Employment Research Institute Tailoring Services and Releasing Untapped Talent – a Higher Education Perspective Professor Ron McQuaid, Napier University

Employment Research Institute Overview The context What HEIs do and can do

SCOTLAND: ESTIMATED AND PROJECTED AGE STRUCTURE MALESFEMALES MALESFEMALES MALESFEMALES MALES FEMALES Scotland 1911 Scotland 1951 Scotland 2001 Scotland 2031

Employment Research Institute Number of year olds in Scotland 1977 – 1,186, – 938, – 770,661

Employment Research Institute HEIs and migration Impact of HEIs on local economies Bringing in and improving human capital Non-EU Postgraduates (2003/04) 10,580 (22%)

Employment Research Institute Higher Education promoting Scotland abroad Reputation for quality Market knowledge and meeting market needs Building relationships Promoting Scotland as a place to study and to live

Employment Research Institute Preparing students for employment Support to complete the course Relevance of the course Work experience/employer contact Generic skills – e.g. entrepreneurship

Employment Research Institute Settling into the community Induction Opportunities to socialise and network Practical support

Employment Research Institute Pitfalls….. Perception of poor value for high fees Students don’t mix easily – courses recruiting heavily from one country Staff lack awareness of cultural differences

Employment Research Institute Wider role Lifelong learning for everyone in the community Universities as international employers

Employment Research Institute Tailoring Services and Releasing Untapped Talent – a Higher Education Perspective Professor Ron McQuaid, Napier University

Employment Research Institute