3.5.1
Original Document
Universities are key tools for future success and with three well-regarded major universities in the city plus others in the region, Birmingham should be well placed to deliver the graduate skills base the city needs. Yet as the West Midlands Skills Partnership notes, “The region is poor at retaining graduates - more than half take a job outside the West Midlands. Many of the graduates we do hold on to are employed in low level jobs that do not fully exploit their potential”.
Plain English Translation
We have three well-regarded major universities in the city plus others in the region so Birmingham should be in a good position to provide the skilled graduates business needs. Yet, as the West Midlands Skills Partnership notes, “The region is poor at retaining graduates – more than half take a job outside the West Midlands. Many of the graduates we do hold on to are employed in low level jobs that do not fully exploit their potential”.
Again, I think we need to start by making the city attractive to students. Those who move here to study put us on trial for 3 years (or so). Do we really make them feel welcome? Do we create chances to show them this is a great city to settle down in? I think many of the student communities are quite isolated from the whole city life and are missing some gems.