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July 2007

Education

Student issues

Employment

This bulletin summarise reports and surveys, press releases and newspaper articles under the following headings: education; student issues; and employment. In higher education, the sector’s latest performance indicators were published, Oxford University has unveiled a new application form for undergraduate admissions, and UCAS provided an update on undergraduate applicant numbers. This month also saw the government announce a reform of the student support system, and increases in the Disabled Students’ Allowance. The Association of Graduate Recruiters held its annual conference, which was centred around the graduate experience, and also published its latest salary and vacancy review.

Education

Another rise in HE applicant numbers

Figures from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) show that 492,842 people have so far applied to begin full-time undergraduate courses at UK higher education institutions in 2007. This represents a 5.3% rise on the same point last year and is consistent with earlier snapshots released by UCAS in February and April this year. Within the UCAS main scheme, 30,943 applicants have thus far opted to defer entry from 2007 to 2008.

(University and college applicant numbers continue to show consistent increase, UCAS press release, 19 July 2007.)

New graduate college at Oxford

Two Oxford colleges have announced they will merge to form a new graduate college. Green College and Templeton College, both specialised graduate colleges, will merge to form Green Templeton College. It will be one of the largest graduate colleges in Oxford, with around 80 Fellows and 480 students. The college will inherit Green’s strengths in medical and life sciences, along with Templeton’s commitment to management and business studies. A number of social science disciplines will be retained.

(Merger to create new Oxford graduate college, Oxford University press release, 3 July 2007.

Doctors qualify via access degree

Three of the nine students who began the extended medical degree programme (EMDP) at King’s College London have now graduated, with the others either repeating a year or continuing with studies. The EMDP was the first full degree course designed to widen participation among disadvantaged groups, and is based on a standard medical degree but takes six years to complete, instead of five. To be eligible, students must attend a state school or sixth-form college in one of the ten most deprived inner London boroughs.

(Doctors qualify on access degree, BBC Education, 29 June 2007. )

Student support package announced

John Denham, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, has announced changes to the system of student support in higher education. The Government will increase the number of students entitled to non-repayable maintenance grants from 2008/09, and full-time students from families with incomes of up to £25,000 will be eligible for the maximum grant, compared with the 2006/07 threshold of £17,500. Students from families with incomes of up to £60,000 will be entitled to a partial grant. The Student Associate Scheme will also be expanded.

(Increased support for students in higher education, Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills press release, 5 July 2007.)

Performance indicators published

The ninth set of UK higher education performance indicators show improvements in widening participation. The proportion of students from state schools entering higher education rose from 86.7% in 2004/05 to 87.4% in 2005/06. The proportion of students from lower socio-economic backgrounds also rose in the same period, as did that of young (aged 20 or under) students from low participation neighbourhoods. There was also an increase in the proportion of students receiving Disabled Students’ Allowance, rising from 3.6% to 4.1%.

(Better higher education performance indicators, HEFCE press release, 19 July 2007.)

Oxford unveils news admissions application form

Oxford University has unveiled a new application form for undergraduate applicants, in a bid to improve the transparency and fairness of the admissions process. Those applying in the autumn for 2008 entry will find extra space to add information of relevance to the specifics of the Oxford applications. Applicants’ referees will be asked to provide details regarding the performance of their school, including numbers who typically achieve the grades required for entry to Oxford and numbers in receipt of the Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA).

(New application form to improve clarity and fairness, Oxford University press release, 23 July 2007.)

Student issues

Third of students staying at home to avoid debt

Research among 1,000 students by Lloyds TSB argues that around a third of respondents plan to stay at home in order to avoid debt. 31% said that not living with their parents would be too expensive for them to go to university. Those planning to live away from home said managing finances and making money last were concerns. Being close to the university campus, gaining independence, and social aspects were among the principal reasons given by those planning to leave home.

(Third of students to live at home, BBC Education, 18 July 2007.)

Students looking to minimise debt

Students and graduates are already taking measures to avoid incurring large personal debts, according to a study by HSBC bank. The bank argues that recent graduates are making substantial efforts to reduce debts before they become unmanageable, using less of their overdrafts and attempting to curb spending when in debt. HSBC also recommends that eradicating free overdrafts for graduates would encourage graduates to manage their finances ‘sooner rather than later’.

(Graduates looking to limit debt, London Stock Exchange, 4 July 2007.)

