Assessing the Role of the UK’s Academic Skill Force in Meeting the Industrial Strategy Ambitions Greg Wade Programme Manager Universities UK

Assessing the Role of the UK’s Academic Skill Force in Meeting the Industrial Strategy Ambitions Greg Wade, Policy Manager UniversitiesUK Science and Innovation Conference 2018 Universities UK | The voice of universities

The Fourth Industrial Revolution automation and robotics digital technology the internet of things artificial intelligence new technologies such as biotechnology Combined with an ageing population ….. and Brexit Universities UK | The voice of universities

The March of the Robots “The robots are coming – for as many as 800 million jobs” “Robots will destroy our jobs – and we're not ready for it” “You Will Lose Your Job to a Robot—and Sooner Than You Think” “When Robots Take All of Our Jobs, Remember the Luddites” Universities UK | The voice of universities

Steve the Security Robot Universities UK | The voice of universities

The revolution to beat all revolutions Disruption Uncertainty Complexity Speed of Change Skills, skills, skills Universities UK | The voice of universities

Pace of Change Universities UK | The voice of universities

Change and Knowledge 33% By 2020 more than a third of desired core skill sets of most occupations will be comprised of skills that are not yet considered crucial to the job today (from 2016)” 65% of children entering primary schools today will ultimately work in new jobs and functions that currently don’t exist Not even technical subjects are immune from this change with: 50% of the subject knowledge acquired during the first year of a four-year technical degree outdated by the time the students graduate Universities UK | The voice of universities

An Impossible Task ? Educators are in the position where they are having to prepare learners for: “jobs that don’t yet exist, using technologies that have not yet been invented, and spotting and solving problems that we have yet to define clearly” . Universities UK | The voice of universities

What the Economy Needs The Economy Needs Subject Knowledge Cognitive Skills Work Experience Soft Skills Technical Skills Universities UK | The voice of universities

What Employers are Saying Subject 62% of employers rate it as one of the most important factors in graduate recruitment 46% of employers consider academic qualifications as critical/significant Cognitive Technological change is increasing the demand for higher level cognitive skills a strong link between “higher-order” cognitive skills and future jobs Technical 49% of employers consider vocational qualifications as critical/significant 61% see the recruitment of engineering and technical staff with the right skills as a barrier to achieving business objectives over the next three years Soft they are a “universal priority” there is a “strong message” from employers that they want a range of soft skills Work 59% employers rate it as one of their most important factors in graduate recruitment 65% of employers rated relevant work experience as critical/significant Universities UK | The voice of universities

What Universities are doing Subject international reputation for their academic standards and quality of provision some of the most advanced, long-standing and embedded systems to support the quality of degrees Cognitive analysis, understanding, development, application and evaluation of subject knowledge is embedded outlined in every subject benchmark and programme specification Technical 41% of higher education provision has a particular focus on a vocation or a profession 91% of employers satisfied or very satisfied with the technical skills of graduates at Soft Over 90% of universities support communication, enterprise, self-awareness and team-working skills 80%+ employer satisfaction with analysis, teamworking, problem solving skills Work 98% offer work experience 62% 62% embedding work experience in their courses Universities UK | The voice of universities

Soft Skills – the views of recruiters ? Universities UK | The voice of universities

Soft skills – a shared responsibility Universities UK | The voice of universities

Work Experience – critically important 90% of employers cited it as one of their three most important factors when recruiting graduates 55% said it was the single most important factor 65% relevant work experience critical/significant when recruiting (higher than academic or vocational qualifications. An area where graduate skills and experience needs to be improved Recognised by universities, almost all offer work experience (98%) with most (62%) embedding in their courses BUT – dependent on employers Universities UK | The voice of universities

The Work Experience “Gap” 55% - almost all engineering employers agree work placements enhanced employability only 45% are engaged with higher education delivery Only 19% of employers are offering work experience to improve future talent pipelines 35% - 65% of all employers feel work experience is critical or significant, 30% offer education placements 41% - The work experience gap is highest for smaller employers, for those employing 2-4 people the gap is 41% (63% consider it critical/significant, 22% offer education placements There is no gap for employers with more than 50 employees Universities UK | The voice of universities

Degree Apprenticeships A New Skills Divide ? Degree Apprenticeships Vocational HE Company Sponsored Degrees “Academic” “Technical” “Bridging Provision” Professional Bodies Universities UK | The voice of universities

Too Many Graduates ? Skills under supply of 123,000, 28% of vacancies But – replacement demand, 13.1 million openings in the next 10 years But – postgraduate study, 25% considering further study Exacerbated by Brexit ? Explains continuing graduate success Explains shortages in health, education, engineering Competitive market, graduate choice, challenges of retention 441,000 440,000 316,690 Universities UK | The voice of universities

Future Demand = “War for Talent” ? 85% - the proportion of jobs growth over the last 20 years from the managerial, professional and associate professional job categories +75% - the balance of employers expecting increasing demand for higher level skills over the next 3-5 years three out of the top four categories for predicted future jobs growth are managerial, professional and associate professional Universities UK | The voice of universities

Employer Strategies Compete Immigration Collaborate Invest Innovate Stop/move Universities UK | The voice of universities

Eco System Approach Data Skills Taskforce Careers information Extracurricular activity New degrees and modules Work placements Doctoral training Degree apprenticeships Teaching in schools qualifications pathways Universities UK | The voice of universities

What Universities need to do more of, get better at STRATEGY - have an integrated, embedded strategy that captures, builds upon and enhances the feedback and intelligence gained through existing partnerships, draws in advice and evidence from sectors, regions and the national level and drives teaching, learning and course development. INCREASE AND EMBED - commit to increasing employer advice and input, work experience opportunities and the delivering of enterprise skills. ENGAGE - ensure that they have a co-ordinated, effective and clear employer engagement service. EXTEND RELATIONSHIP - with students beyond graduation including careers advice, skills provision and engaging with alumni to enhance employer advice and input. Universities UK | The voice of universities

Overall Policy Conclusions Stop talking about too many graduates False choice between academic/technical, it is a spectrum “Academic” education is part of the skills system Flexible pathways to provide opportunities Partnership, “whole skills” and networked thinking rather than linear thinking Reduce barriers and “break points” Sector talent strategies linked to local talent strategies Strong employer engagement with educators Targeted support for SMEs Large employers acting as anchor institutions for SMEs Universities UK | The voice of universities

Thank You Universities UK | The voice of universities