Collision of worlds can generate creative spark

Aug 6 2009 By Andrew Mernin

University pays leavers

DESPITE the elation that exams are over and dissertations have been handed in, the final days of life as a student can be worrying.

After years’ hard work, and plenty of play, you are suddenly cast out into the wide world and expected to step on to the career ladder.

In the current climate, with the job market squeezed tighter than ever, recent graduates can find themselves unable to get a job due to lack of experience – experience they are unable to gain because they don’t have a job.

Sunderland University is tackling this by pooling some of its higher education funding in a new internship scheme in which wages are covered by the university.

According to David Donkin, assistant director of student recruitment and business partnerships at the university, this is a great way of helping both recession-hit firms and graduate job-seekers without experience.

He said: "This year brings some specific issues that we haven’t faced for a while. The idea is to make sure the students gets the vital first six months of experience they need after they graduate.

"It also gives companies the chance to get someone with fresh ideas into their business.".