Over 80 BU students celebrated their completion of the Graduate Skills Programme on 7 May 2024 in the Fusion Building.
Endorsed by and co-delivered with employers such as Marriott Hotels, Mazars, IBM, LUSH, 3-Sided Cube, BCP Council and University Hospitals Dorset, the programme is an opportunity for students to develop essential skills that help prepare them for the world of work after they graduate. Students attend employer-led skills masterclasses and take part in industry visits and extra-curricular activities to complete their award.
The evening of celebration began with Jenna Darlow who runs the BU Graduate Skills Programme and Alex Jacobs, Head of Careers and Employability, welcoming attendees and talking about the importance of students being prepared when they enter the labour market.
Alex Jacobs said “We have a very competitive graduate labour market, with university attendance on the rise. Today a degree doesn’t always make you stand out from your competitors, so students need to take steps to develop themselves outside of their academic studies. Learning about soft, transferable skills and forming relationships with employers will help them to succeed in their careers going forward.”
BU Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Vinney took to the stage to congratulate students for taking part in the programme while attending university to proactively develop themselves alongside their studies.
Jenna Darlow then introduced Tammy Markley, Cluster Director of Human Resources for UK Southwest and Wales for Marriott International and Ashley Cox, Senior Audit Manager for Mazars who spoke about how their companies had worked collaboratively with the Graduate Skills Programme team this academic year to deliver several masterclasses and insight days.
Tammy Markley commented that “Marriott is thrilled to endorse the Bournemouth University Graduate Skills programme. As an employer our unwavering commitment revolves around nurturing the development of our prospective talents. We acknowledge the paramount importance of establishing strong partnerships with our educational providers to facilitate students in their industry preparation and ensure they acquire the essential skills necessary for their upcoming roles.”
The evening ended with students receiving their awards and opportunities to network over dinner and entertainment with some of the businesses and representatives from organisations that have been involved in the Graduate Skills Programme.
Students can find out more about how to get involved with the Graduate Skills Programme at www.bournemouth.ac.uk/graduate-skills-programme.
Organisations that are interested in becoming involved in the programme or want to find out more about our work with employers can contact [email protected].
The Graduate Skills Programme Awards was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the commitment of our students to developing employability skills. Congratulations to all students that received their award this year.