Increase in Disabled Students’ Allowance

The maximum amounts of Disabled Students’ Allowance for non-medical helpers and for postgraduate students will be increased by 60% from 2008/09. The increases mean that the maximum amount of the DSA for non-medical helpers will increase from £12,420 in 2007/08 to £20,000 in 2008/09 for full-time students and from £9,315 in 2007/08 to £15,000 in 2008/09 for part-time students. The maximum amount of the DSA for postgraduate students will rise from £5,915 in 2007/08 to £10,000 in 2008/09.

(Big increase in disabled students' allowance - Rammell, Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills press release, 4 July 2007.)

Employment

AGR Graduate Recruitment Review (Summer Review)

The study examines graduate salaries and vacancies, applications, selection and assessment, graduate development and retention, and key issues in graduate recruitment. It notes that recruitment will have risen by 12.7% on 2006 levels. London and South East accounted for over half of all vacancies with AGR employers. Accountancy and professional services provided the majority of vacancies. Median salaries were set to rise by 2.4% to £23,500. Highest paying roles are expected in banking or financial services, investment banking and fund management, and law firms.

(The AGR Graduate Recruitment Survey 2006 (Summer Review), AGR/Hobsons, July 2007. The report is not available publicly; to obtain a copy, please contact the AGR).

Recruitment campaign for Northern Ireland

A new recruitment campaign has been launched in a bid to reverse a ‘brain drain’ in Northern Ireland. Grafton Recruitment is seeking professionals originally from Northern Ireland to fill various positions. The Home for the Holidays initiative is aimed at those who went to university in England, Scotland, Wales and the Irish Republic or who have worked abroad. Grafton’s managing director. Ken Belshaw, said there had been a rise in the number of highly qualified people living overseas who had contacted the firm and wanted to return to Northern Ireland.

(Drive to reverse NI 'brain drain', BBC Northern Ireland, 6 July 2007.)

AGR Conference 2007

This year’s AGR Conference was based around the theme of ‘the graduate experience – how do we look from their perspective?’ The sessions dealt with various aspects of students’ values, interests, aspirations and expectations. A number of sessions also dealt with the question of how employers needed to communicate their messages more effectively, while social networking and media channels, and how employers needed to communicate via them, also featured prominently.

(AGR Conference explores graduate perspective, Ri5, 11 July 2007.)

Pinsents unveils pay rise for newly qualifieds

Pinsent Masons is the latest law firm to boost salaries for its newly qualified associate solicitors. Newly qualifieds working at the firm’s City offices will earn £63,000, a rise of 19% from the previous figure of £53,000. Those at the firm’s Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester offices will earn £40,000 during 2007/08, 14% more than last year. Newly qualified associates in the Edinburgh and Glasgow offices, meanwhile, will earn £34,000, compared with £32,000 the previous year.

(Pinsents boost City pay by £10,000, The Lawyer, 2 July 2007.)

GMT Summer 2007

The latest issue of Graduate Market Trends is now available. It includes articles examining the growing importance of corporate responsibility as an influence in students’ career decision-making, graduates in the public sector, career paths of Master’s graduates, graduate entrepreneurship, and ways in which graduate employers can recruit graduates successfully. There is also the latest graduate salary and vacancy survey, which found that, in the year to 31 December 2006, the average graduate salary was £18,744.

NHS scoops top AGR award

The NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme took ‘Best of the Best’ Award at the Association of Graduate Recruiters’ Annual Awards. The scheme also took the graduate selection and assessment award. GCHQ scooped the prize for best literature, while Lawrence Graham, L’Oréal and Balfour Beatty were also winners in this category. Dresdner Kleinwort’s graduate recruitment website was overall winner of the best website award, while Parsons Brinkerhoff, Lovells, and Allen & Overy were also winners. The Chartered Insurance Institute won the integrated marketing award.

(AGR announces annual award winners, AGR press release, 10 July 2007.)

Newly qualifieds’ pay rise at Hammonds

Hammonds has announced an 18% pay rise to newly qualified solicitors working in the firm’s regional offices. Newly qualifieds working at the firm’s Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester offices will now earn £40,000, compared with £34,000 last year. Newly qualified solicitors working at the firm’s London office will earn £60,000, a 25% rise on the previous rate of £48,000. The firm has also introduced a series of benefits, including provisions for increased holiday entitlement and a fresh bonus system.

(Salary boost for regional NQs at Hammonds, Legal Week, 12 July 2007.)