employability survey initial findings

Employability Survey
The UK graduate in the Indian job market Initial findings


Research Background

 It is evident from past student interactions at Education UK Exhibitions, outreach activities and other promotional activities that Indian students aspire to study at an
International University to improve their career prospects, the most popular destinations are USA, UK, Australia and Singapore is an upcoming destination.

 Currently there are over 31,000 Indian students studying in the UK.
 HESA statistics reveal that Indian students are the second largest in number the UK after China.
 Given this, the British Council engaged Taylor Nelsen Sofres (TNS), India to conduct a research study to understand the market value of a UK degree amongst Indian
employers and give directions on how the UK can be positioned as a more attractive study destination.


Research Objectives

 Brand UK amongst Indian employers – awareness, extent of awareness, experiences, market value of a UK degree.
 The recruitment process that Indian employers comply to and their perspective about an overseas graduate.
 Value perspective of UK graduates as opposed to students graduating from competition countries including India.


Approach
Two Step Process:

Qualitative Phase

Quantitative Phase


Three main categories….

The Closed

• Typically Indian local
/ pure engineering
companies that have
never recruited
foreign trained
• Have Basic criteria
from hires- well met
by Indian educational
institutions

The Inclined

• Large Indian/MNC
• Confident of attracting
talent into their
organization
• Indian institutes seen
to provide excellent
employee material

The Open

• Either specialist
consulting organizations
or consultant functions
within larger organizations
• Need special skills/

attributes from hires, not
easily found in general


A Snapshot
Typical Recruitment Process

Attitude towards foreign

What’s holding them back?

What can be done to increase

educational recruits
The Closed

• Not a regular process, at most an association

• Closed to the idea- consider

with local college

Indian educated as hard working,

• Use campus notices and newspaper ads

well trained in subject matter,

employability?

• Do not see relevance

• Would be very hard to gain
access of any scale or size

adjust well with working
conditions

The Inclined

• Large scale regular recruitment processes
• Campus recruitments for freshers
• Consultants for mid & senior level

• Open to the idea- either open

• Low awareness
• Perception that only those who

•Increase awareness, bring UK

for specialized tasks or to

can’t get placed come back

• Internship programs to help

“encourage diversity of thought”

corporate interact with potential

•However, not ready to

• No summer internship
• Delayed recruitment

proactively look for foreign

schedule

• Promote special ‘industry’

to recruit from top institutes or

recruits – currently well serviced

into consideration set

recruits

specific courses

by Indian institutes

The Open

• On the look out on an on going basis
• Attend to applications through walk ins,

• Have an experience with &

• US fares better in terms of

• Increase India specific courses

actively seek foreign recruits

thought leadership, innovative,

and exposure to Indian working

websites and colleges who provide interns

• Foreign educated recruits

students’ attitude (more open,

conditions

bring in a valuable skill set and a

willing to learn & adjust)

different way of working

• Australia also emerging as a

• Regain thought leadership
• Improve awareness among

threat

alumni of opportunities in India


Alumni:

We looked at:

 Incentives to foreign Education
 Incentives to UK education
 Experience in the UK
Worthiness of the degree


A Snapshot
Key triggers to foreign

Key triggers to UK

Experience at UK

Worthiness of Degree

• World ranking
• Cost effective

• All expectations meet

• Not able to get a good

education
The Farsighted

• Global exposure
• Impact on personality

start (no job)

• Pay off expected in long

traits

term

The Intellectual

• High Quality of

• Heritage/ respect

education

associated

• All expectations meet

• High- able to get the
required knowledge of the

• Global Exposure

domain, but low
awareness of suitable
career options in india

The Easy Going

• Exploring &
Experiencing life

• Global Exposure

• Easy entry
• One year course
• ‘light’ content

• Above expectations

• Not able to compete for
the ‘tough’ jobs in Indiadesire an easier job with a
better treatment


SWOT
Strengths

Weakness

• Spontaneous association with quality and respected

•Lack of job opportunities in UK
• No process for students to identify where they can apply in

education

• Association of leaders in humanity based courses (non-

India, most end up struggling for a decent job

technical)

• Poor return on investment- salaries & designation at par

• Easy entry standards
• One year course
• Practical and research based teachings
• Lifestyle & culture

with Indian educated students

Opportunities

Threat

• UK & US perceived and associated with good quality

• Australia & Singapore are clearly perceived as a cheaper

education (better than Australia & Singapore)

option (distance from India, tuition fee, cost of living)

• The easy standards (entry to country as well as entry to

• Job opportunities better in Australia & Singapore than in

universities) , match with pre requisite requirement for

UK

Indians


So far

 From the employers perspective, lack of awareness of universities, and courses offered
by the UK is the main barrier to exploring the UK as a recruitment source

 Inability to interact with students before hiring
 US remains the preferred source for foreign educated recruits - greater awareness,
better perception

Initial recommendations

 There is a need to build a ‘connect’ between employers & UK universities (students) via
Internships, initiatives by University career services.

 Employers are open to welcome University delegates for engagement.

Next steps
 The quantitative stage of the study would cover the following aspects:
•

Brand awareness

•

Market motivators

•

Hidden opportunities & savers

•

Competition comparison

•

Hygienic

•

Findings related to other information areas

 Importance of and satisfaction with each of these attributes to the stakeholders and
therefore provide the next action steps.

Thank you