
students are looking for courses developed in close partnership
with employers, and even more of them (80%) want the ability to
collaborate with employers directly. The research highlights just
how important getting a job upon graduation is when choosing a
university, with two fifths (41%) citing "employability" as a
crucial factor in their decision.
Kenny Nicholl, Director of Higher
Education at Canvas, said: "Too many current and future
undergraduates feel that they're not being prepared for employment,
and as a result few believe their degree provides value for money.
It is up to universities to bridge this gap by ensuring students
have the skills and knowledge to thrive in the modern workforce.
This means being tech-savvy and able to embrace continuous
learning."
As technology becomes more central to the learning experience,
helping students to work flexibly, hone investigative
problem-solving skills, and connect easily with teachers and peers,
universities are expected to provide the latest equipment and
programmes. And technology is prevalent; most students (58%) said
that computers are widely available for them to use, and almost
half (47%) said they have regular access to virtual learning
environments, meaning they can learn anytime, anywhere, just as
they would do in the real world—helping them to prepare for an
increasingly digital workforce.
Today's sixth-formers also see the content they create at
university as having the power to impact their personal development
and support a lifelong learning approach, where education doesn't
stop at graduation. A quarter (24%) expect to take content
created at university with them, and put to use at work. However,
the research suggests that technology enabling greater "ease of
portability" is lagging in some universities, with fewer than one
in ten (9%) undergraduates saying they will actually be able to
reuse their content.
Kenny Nicholl continues: "Putting
technology at the heart of university life helps students learn the
skills that employers need. Technology like Canvas helps move
teaching away from rote inside the classroom toward a collaborative
and interactive learning environment, where knowledge is applied to
real situations, and investigative skills are developed. Empowering
students to take control of their own learning breeds a new
generation of student—more enthused, engaged and accountable, and
ready to make an impact in the working world. In a competitive
market, the universities that embrace change with new technologies
and demonstrate how they can make their students 'employable' are
likely to attract the best students."
Notes to Editors
The research was conducted online by Atomic Market Research
among 501 sixth form students and 503 undergraduate students in
June 2016. The respondents are
representative of gender, age and location.
1. Source: Jisc, Technology for Employability, November 2015
For further information please contact:
Third City
Cathy Farmer / Rachel Finlay / Nathalie
Lindenhall
E: Instructure@thirdcity.co.uk
D: +44 (0)20 3657 9773
M: +44 (0)7805 754904 / +44 (0)7957 073302 / +44 (0)7850 339727
About Instructure, the creator of Canvas
Instructure, Inc. is the software-as-a-service (SaaS) technology
company that makes software that makes people smarter. With a
vision to help maximise the potential of people through technology,
Instructure enables organisations everywhere to easily develop,
deliver and manage engaging face-to-face and online learning
experiences. To date, Instructure has connected millions of
instructors and learners at more than 2,000 educational
institutions and corporations throughout the world. Learn more
about the Canvas Virtual Learning Environment at
www.Instructure.com and http://www.CanvasVLE.co.uk.
Copyright © 2016, Instructure, Inc. All rights reserved.
Instructure, Canvas and the Bridge logo are registered trademarks
or trademarks of Instructure, Inc. in the United States and/or
other countries. Other brands and names may be claimed as the
property of others.