Powering an inclusive economy

We want all of our students to realise their ambitions after they complete their studies. We will play our part in the pipeline of talent and skills needed for the economy and society, especially in the North East of England, where our students already fill almost a quarter of highly skilled jobs. We aim to raise the prospects of all our students.

Embedding experiential learning – including work-based learning – into study, will enhance students’ post-university prospects by helping to build skills and social capital. We will enable every on-campus undergraduate student to benefit from experiential learning (such as clinics, live projects, degree apprenticeships, placements, research opportunities, international student mobility) as part of their studies. One or more of these opportunities will be an integral part of every undergraduate programme by September 2025. We will investigate how the offer can be extended to other modes and levels of study, with a particular focus on those who currently have less developed social capital or networks to help access to employment opportunities.

We will work with our students and potential students to improve onboarding support and to clearly set out the expectations and benefits of experiential learning. Building on our current strong relationships, we will increase employer and alumni engagement to develop our curricula and to source opportunities for experiential learning that will benefit our students.