Graduates lack work skills, say business leaders
THE majority of business leaders in the UK believe universities do not prepare graduates for the workplace – and yet most of them still require a degree for entry-level roles, a report suggests.
More than two in three (70%) leaders at larger companies do not believe the higher education system is delivering the skills needed for the workforce, according to research by tech start-up Multiverse.
Business leaders reported that UK universities are not offering courses that link to real-world experiences in the workplace and they are not sufficiently teaching durable soft skills like teamwork and leadership.
But more than half (54%) of senior leaders at those companies still require degrees for entry-level roles, the report suggests.
Overall, 600 UK business leaders were interviewed online in March this year as part of the report.
The findings suggest just under a third (32%) of business leaders believe a graduate’s degree grade is one of the top three indicators of their potential.
This comes as almost three in five (59%) executives at larger companies say they learned more valuable skills during their first two years in the workplace than they did during university.
Euan Blair, founder and chief executive of Multiverse, which provides apprenticeship programmes, said: “The university system is far removed from the realities of the workplace and there’s little to no correlation between academic grades and job performance. Yet many businesses still require a degree to open the door to the best jobs.
“We need to completely rethink our relationship with education. To keep up with the rapidly accelerating pace of technological change, the idea that a three or four-year degree is enough education for a three or four-decade career has passed.”
Mr Blair, the son of former prime minister Tony Blair, added: “The best preparation for the workforce will increasingly come from applied learning, delivered on the job.
“Instead of relying chiefly on the higher education system, businesses should prioritise apprenticeships and training programmes that run throughout someone’s career. The future of learning is working.”
A spokesperson for Universities UK (UUK) said: “Universities provide a wide-ranging education, preparing students for life beyond the classroom, as well as training the next generation of doctors, nurses, engineers and teachers. Their value continues to be recognised by employers, with our research indicating that there are one million more professional jobs in the UK than workers with degrees to fill them.”