Exhibition: The Open Programme

The value to employers

Although we recognise that the degree subject is important for some sectors (such as manufacturing and engineering), the development of graduates with future-proof, non-discipline specific skills is still important for graduate recruiters. The CBI/Pearson Education and Skills Survey (Confederation of British Industry, 2016) highlights that businesses primarily look for graduates with the right attitudes and aptitudes to enable them to be effective in the workplace – above and beyond the degree subject(s) studied. The report goes on to suggest that 35% of businesses were not looking for graduates with a specific degree subject and 33% were not looking for graduates with relevant work experience.

Self-employment is increasing in the UK, with around 15% of all people in work now declaring themselves as self-employed (Office for National Statistics, 2017) and the student-led approach to curriculum design lends itself particularly well to those wanting to start their own business. However, it isn’t only predetermined job opportunities that are an option for multidisciplinary graduates.

Many careers are also inherently multidisciplinary in nature, for example business studies and languages are listed amongst the subjects which may be particularly relevant for a career in Human Resources, and a combination of politics and IT could open up a range of possibilities in the public sector.

To support employers to learn more about Open qualifications, colleagues from the qualification team along with the Business Development Unit (BDU) recorded a suite of podcasts discussing the BA/BSc Open, Combined STEM, and the MA/MSc Open.  These support employers to recognise the value of the flexibility of Open qualifications.

Open up your learning Podcast: How to utilise the Open Master's in the workplace

Open up your learning: How to utilise the BA/BSc (Hons) Open degree in the workplace 

We understand that for some employers and students there is a challenge in explaining the merit and value of studying across subjects with an Open Qualification. The Open Programme team has always sought to support students to explain the benefits of interdisciplinary and or multidisciplinary study which is why in partnership with the Careers and Employability Service (CES) we co-produced some ‘recorded conversations’ on the topic of Open Qualifications and Employability:

Video: The BA/BSc Open Qualification conversation

Video: The MA/MSc Open  Qualification conversation

Podcast: the BA/BSc Open and Employability skills (on PodBean site)

Podcast: the MA/MSc Open and Employability skills (on PodBean site)