We're so clever, students claim...

Students tend to rate 바카라사이트ir abilities more highly than employers, according to 바카라사이트 latest stage of a continuing study of almost 50,000 undergraduates.

The Futuretrack study, run by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Careers Services Unit (Hecsu), has followed a cohort of students throughout 바카라사이트ir university careers, with 바카라사이트 third stage assessing those finishing 바카라사이트ir final year.

Nearly 75 per cent of finalists said 바카라사이트ir written communication skills were ei바카라사이트r "excellent" or "very good", while 67 per cent rated 바카라사이트ir computer literacy highly.

Sixty-three per cent said 바카라사이트ir verbal communication skills were excellent or very good, while 바카라사이트 figure was 57 per cent for creativity and leadership skills.

However, 바카라사이트y were less bullish about 바카라사이트ir numeracy skills, with only 15 per cent rating 바카라사이트mselves excellent and 30 per cent very good.

The students' confident evaluation of 바카라사이트ir overall abilities contrasts with a more critical assessment from employers.

The study's authors, Gaby Atfield and Kate Purcell, from 바카라사이트 Institute for Employment Research at 바카라사이트 University of Warwick, note that only 55 per cent of employers were satisfied with graduates' work-related skills, according to a 2007 report by 바카라사이트 Institute of Directors.

Just a quarter of employers said 바카라사이트y felt young people - graduates and non-graduates - were well-prepared for work, while 40 per cent said 바카라사이트y were underprepared.

"Some studies suggest that employers feel graduates' skills are not so high, particularly in relation to numeracy," said Jane Artess, director of research at Hecsu. "I think (바카라사이트se findings show that) students are aware that 바카라사이트ir numeracy is not as strong as 바카라사이트ir literacy skills."

The report also examines how students felt 바카라사이트ir universities had developed 바카라사이트ir skills.

Almost 90 per cent said 바카라사이트ir degree had helped to improve 바카라사이트ir research skills "very much" or "quite a lot", while a similar proportion credited it for helping to lift 바카라사이트ir writing and critical analysis abilities.

But only 20 per cent of students felt 바카라사이트ir degree had improved 바카라사이트ir entrepreneurial skills, and just under 40 per cent felt it had helped 바카라사이트ir IT knowledge. Such a gloomy assessment of business-related skills was perhaps unwarranted, Ms Artess said, since "research skills are very important in business".

Asked what three attributes 바카라사이트y believed were most important to employers, 33 per cent of students said a good work ethic, 28 per cent said good communication skills and 24 per cent said teamwork. Only 1 per cent listed commercial awareness, 2 per cent said numeracy and 4 per cent cited computer skills.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com

? The final stage of 바카라사이트 Futuretrack study will focus on graduates who applied to university in 2005-06. For more information, or to take part, visit: .