Work placement plans to offer 'hope' to students

A university chief has said a new initiative to offer all students a work placement during their degree will give them "hope and aspiration" in a tough market.

Duncan Ivison, vice chancellor of the University of Manchester, has announced plans to offer students industry experience or learning partnerships during the course of their degrees.

He said while the plans were ambitious they had "no choice" but to do this to give students a better chance in the job market after graduation, amid increasing challenges such as Artificial Intelligence (AI).

He said the plans would involve investment and building a team of colleagues to support more than 30,000 students throughout the process.

The initiative includes not just placements but other opportunities such as projects between local, national and global partners such as projects that involve students having to use their skills.

Prof Ivison said: "You've got a very difficult labour market, you've got a very volatile political situation, you've got AI transforming people's lives in all kinds of ways, tough economy.

"I think we need to give some hope and aspiration to young people as much as anything else."

The announcement comes at a time when universities across the country are facing challenges including financial hurdles.

"People are asking questions about the fundamental value proposition of universities in a way that I have never seen before," said Ivison.

"And I think that's a challenge we have to embrace... [and] take head on."

The plans, which have been developed over the past year, will see students on courses which traditionally lean more heavily into research such as history or philosophy, being offered the chance to showcase their skills to industry professionals.

Ivison said that what might be offered for a history or biology student would look "very different" than it might for a nurse or occupational therapist who needs to work in the NHS as part of their training.

The scheme has already garnered interest from local, national and global partners who have made contact to offer their services, he added.

Ivison said one of the biggest challenges will be finding the resources in what is a "resource-challenged sector", but maintained that it is "important to do it".

He said that, as the birthplace of the industry revolution, Manchester was the best place for it.

The Office for Students, the regulator for higher education in England, has welcomed the plans, citing a lack of work experience as one of the biggest barriers facing graduates.

Its interim chief executive, Josh Fleming said: "Our research suggests that students really value being able to build connections with employers and industry professionals during their time in higher education, including through work placements."

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