How industry links help to develop employable business graduates

05 Sep 2019

Offering students more bang for their buck at university is becoming increasingly popular in universities today.

This means going above and beyond a traditional education to include more experiential learning opportunities, industry links and accreditation bodies to ensure students become employable graduates.

In the business world, professional connections are vital in building a successful and long-lasting career.

It can be difficult for students to network once they graduate as they may not have the right industry connections. International students find it especially challenging to secure a job in their host country, as they are often unfamiliar with the industry until they’ve worked in it first-hand.

To reduce unemployment in new graduates, students must be exposed to industry leaders to learn from them and forge connections that can help with their future success.

Business schools can help with this as they’re in a better position to partner with industry leaders and spokespeople, inviting them to the school to give talks, workshops, masterclasses or even guest-lectures.

Learning from professionals via industry links helps them envision their future and what ‘s required in certain jobs. They provide insight into professions, spurring their passions and giving them a real-world view into the inner workings of an industry.

By coupling in-depth business knowledge with industry links, these UK business and management schools are well on the way to developing employable business graduates.

LIVERPOOL HOPE UNIVERSITY – LIVERPOOL HOPE UNIVERSITY

Liverpool Hope Business School places importance on accreditation and industry links, giving students the chance to benefit from professional connections.

The school has strong links with several leading local and national companies such as Everton Football Club, Vodaphone and Lloyds Bank and is working closely with a number of accrediting bodies. It has also been awarded the prestigious AACSB accreditation that provides a framework of 15 international standards, against which business schools around the world assess the quality of their educational services.

The undergraduate BA (Hons) in Marketing is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), so students have the opportunity to gain professional qualifications through the CIM Graduate Gateway. As CIM qualifications are highly sought-after by employers, Liverpool Hope students become employable graduates in an increasingly competitive market.

Liverpool Hope Business School

Teaching is divided into lectures and smaller groups of seminars and tutorials. Students not only learn about business and marketing but are also able to develop and apply knowledge in tutorials, seminar activities and discussions, helping them increase their practical understanding of the industry.

Each year, the school hosts the Insight to Business Awards, where students are rewarded with internships, shadowing opportunities and placements with local businesses.

To help students build their entrepreneurial skills, the school participates in Young Enterprise, an initiative that gives them the chance to practice entrepreneurship and learn how to establish their own, fully-functioning business.

SOUTHAMPTON BUSINESS SCHOOL – UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON

Located at the University of Southampton, this business school is was ranked in the top 10 in the UK for business, management and marketing in the 2020 Guardian University Guide.

Students are taught by some of the UK’s top academics in a learning environment that challenges them to develop to their fullest potential.

Along with in-depth academic knowledge, courses are designed to help students develop transferable skills that are highly sought after by employers today so that they become employable graduates. These include problem solving, communication, critical thinking and teamwork skills.

In the BSc Marketing programme, students receive plenty of hands-on experience, including devising and running a real digital campaign for an organisation, as well as learning from industry guest speakers and experienced faculty. The course is also accredited by the Institute of Direct and Digital Marketing.

Southampton Business School

The unique BSc Business Entrepreneurship programme is ideal for those who want to launch their own businesses or bring entrepreneurial skills to an organisation.

Students learn essential practical skills such as business planning and pitching, and also benefit from strong links with international companies and with Southampton’s vibrant entrepreneurial business community, who provide them with valuable insights.

STIRLING MANAGEMENT SCHOOL – UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING

Housed within Scotland’s University of Stirling, Stirling Management School also develops employable graduates through industry-relevant curricula and strong industry links.

The BA (Hons) Marketing degree is ranked 2^nd in Scotland and top 10 in the UK thanks to research-led teaching and close industry ties.

Students learn how marketing works through real-world scenarios so they can deepen their understanding of businesses and sharpen their research and communication skills.

The University of Stirling has also joined forces with CIM to give students the chance to gain professional qualifications through the CIM Graduate Gateway.

For those in the BA Business Studies programme, you’ll soon be able to develop managerial expertise and learn how organisations are structured, all while gaining insight into what makes businesses function at their best.

Industry speakers are often invited to give students real-world knowledge of the business world, encouraging them to develop the right tools to become respected business leaders.

Stirling Management School has also been awarded with the Small Business Charter in recognition of its active participation in supporting start-ups, small businesses and student entrepreneurship.

OXFORD BROOKES BUSINESS SCHOOL – OXFORD BROOKES UNIVERSITY

The Business School at Oxford Brookes University is internationally recognised and accredited by leading professional bodies, ranked a top 30 UK-based Business School by Eduniversal.

Degree programmes are designed to deliver industry-relevant curricula taught by experienced and outstanding faculty.

For those in the BA (Hons) Business and Finance programme, students learn the key business and financial aspects of the complex industry so they gain an international perspective and excellent transferable skills.

Close industry ties with leading practitioners and employers ensure that students learn from practical and relevant industry knowledge.

Students can also opt to include a one-year work placement with one of over 1,000 companies, ranging from multinational corporations to SMEs, government bodies and not-for-profit organisations, as well as the opportunity to study abroad.

The BA (Hons) Business and Marketing degree gives students a deep understanding of marketing in an international business context so they are well-versed in adapting to a diverse range of organisations.

Students here gain the theoretical knowledge, skills and opportunities to apply creatively and solve complex real-world problems.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International