The University’s Employability Advisory Group has recommended that the Graduate Passport – the University’s student record of achievement – be phased out by the end of the 2015/16 academic year.
The scheme allows students to collect points by engaging in employability activities during their time at university and awards a professional development certificate on successful completion of achieving 200 points in specific categories.
The Graduate Passport was established in 2009 at the height of the recent recession and since its launch the global economy and graduate market has changed significantly. We have also seen a significant fall in student participation in recent years with fewer than 60 students completing the scheme during 2013/14 and falling to 23 in 2014/15.
With this in mind a review of the Graduate Passport by the Employability Advisory Group has recommended the scheme will cease to operate by the end of the 2015/16 academic year. The resource behind the scheme will be allocated to support alternative graduate employability activities for the wider student population.
Students identified to be on target to complete the scheme during 2015/16 have been informed of the decision and given until 16 May 2016 to complete activities. The University continues to place a strong emphasis on graduate employability and this decision will allow us to readdress our position and resource to best help our students to lead successful futures.