University graduate employment performance revealed

London Metropolitan University has enjoyed the biggest increase in the proportion of its graduates who are in work or further study six months after leaving.

Data published on 2 July by the Higher Education Statistics Agency reveal that 88.8 per cent of London Met’s 2013-14 full-time first-degree graduates told the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education survey that they were in a job or continuing their studies.

This was a 7.4 percentage point increase on 2012-13, when the institution’s result of 81.4 per cent was the worst in the UK, but remains below the nationwide average of 93.2 per cent.

Other institutions making big strides included Aberystwyth University, up 5.9 percentage points to 91.4 per cent, and the University of Sunderland, up 5.4 points to 92.5 per cent.

April McMahon, vice-chancellor of Aberystwyth, said the improvement reflected “both the hard work and enterprise of our graduates, and the commitment of all our staff to the success of our students”.

The Hesa data reveal that the institution where UK-domiciled graduates were least likely to be in a job or studying six months after leaving was the University of Bolton, even though its result of 85.7 per cent was up 3.3 percentage points on 2012-13.

Just above it was the University of East London (86.4 per cent) and University College Birmingham (87.8 per cent), plus Staffordshire and Teesside universities (both 88.1 per cent).

Many of the strongest performers were small, specialist institutions, with 100 per cent of the Royal College of Music’s graduates in work or further study.

Not far behind were Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance (99.1 per cent) and the Royal Agricultural University (98.2 per cent). Bishop Grossteste University and the private University of Buckingham were tied on 98.1 per cent.

Alistair Alcock, Buckingham’s acting vice-chancellor said he was “delighted” with the result.

“Having a small staff-to-student ratio and an open-door policy means that our tutors all know our students well and are able to liaise with our careers service to help find suitable jobs for undergraduates,” he said.

Among larger institutions, the strongest performers included Robert Gordon University (97.2 per cent), Lancaster University (97 per cent), and the universities of Derby and Surrey (both 96.9 per cent).

The majority of higher education providers saw between 92 and 96 per cent of their UK-domiciled full-time first-degree leavers in work or further study six months on.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com