Achieving graduate level job success
Paul Blackmore, Head of Student Employability and Academic Success.
“Students from lower socio-economic backgrounds or dealing with challenging personal circumstances often don’t have equal access to professional networks, career advice, work and global experiences or other extra-curricular development opportunities that enhance their job applications career prospects.
While our graduates enjoy excellent progression outcomes, we provide a variety of support and tailored schemes to ensure all students are able to realise their potential regardless of background, social capital and personal networks.
A real focus this year has been improving our evidence base. Working with colleagues in Access, Participation and Outreach, we were part of a winning bid for funding from TASO to enable us to evaluate our Access to Internships Scheme. The aim is to help inform sector knowledge about effective interventions to improve graduate outcomes for under-represented students. Work began on the project in 2022/23 and we look forward to learning from the findings.”
Paul Blackmore, Head of Student Employability and Academic Success.
“Students from lower socio-economic backgrounds or dealing with challenging personal circumstances often don’t have equal access to professional networks, career advice, work and global experiences or other extra-curricular development opportunities that enhance their job applications career prospects.
While our graduates enjoy excellent progression outcomes, we provide a variety of support and tailored schemes to ensure all students are able to realise their potential regardless of background, social capital and personal networks.
A real focus this year has been improving our evidence base. Working with colleagues in Access, Participation and Outreach, we were part of a winning bid for funding from TASO to enable us to evaluate our Access to Internships Scheme. The aim is to help inform sector knowledge about effective interventions to improve graduate outcomes for under-represented students. Work began on the project in 2022/23 and we look forward to learning from the findings.”
Access to Internships
The University of Exeter’s Access to Internships Scheme (A2I) is a pioneering initiative that supports employers by offsetting the cost of hiring an Exeter student on a paid internship.
A2I supports WP students to arrange an internship in the UK and secure their first step onto the career ladder with the support of a dedicated Careers Consultant.
Collaboration between the university and employers to remove barriers for WP students is the corner stone of the scheme to grow future talent and support the demand for skills in the region. The scheme closes the gap between education and industry to enhance the employability of the students, who are from diverse academic areas with varying technical skills and interests. In 2021-22, A2I helped over 200 WP students to secure a quality, career enhancing internship in a range of industries. The majority of WP students supported were from disability, first generation to HE and low-income backgrounds.
In 2021-22, A2I supported more students compared to the previous year into paid internships both on campus and with external employers.
Access to Internships
The University of Exeter’s Access to Internships Scheme (A2I) is a pioneering initiative that supports employers by offsetting the cost of hiring an Exeter student on a paid internship.
A2I supports WP students to arrange an internship in the UK and secure their first step onto the career ladder with the support of a dedicated Careers Consultant.
Collaboration between the university and employers to remove barriers for WP students is the corner stone of the scheme to grow future talent and support the demand for skills in the region. The scheme closes the gap between education and industry to enhance the employability of the students, who are from diverse academic areas with varying technical skills and interests. In 2021-22, A2I helped over 200 WP students to secure a quality, career enhancing internship in a range of industries. The majority of WP students supported were from disability, first generation to HE and low-income backgrounds.
In 2021-22, A2I supported more students compared to the previous year into paid internships both on campus and with external employers.
Student feedback from 2021-22
of those surveyed said their employability skills had improved following their internship.
agreed the internships helped them feel more confident about securing a graduate job.
agreed the experience will help them during the interview process for future jobs.
agreed the internship has helped inform their career plan and they feel positive about future career opportunities.
Elizabeth, intern at Astley Media.
“The funding made it possible for me to be in a professional environment in an industry I’m passionate about…”
Jude, intern at the University of Exeter.
“This internship experience was extremely rewarding for me. I was able to expand my knowledge and engagement… and I was able to develop my digital communication and research skills (critical analysis). I demonstrated my self-sufficiency in a remote working environment whilst also maintaining effective communication skills with my line manager that led to the successful delivery of the master database…”
Student feedback from 2021-22
of the employers surveyed said their intern had made a positive impact.
Dr Adam Smith, University of Exeter Academic (Medical Sciences).
“We were able to advance a project that would have been abandoned. We are hopeful this project will lead to publication.”
Victoria Poole, Mind in Somerset.
“Nesta was excellent very well prepared and fit in to the team well. She genuinely wanted to be there, to help and to learn which was excellent.”
Barbara Tschirren, University of Exeter Academic (Biosciences Cornwall).
“The project greatly benefited from having Evie in the team and her contribution to data collection made a real difference. At the same time, the internship allowed Evie to gain valuable new field techniques skills that will be highly valuable for a career in ecological research or consultancy. A win-win overall.”
Targe, BSc Business and Management, 2022 Graduate.
“upReach helped to provide me with a sense of confidence. Through the various events, practise tests, mock interviews and CV advice my ambition and sense of belief was increased. Now that I have entered the finance industry, I have very ambitious goals, most of which I wouldn’t have set or aspired to achieve if it wasn’t for upReach.”
UpReach partnership stronger than ever
The University of Exeter has partnered with upReach since 2012 with the shared aim of enabling and supporting any student to achieve their full potential, regardless of social background.
Exeter is upReach’s largest University partner, funding 159 undergraduates on their intensive employability support programme in 2021/22, totalling 629 students since 2012.
All students supported by upReach are from low-income backgrounds and receive the Access to Exeter bursary. The most disadvantaged students are prioritised with 49% of our 2021/22 cohort having been eligible for free school meals, 86% having a household income below £25,000 and 70% first generation to attend university.
Beneficiaries of upReach have made excellent progress on graduation with 14 in graduate roles, 3 going onto further study and 31 successfully securing internships or placements from the 52 graduating cohort. As of July 2022, upReach continue to support Associates after they graduate for up to a year offering application support and mock interviews.
Eleanor, BSc Psychology, Graduating 2024.
“upReach has helped me to reflect on important skills that I need to work on, such as leadership, and think about how I can do this by attending video forums on the topic. It has opened my eyes to looking for opportunities to develop these skills and is part of what motivated me to attend Grand Challenges to be more actively involved and take the initiative to lead aspects of the group challenge. This experience also inspired me to apply for future leadership positions such as in societies at my university where I can further build my leadership skills.”
of cohorts in 2020/21 were eligible for free school meals.
of cohorts in 2020/21 had household incomes below £25,000.
of cohorts in 2020/21 were the first generation to attend university.
Care Leaver Guidance appointments
As part of our package of dedicated careers support for under-represented students, 21 final year care leavers and 39 final year estranged students who graduated in the summer of 2022 were offered 1:1 careers guidance and MBTI profile prior to them graduating.
Personality profiling supports employability
In the autumn term of 2022, mature students and care leavers / estranged students were offered the opportunity of enhanced careers support.
The students were emailed directly with details of how the MBTI personality profiling tool could further help them with their career decision-making by enabling them to explore their strengths and areas for development. Thirty students attended a 90-minute feedback session after completing an online questionnaire with the opportunity for further career guidance appointments to aid their career decision-making.
Feedback from students included:
“I found it very interesting to explore my preferences and use this to see my strengths and weaknesses in the workplace, education and social settings. Also that by knowing your strengths you can place yourself in roles that enhance your strengths so the session was very help to distinguish this.”