Graduates as a source of employer contacts for link days and a partnership scheme

Abstract

A useful bridge between the geography curriculum and the worlds of industry, commerce and public authorities can be a department's own graduates. By means of an alumni survey, the Portsmouth geography department has set up a database which has been used, among other things, as a source of contacts for link days and the partnership scheme. Link days have been established to enable undergraduates to meet graduates with a range of experiences, who can offer information about the world of work. The partnership scheme involves the working together of the three main participants in Higher Education—staff, students and employers—initially through meetings to discuss issues such as innovation in teaching/learning and the acquisition of transferable skills. Both link days and the partnership scheme have improved communications between higher education and employers, and much of this success can be attributed to the part played by graduates.

Keywords:

• Link days
• partnership scheme
• graduates