If universities treat students as customers, as Lord Mandelson has been suggesting through the new framework for higher education, I fear for the short-term survival of those courses with shrinking demand.

Students need to be excited about courses and careers in IT; while this proposal may act as a catalyst to encourage the IT industry to make their sector more accessible and appealing, a food-labelling type system highlighting employment rates and drop-out rates might deliver more of a body blow by deterring students from considering IT as a viable and rewarding career option.

A recent survey by the Higher Education Careers Services Unit has found that graduate unemployment has increased by 44% over the past year.

Universities engaging more with business is the right course of action to assist in reversing the trend, but ultimately as we exit the downturn, businesses need to kick-start their engagement with raw talent from outside the confines of the workplace in order to see any real changes.

It’s all well and good for businesses to be involved with universities, but gestures need to result in actions and ultimately real opportunities for
students.

Simon Page, director of permanent recruitment, Parity Resources