1. Employability of international students
Gaby Atfield, Institute for Employment Research, University of Warwick.
AMIN Academic Mobility and Employability Seminar
23rd May 2017

2. The UK and the global competition for international students
UK has one of the most international student populations in the OECD, with around 15% of students coming from overseas. This is more than twice the OECD average of just over 6%.
Increases in the cost of participation for both home and overseas students has resulted in greater emphasis on skills gain and demonstrable labour market outcomes.

3. Rethinking the case for universities
‘Rethinking the case for universities, how we fund them and what we expect them to deliver’ (Vince Cable, 2010). Shift in responsibility from the individual to HEIs.
What do we mean by ‘employability’?
‘The skills and abilities to find employment’ and ‘The skills to remain in employment and progress within the workplace’ (Belt et al, 2010)
Recognising that increases in employability skills may not yield returns in the labour market, if that labour market has no demand for those skills.

4. What is Futuretrack?
A six-year longitudinal study of 2005/6 UCAS applicants for full-time undergraduate courses
4 waves:
1) at the time of application (2006)
2) at the end of their 1st year in HE (2007)
3) at the end of their final year in HE (2009 & 2010)
4) 1 or 2 years post-graduation (2011/12)
Conducted by a team at IER, funded by HECSU
1.9% are from EU countries and 4.1% from other overseas countries

5. Who are the international students?
EU students – Germany, France, Poland
Other international students – Hong Kong, South Africa, Nigeria, Australia, Zimbabwe, India, Pakistan, China
Tend to be older when they enter HE
A higher proportion are male and they study subjects that are traditionally male-dominated and, to a certain extent, vocational (particularly the other overseas students)

6. Subjects studied by international students
Rank
UK students
Other European students
Other international students 1
Interdisciplinary subjects (14.8%)
Interdisciplinary subjects (15.8%) 2
Biology, Veterinary Science, Agriculture & related (11.7%)
Social studies (13.1%)
Subjects allied to Medicine (12.9%) 3
Subjects allied to Medicine (10.5%)
Creative arts and design (9.1%)
Social studies (10.4%) 4
Creative arts and design (9.0 %)
Biology, Veterinary Science, Agriculture & related (8.4%)
Business and administration studies (10%) 5
Social studies (7.7%)
Subjects allied to Medicine (8.4%)
Biology, Veterinary Science, Agriculture & related (9.3%)

7. Skills developed on courses (i)
Over 80% in each group believe their courses enabled them to develop:
Research skills
Specialist knowledge
The ability to apply knowledge
Critical analysis skills
The ability to think logically

8. Skills developed on courses (ii)

9. Skills employers look for (i)
When asked to name the top 3 skills employers are looking for when recruiting for the kind of job they wanted the top six skills in all groups were:
Good work ethic
Communication skills
Team work skills
Ability / Competence
Self-motivation
Organisation skills

10. Skills employers look for (ii)UK EU
Other overseas
Communication skills 2 5 1
Flexibility 9 12 7
Experience 10 15
Analytical skills 18
Knowledge 8 14

11. What happened next?
EU students – 49% remained in the UK, 42% went to another EU country (including their home country)
Other overseas students – 41% remained in the UK, 47% went to another overseas country (including their home country), 13% went to an EU country
94% of UK students remained in the UK
47% of EU students went on to further study, as did 37% of other overseas students. In contrast, only 18% of UK students did so.

12. Types of job

13. Does your job require a degree?

14. Use of undergraduate course skills in current job

15. Use of subject knowledge in current job

16. My current job is appropriate for someone with my skills and qualifications

17. I have all the skills employers are looking for when recruiting for the job I want

18. I am optimistic about my long-term career prospects

19. Conclusions
International students enter HE with various advantages, and their development of employability skills is not very different to UK students when the subject they studied is controlled for.
They are generally positive about their experiences and optimistic about their careers
The realisation of returns to skills development is more marked over the longer-term for international students

20. For more information
Gaby Atfield