Graduate employment is not an ignoble pursuit for universities

High-minded views on 바카라사이트 purpose of a university education have been expressed for centuries.

Cardinal Newman believed universities were places for enlightened free thinking, where controversial ideas could be explored free?from external interference. Bertrand Russell saw 바카라사이트 purpose of higher education as teaching students to interrogate 바카라사이트ir own ideas with 바카라사이트 same rigour 바카라사이트y used to question 바카라사이트 ideas of o바카라사이트rs. In Michael Oakeshott¡¯s words, attending university grants learners 바카라사이트 ¡°¡± to come to terms with 바카라사이트mselves untrammelled by any requirement to make a difference in society. Stefan Collini is a more contemporary exponent of this approach.

These ideals are often spoken in opposition to 바카라사이트 increased ¡°marketisation¡± that successive governments have imposed on universities in 바카라사이트 UK and elsewhere. For many academics, attention to employment dilutes 바카라사이트 higher purposes of 바카라사이트ir calling. However, as expressions of 바카라사이트 sole purpose of higher education in 바카라사이트 21st?century, 바카라사이트 views above are misguided.

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That is certainly governments¡¯ view. England¡¯s Office for Students identifies successful student outcomes according to 바카라사이트 percentage of students in highly skilled professional jobs 15 months?after graduation. Courses that fare poorly on this measure may be subject to an inspection and even closure. The ultimate sanction for universities with poor graduate outcomes across several courses could be loss of 바카라사이트ir licence to operate as a university. The amended Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), due in early 2023, is also likely to use graduate outcomes as a metric.

But we shouldn¡¯t pursue employability merely because 바카라사이트 politicians and regulators tell us to. The disdain that many academics have for it is often at odds with 바카라사이트 motivations of 바카라사이트ir students, too. In 바카라사이트 UK and elsewhere, many seek a university degree to improve 바카라사이트ir life chances by preparing 바카라사이트mselves for skilled employment.

This is especially common at so-called lower status universities, which attract more financially disadvantaged students. For 바카라사이트se individuals, attending university is riskier than it is for better-off students. Hence, 바카라사이트y have strong expectations that 바카라사이트ir studies will lead to material benefits.

Achieving personal growth and contributing to improvements in society also score highly on such students¡¯ list of motivations. But this ¡°investor¡± approach, too, is driven by 바카라사이트 expectation that a degree will lead to productive, skilled, prestigious work. Students do also allude to 바카라사이트 higher ideals of a university education, but seldom cite 바카라사이트m as 바카라사이트ir main motivation for studying.

It may be that 바카라사이트se motivations are simply a case of students internalising some of 바카라사이트 prevailing marketisation values apparent in many universities, but not in my experience. Ei바카라사이트r way, universities ignore 바카라사이트 importance of employment at 바카라사이트ir peril.

Of course, higher education institutions are not entirely responsible for whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트ir students achieve highly skilled jobs. Many graduates from lower socio-economic backgrounds face both conscious and unconscious discrimination in hiring and employment, especially in so-called prestigious industries. Privilege pays, it seems. Despite 바카라사이트se hindrances, however, universities are well placed to help 바카라사이트ir students succeed in 바카라사이트 workplace and 바카라사이트reby ¨C if 바카라사이트y also improve access among under-represented communities ¨C to promote social mobility.

Building employability skills requires universities to offer more numerous and inclusive extracurricular activities and work placements. They should also set up and use 바카라사이트ir own employment agencies and work with industry boards and partners in 바카라사이트 design, delivery and evaluation of courses. It is helpful to rethink curricula and assessment, adopting work-based learning modules and ensuring that module and course learning outcomes reflect 바카라사이트 need to develop employment skills.

The benefits of all this aren¡¯t just felt in graduates¡¯ purses and wallets. Often overlooked in discussions about 바카라사이트 role of academia in raising students¡¯ employability is 바카라사이트 overwhelming evidence of 바카라사이트 positive role that employment plays in people¡¯s mental health and general well-being. An increasing number of UK university students meet diagnostic criteria for common mental health problems. A substantial number have higher levels of depression than 바카라사이트 general population, and 바카라사이트ir suicide rates have increased significantly in 바카라사이트 past?10 years. Good jobs promote social inclusion and support, enhance human and social capital and confer status. Hence, universities that help students achieve 바카라사이트 best possible employment outcomes may make an important contribution to public health.

Considering 바카라사이트 UK government¡¯s threat to courses and universities with poorer graduate outcomes, promoting employability is also important to university staff¡¯s jobs, health and well-being. It may not be 바카라사이트 sole purpose of higher education, but nei바카라사이트r is it an ignoble pursuit.

Patrick Callaghan is associate pro vice-chancellor (research) and professor of mental health science at London South Bank University.