< img src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/332b11ae59250fdd962bbd7a2568d8ee25e4f5f9/633_0_3239_2592/master/3239.jpg?width=1200&height=630&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&precrop=40:21,offset-x50,offset-y0&overlay-align=bottom%2Cleft&overlay-width=100p&overlay-base64=L2ltZy9zdGF0aWMvb3ZlcmxheXMvdGctZGVmYXVsdC5wbmc&enable=upscale&s=db819893542e704d0e0b2380271bd767"alt =""> A leading UK university is promising work positionings to all undergrads despite their degree, to much better equip them for the challenges of the job market.In what appears
to be a first for a big Russell Group institution, the University of Manchester is preparing to use “meaningful real-world experience” to all trainees, in topics from classics to chemical engineering.Manchester’s vice-chancellor, Duncan Ivison, said no student should finish having done three years of just scholastic study. Instead,”every single student [ought to] have a chance to put their learning into context– an internship, a positioning, a joint job or an exchange”, he informed the Times.”It doesn’t matter if you’re a history trainee or a chemical engineer.”
Graduates are significantly struggling to find work after leaving university, some with financial obligations of more than ₤ 50,000. Those who do get work are typically in low-paid roles in hospitality or retail instead of traditional graduate jobs.Nick Hillman, the director of the College Policy Institute, welcomed the initiative but raised expediency concerns, with 32,000 undergrads registered at Manchester.
“This is a brilliant initiative in the sense that it looks for to deal with the widespread fear that older universities offer an excessively scholastic education,” he stated. “It also recognises the reality that the main factor individuals go to college is to discover a fulfilling profession later on. Work experience provides abilities; it likewise teaches you what you don’t like along with what you do.”
However, he added: “It is extremely hard to do this sort of thing at scale since of the number of students and companies involved– Manchester is a huge university.”
Hillman also highlighted that a lot of students already do paid, typically unskilled work along with their research studies due to the fact that of rising living expenses. “There are just numerous hours in the day to fit in work experience alongside.”
He said some universities, such as previous colleges of innovative technology, consisting of Aston and Loughborough, had constantly embedded work into their courses. Others began as teacher training colleges, so workplace experience remained in their DNA. “Nevertheless, I have not discover a Russell Group university doing anything on this scale before.”
Vivienne Stern, the president of Universities UK, invited the initiative. “The jobs market is changing quickly and we need to ensure that our graduates are also prepared for it as possible. Universities have a crucial role to play in making sure that students are established for the world of work and are taking innovative and brand-new techniques to this,” she said.Undergraduates training for occupations such as teaching or medicine are currently required to do work placements. According to the College Data Firm, in 2024-25 almost a quarter of undergraduate courses offered students the option of a placement of a minimum of a year.Libby Hackett, the chief executive of the Russell Group
, said:”In a challenging labour market, it’s more vital than ever that graduates are equipped to browse the changing workplace. This is a significant step from Manchester and will provide students important experience of putting understanding into practice and developing the wide variety of abilities and the resilience employers are looking for. “Manchester University said:”We want every student to have the opportunity to use what they are learning before they finish. That could indicate a placement, brief internship, live company project, or deal with a public or community organisation.”The aim is to make those opportunities a normal part of university life, not something trainees need to discover individually or access through personal contacts. This technique is designed to work throughout all disciplines, not just generally trade subjects, and shows Manchester’s strong links to employers and organisations across the city area.”