Aberystwyth graduate employability continues to rise

More Aberystwyth University students are getting good jobs after graduating than ever before.

Latest figures show that 96.8% of UK/EU full time first degree Aberystwyth graduates were either in work or further study six months after graduating in July 2017.

The results released on Thursday 28 June 2018 as part of the Higher Education Statistics Agency’s annual Destination of Leavers from Higher Education survey places Aberystwyth 2.2 percentage points ahead of the overall sector average.

The survey also shows that 99% of Aberystwyth graduates who studied some part of their course through the medium of Welsh were found to be in employment or further study six months after completing their course.

Aberystwyth’s data also shows that 78.2% of UK/EU full-time first degree Aberystwyth graduates in employment or further study were in professional level jobs or graduate level further study.

There are some notable performances amongst individual academic departments at Aberystwyth University.

Welsh saw 100% of their 2017 graduates in work or further study six months after completing their course with History and Welsh History at 99.4% and Computer Science at 98.2%.

Furthermore, thirteen departments at Aberystwyth University have out-performed the sector average for numbers entering work or further study.

Professor Elizabeth Treasure, Vice Chancellor at Aberystwyth University said: “At Aberystwyth University our aim is to empower students to unlock their own potential and to develop as independent learners in a supportive, inclusive and creative bilingual community. Preparing them for their journey beyond university and with the skills employers are looking for is integral to the experience we provide, as we embed employability skills across our range of programmes, including opportunities for work experience, volunteering, international experience and other transferable skills. All of these elements add to the excellent value of an Aberystwyth University degree, which is reflected in these latest figures published by HESA.”

Among those awarded their Aberystwyth University degree certificate in July 2017 were Sean Anderson (BSc Computer Science) and Charlotte McKenna (BSc Environmental Earth Science).

After graduating, Sean joined the London based consultancy Filament which develops Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning solutions for business. 

Working as a Machine Learning Software Engineer, Sean is part of a team that is building Natural Language Processing pipelines used to develop the interactions between computers and human languages, and designing the next generation of chatbots.

Sean co-published a paper which was accepted as evidence into the House of Lords regarding decision making in, and the ethical considerations of AI, and has delivered training on AI to businesses, including American Express.

Charlotte works as an Environmental Safety Engineer for EDF Energy, having joined the company’s engineering graduate scheme after completing summer internships with the company during her time as a student at Aberystwyth.

As part of the graduate scheme Charlotte has trained in radiological protection and worked at various EDF Energy sites on environmental safety, radiological protection, outage and operations.

In September 2018 Charlotte finishes her graduate scheme rotations and will take up a full-time position as an Environmental Safety Engineer working in radiological protection.

Aberystwyth University offers an increasingly wide range of four-year courses with an integrated year in industry, allowing students to spend time working for a company in their chosen field of study.

This offering, alongside the University’s Year in Employment Scheme, now in its 41^st year, empowers every student to take up the option of a year of invaluable experience prior to graduating.

The University’s Careers Service also provides a comprehensive range of opportunities for students who wish to improve their career prospects, including the sought-after AberForward ‘graduate’ level work placement opportunities.

Graduates seeking to turn business ideas into reality can access a full programme of enterprise events organised by the Careers Service under the AberPreneurs banner, which includes the popular InvEnterPrize student ideas competition.

And, for those seeking advice from further afield, the exciting eMentoring online platform allows Aber alumni to offer career mentoring and guidance to current students and young graduates.

To find out more about employability at Aberystwyth University visit our Employability pages online.

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