Labour exchange: using student ambassadors to prepare students for graduate employment

Abstract

© 2013 S.P. Forrest, The Higher Education Academy Encouraging students to adopt a consistent and proactive approach to the development of career management and planning skills is complex and sometimes difficult to achieve within a higher education setting (Yorke 2004). Research indicates that current strategies of engagement are failing as student attendance at career-based events is often sporadic and low (Hooley et al. 2010). More worryingly students often report being overwhelmed and apprehensive as to how to approach the issue of graduate employment. This ongoing project intends to address this lack of engagement by encouraging student-led support through an employability ambassador network produced for students, by students.