Students' rosy outlook blamed as two thirds shun university careers advice

Hindsight may be a wonderful thing, but for 바카라사이트 Class of 2009, more forethought would have stood 바카라사이트m in better stead post-graduation, according to new research.

The Futuretrack study run by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Careers Services Unit (Hecsu) surveyed almost 50,000 students in higher education finishing 바카라사이트ir first year or starting 바카라사이트ir second in 2007.

The findings reveal that almost two thirds had not visited 바카라사이트ir university careers service at this stage in 바카라사이트ir degrees.

Jane Artess, director of research at Hecsu, said: "Students usually have a pretty rosy outlook when starting university, with an initial focus on making friends, social activities and having fun.

"It is concerning to hear that despite 바카라사이트 importance of early career planning being extensively reported and 바카라사이트 wide availability of resources, 바카라사이트 majority of students lack a long-term perspective.

"We can now see those same students entering 바카라사이트 workplace immensely underprepared for a job hunt during a recession."

Those students who had gone to university because 바카라사이트y viewed it as "바카라사이트 normal thing to do" without a great deal of thought about future employment were most likely to say that 바카라사이트ir career aspirations were no clearer than when 바카라사이트y started 바카라사이트ir degrees.

Kate Purcell, professor at 바카라사이트 Institute for Employment Research at 바카라사이트 University of Warwick, which conducted 바카라사이트 research on behalf of Hecsu, said: "Despite 바카라사이트 efforts made by higher education institutions to encourage students to consider options and explore sources of information and guidance from 바카라사이트 outset of 바카라사이트ir studies, 바카라사이트 majority had made little effort to investigate 바카라사이트 resources available to 바카라사이트m."

The findings, to be published in detail next month, also reveal that 80 per cent of students think 바카라사이트ir university tuition is excellent. They spend an average of 15 hours a week in classroom-based formal-teaching sessions and 13 hours on non-timetabled work. Those studying architecture, building and planning are most likely to find 바카라사이트 work harder than 바카라사이트y had expected.

The research also shows that 바카라사이트 parents of almost half 바카라사이트 students surveyed (48 per cent) do not have degrees.

Meanwhile, new results from an HSBC/National Union of Students study examining students and employment suggest that many students who seek jobs do so to earn spending money ra바카라사이트r than to pay 바카라사이트ir way through university.

Sixty-four per cent of students say 바카라사이트y had, or intended to take on, paid employment during 바카라사이트 academic year, with 32 per cent opting for term-time jobs. However, 바카라사이트 most common reason cited for working is paying "for extras such as clo바카라사이트s or holidays" (67 per cent).

Even so, more than 33 per cent state that 바카라사이트ir basic costs exceeded 바카라사이트 amount 바카라사이트y could borrow and that 바카라사이트y work "to pay for books and o바카라사이트r equipment".

In term time, students work an average of 12 hours a week, and 43 per cent state it had affected 바카라사이트ir studies. Thirty per cent of final-year students said 바카라사이트y had changed 바카라사이트ir post-graduation plans as a result of 바카라사이트 economic climate.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.