1. International Conference on Enhancement and Innovation in Higher Education Crowne Plaza Hotel, Glasgow 9-11 June 2015 Welcome

2. Dr Allison Carrington Undergraduate work-placements in the life science sector The current position re undergraduate placements in Scottish universities offering life science degree programmes. and An employers’ perspective on a course of action which could make offering placements more attractive.

3. Competition For Jobs Is Fierce! Students with a year’s relevant work experience as part of their degree are more likely to be shortlisted for interview and offered work related to their degree than academically equal graduates without such experience. “Recruiters have confirmed that 31% of this year’s entry-level positions are expected to be filled by graduates who have already worked for their organisations, either through paid internships, industrial placements or vacation work.” (High Fliers Research Ltd, 2015)

4. Current State of Play in Universities Year-long placements integrated into degrees in 4 Universities (Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow & St Andrews)

5. Shorter Placements Offered and / or encouraged in all universities Usually not credit-bearing Typically carried out in or just after third year Length varies – 1 day / week for 10 weeks – 8 to 12 weeks in duration – Up to 18 weeks in duration Tend to be in area local to university

8. Employers’ Opinions Reasons for providing placements Good for industry Allowed a specific project to be carried out in a set timescale An ideal way to ‘trial’ students for potential future employment Cover short-term recruitment need Ideal staff development tool Reasons for not providing placements No suitable work for student No resources to supervise student Not approached by university Not approached by students Do not know who to contact to arrange placement

9. Roles Carried Out By Placement Students Research & Development Administration Business Development Quality Control Customer Service / Communications Finance Sales & Marketing HR

10. How Are Students Recruited?% of Employers (n = 24) Students contact company42 University contacts company25 Company approached university21 Employee asked on behalf of friend / family13 Via Research Council4 Erasmus Plus Traineeship4 ScotGRAD4 STEP Programme4 Other17

11. Actions That Would Encourage Employers To Take (More) Students On Placement In The Future % of Employers (n=55) Well prepared students62 Wage costs paid or subsidised60 Access to online student placement advertising and recruitment website 33 Greater employer involvement in university / college courses and curricula 33 Single point of contact in Scotland to coordinate student placements 31 More student support from university / college during placement 31 More employer support from university / college during placement 31 More information on how to organise student placement27 More information on the value / benefit of student placements 18 Nothing - unable to increase number of student placements13 Nothing - not interested in taking students on placement5 Other1

12. What Can We Do? Cash??? More support from university during placement Greater employer involvement in university courses and curricula Single point of contact across Scotland? More information on how to recruit students Share best practise and ideas!!

13. Contact Details Dr Allison Carrington School of Medical Sciences University of Aberdeen a.carrington@abdn.ac.uk Dr Ronnie Palin Skills Development Scotland Glasgow Ronnie.Palin@sds.co.uk