On Thursday 3 December, Monica Deshpande, Head of Employability and Graduate Success at the University of Westminster, took part in a roundtable event as part of Westminster’s collaboration with graduate job board Milkround on their Beyond the Buzzword campaign.
The virtual roundtable event targeted recruiters and HR professionals to discuss student and graduate perceptions of diversity in the workplace, using Westminster as a case study example of a model institution that champions diversity through the employability schemes it has in place to boost the prospects of its students and graduates from a range of backgrounds. The event was held in light of new research, which revealed that while nearly two-thirds of HR decision makers believe their companies are doing enough to recruit a diverse workforce, 81% of students and graduates disagree.
Published by Milkround, a graduate job board connecting students and graduates with leading companies, the paper also stated that 58% of surveyed students believed that physical appearance had the greatest influence on company recruitment strategies, followed closely by race or ethnicity (52%) and nationality (52%).
The case study made reference to Westminster’s diverse student body, and included a video produced by Milkround, in which Westminster students gave their thoughts on diversity in the workplace and how the employability schemes the University offers has helped them with their career prospects.
Monica Deshpande, Head of Employability at the University of Westminster, addressed more than 50 attendees from companies such as Vodafone, Jaguar Land Rover and Dyson, about what the University does to help its students find graduate jobs. One example highlighted in the event was Westminster’s Class of 2020 Package, a suite of programmes aimed at enhancing graduate employability prospects during times of increased uncertainty.
In her address, Monica said: “Westminster’s employability offer is built on our ongoing commitment to helping students from all different backgrounds fulfil their potential. It’s a tough year to be entering the jobs market and the Class of 2020 Package is designed to keep our graduates motivated and engaged in developing work-ready skills, as well as preparing for digital assessment centres and navigating online recruitment and selection processes.”
She also gave details about the Westminster Employability Award and the Inclusive Futures Fair, an annual careers fair in collaboration with five other London universities with similar student demographics to encourage diversity and working with socially responsible employers.
Monica also spoke about Westminster’s Career Mentoring Scheme, which has grown from a dozen registered mentors eight years ago, to more than 600 today. She explained to attendees how the scheme gives students the opportunity to gain insight into their desired career paths from mentors through confidence building, networking and developing key employability skills.
Find out more about the University of Westminster’s employability programmes.
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