England universities propose work experience for all undergraduates and lifelong careers support under new roadmap

Universities in England have proposed giving every undergraduate access to work experience and lifelong careers support, as institutions seek to better prepare students for changing workplace needs.

The proposals are part of Universities UK’s (UUK) “Future Jobs Roadmap”, unveiled at its annual conference at Nottingham Trent University. The plan calls for all undergraduates to have access to meaningful work-based learning by 2035, with a target of reaching 50% by 2030.

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If achieved, about 1.4 million undergraduates could undertake work experience each year by the middle of the next decade. Work-based learning could include sandwich years, work placements, job shadowing and virtual work experience.

The roadmap, published on September 9, also proposes a “universal lifetime entitlement to careers support” for graduates, covering their time at university and throughout their careers.

Universities would also be expected to give every undergraduate access to artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Each course should have a lecturer designated as an “AI trailblazer” to help students develop skills for workplaces where AI is expected to play a larger role.

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The roadmap was prepared with support from education provider Pearson and the British Chambers of Commerce. Its recommendations apply to universities in England. Separate work is under way on proposals for Wales, while Northern Ireland is also developing related plans. Scotland’s graduate employability plans will be considered through a review of higher education funding led by Universities Scotland and the Scottish government.

Malcolm Press, president of Universities UK and vice-chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan University, said the roadmap was based on universities listening to employers about their challenges and skills requirements.

“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,” Press said.

The work experience proposal follows the University of Manchester’s recent commitment to offer summer work placements, which could provide up to 30,000 students with on-the-job experience.

The roadmap also calls for more courses to be designed with employers, greater use of modular learning and stronger support for regional graduate schemes through closer links with small and medium-sized businesses.

It also proposes making it easier for employers to work with universities and asks the UK government to support youth employment by removing employer National Insurance contributions for people under 25 earning less than £50,000.