China: Making Graduates Employable

Universities in China are facing similar demands to improve the employability of their graduates as those in the UK, new research among employers has revealed. 【小题1】 In Britain, the government has set up its own internship scheme to help graduates find work during the recession.

But what are the skills employers want and how much do they differ between the two nations? 【小题2】 The partnerships are funded by the government through the British Council under the second phase of the Prime Minister’s Initiative for International Education. In this scheme, universities are encouraged to exchange ideas and develop programmes aimed at improving the entrepreneurship and employability of graduates. “We found employers in both countries put a great emphasis on leadership qualities and initiative – things that are learned through the activities students engage in and the responsibilities they take on during their time at university,” Heffernan told a conference in London organized by the council, which is inviting proposals for 10 new UK-China partnerships.

【小题3】

Generally, it includes family and friends and links with people working in other companies, voluntary organizations, or leisure activities. The Chinese also tend to take more time building up relationships with people before getting down to business. The University of Plymouth and its partner China Agricultural University in Beijing are working to determine the skills most likely to lead to employability and successful careers. Staff at both universities have conducted face-to-face and telephone interviews with local employers of graduates in three areas, marketing, human resources and finance-accounting.

【小题4】 In the UK they chose communication including written and verbal communication, networking skills and foreign language ability - as the top priority followed by the ability to work in a team.

“Students in China generally lose touch with society and they need help to understand how companies work and what is involved in the different jobs and professions. They know very little outside the campus and that is where I think they differ from students in the UK. We can share our experiences.”