University of Cumbria among those to back Future Jobs Roadmap

Published by Universities UK (UUK) with support from Pearson and the British Chambers of Commerce, the Future Jobs Roadmap sets out a series of steps for universities, business and government to take to better support graduates into work.

The roadmap has been developed based on conversations with around 200 employers, business groups and universities and responds to the growing challenge facing young people and employers alike. 

The plan comes at a pivotal moment for the economy. As the government develops its 10-year plan and industrial strategy, universities are stepping forward with a practical offer to help deliver the high-level skills, graduate talent and growth the country needs. 

It also responds to the wider pressures facing young people entering the labour market.

University of Cumbria Vice Chancellor Professor Julie Mennell DL said: “Universities have a vital role to play in ensuring graduates develop the skills, experience and confidence they need to succeed in the workplace and their communities. 

“At the University of Cumbria, we are for and from Cumbria and our localities, with people, place and partnership at the heart of everything we do. 

“We're committed to preparing our students for successful careers, and our ranking as No.1 in the Northwest and among the top five universities in the UK for graduate outcomes reflects that. 

“We see first-hand the difference that strong employer engagement and practice-based learning make to students’ career prospects and the communities they go on to serve. 

“The Future Jobs Roadmap provides an important opportunity to strengthen those partnerships, creating more opportunities for students to gain real-world experience while helping employers access the talent and skills they need for future growth.” 

Recent Higher Education Statistics Agency data showed that 97.5% of University of Cumbria graduates were in employment or further study within 15 months of graduating, with 88.4% in highly skilled roles.

The University of Cumbria also ranked as the No.1 University in the UK for graduates who said their career was on track 15 months after graduation in a recent Daily Mail ranking.

The Future Jobs Roadmap will help graduates of every background, and the employers who need them, to succeed. 

Key commitments in England include: 

• An ambition for all undergraduates to have access to meaningful work-based learning by 2035, with a milestone of reaching 50% by 2030. 

• Ensuring AI tools are accessible to every undergraduate student and every course has a lecturer who is an ‘AI trailblazer’ so that graduates have the skills to be AI pioneers in the workplace. 

• Providing graduates with universal lifetime entitlement to careers support both while they are at university and throughout their career to ensure they are set up for success and can navigate labour market change. 

• Expanding employer co-designed learning and modular provision. 

• Supporting regional graduate schemes to connect graduates with SMEs. 

• Making it easier for employers to engage with universities. 

Professor Malcolm Press, President of Universities UK and Vice Chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan University, said: "This Roadmap is the result of universities listening carefully to employers about the challenges they face and the skills they need, and responding with action. 

"The message we heard was clear: graduates possess significant talent and potential and employers value them highly. But we need to do even more to help students gain workplace experience, develop professional confidence and prepare for a changing economy. 

"Universities want to work even more closely with employers, students and government to strengthen opportunities for graduates and support economic growth.”

You can find the roadmap here: Future Jobs Roadmap — Future Universities