LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Many of the UK’s regions are suffering from “brain drain” as they struggle to hold on to their graduates, as a new report shows that just 9% of students are certain they will stay in their university towns after graduation.
The report, ‘Skills to pay the bills: How students pick where to study and where to work’ was undertaken by University Partnerships Programme (UPP), the leading provider of on-campus student accommodation infrastructure and support services in the UK.
It finds that students in areas that are amongst the UK’s most prosperous are least likely to consider moving away from their university town or city once they graduate. Just a third (35%) of students in London are considering moving city after graduating, compared to 41% in both the North West and East of England, and 63% in the West Midlands.
The report finds that nationally, 48% of all students won’t stay in their university town after graduation, whilst 40% of students say that they will live and work in the city where they studied (net values). However, this balance tips in favour of mobility as students progress through their undergraduate degree – of third and fourth year students, 54% expect to move (up from 42% for first years) whilst only 36% expect to stay.
Overall, the overwhelmingly decisive factor in determining whether a student believes they will remain in their city or region of study is the perceived availability of graduate opportunities. Sixty-three percent of students raised job prospects as the primary driver of where they will live and work post-study. The next decisive factor, at 38%, was the availability of affordable accommodation.
Jon Wakeford, Director of Strategy and Communications at UPP and a member of the Higher Education Commission, says: “Graduate retention is a crucial symptom of the medium-term economic prospects of a city and a driver of future growth, productivity and prosperity. Retention is also central to evaluating the role of universities themselves as civic and economic institutions within their communities – contributing to the health and wealth of the cities and regions in which they are based.
“Understanding how many graduates stay and work in the place they were educated tells us a great deal about relative levels of graduate opportunities around the country; it shows us what is missing from the employment and lifestyle mix in particular regions; and it helps us to unpack the knotty question of what drives so many UK graduates to relocate to London so quickly after graduation. Government, local authorities, Universities and business need to work together to encourage high quality, affordable house building in key regions.
“We know that lots of great work is occurring at individual universities, however, more should be done to improve the individual attractiveness of institutions to students worried about long-term economic vulnerability. It would help applicants to make informed decisions and help students identify opportunities for their own economic stress.”