Collaborations in higher education with employers and their influence on graduate employability; an institutional project

Well-managed collaborations with employers, in the form of consultancy projects, appear to have a positive influence on the employability of social-science graduates, based on students from a business and management faculty. Employer collaborations with higher education come in many forms including guest speakers, work placements and projects of various types and are already part of many degree programmes. This article concentrates on the use of consultancy projects as a means of enhancing the employability of students as they graduate, and the indications are that such collaborations can have a positive influence and impact on employability by enhancing the capability and character of the graduates, which then potentially allows them to apply the content of their degree programme as appropriate for the employer. An employability equation (e = 3c.i) and model (Employability Strategy Matrix) are proposed to support the strategic decision-making process of identifying suitable employment opportunities and highlight individual graduate strengths and developmental needs.