Main photo L-R: Kingsley Aryee (UCB School Liaison Officer), Mohammad Yusuf, Cihan Khan, Deshon Yard (Eden Boys’ School Birmingham pupils) and Michelle Alwright (UCB Employability Tutor (Placements)).  

University College Birmingham (UCB) is celebrating the completion of a highly successful pilot of the UCB–Titan Work Experience Programme, delivered in partnership with Titan Partnership, giving 16 pupils from six Birmingham schools the chance to gain first hand workplace experience and explore future career pathways within a university environment. The programme offered structured placements across a range of UCB departments, designed to help young people build confidence, develop professional skills and understand what work experience in a university looks like.

Students from Broadway Academy, Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School, Eden Boys’ School Birmingham, Holyhead School, Nishkam High School and Old Swinford Hospital took part in the pilot. Of the 16 pupils who began the programme, 14 successfully completed their placement, giving the pilot an 87.5% completion rate.

Coordinated by Kingsley Aryee, School Liaison Officer at UCB, the week began with a welcome and induction, including a guided campus tour, before students joined their host departments for immersive workplace experience. Across the week, pupils engaged with colleagues, contributed to tasks, observed professional practice and gained insight into the wide range of roles that support a modern university.

Impact of the UCB work experience programme

Evaluation of the pilot shows the programme delivered strong outcomes for participating pupils:

• Over 92% of respondents rated their experience Good or Excellent.

• 100% felt welcomed and supported.

• 100% said they would recommend the programme to other students.

Students reported development in key areas including confidence, communication, teamwork, professional skills and understanding of the workplace - all essential foundations for early career development.

“As the team responsible for supporting students to develop the skills, confidence and experience they need for their future careers, we know first-hand how important meaningful work experience can be,” explains Melissa Willis, UCB’s Director of Student Employability (Higher Education).

“Through HIRED, we encourage our own students to engage with employers, build their professional confidence and understand the world of work; it is therefore vital that we practise what we preach by opening up similar opportunities to younger pupils across our city.”

Feedback from UCB colleagues who hosted students was also positive, with respondents indicating they would be willing to support future placements. This reinforces the programme’s potential to become a sustainable, collaborative initiative across the University.

“Seeing students grow in confidence over the week has been incredibly rewarding”, said Kingsley Aryee.

“Their feedback shows how valuable it is to open our doors and give young people a real insight into the world of work.

“We’re grateful to Titan Partnership, our participating schools and our colleagues across UCB for helping make this pilot such a success.”

“For many young people, work experience is a key moment in helping them to understand different career pathways and begin to develop the professional behaviours that will support their longer-term success,” adds Melissa Wilis.

“By working with Titan Partnership and local schools, UCB has been able to offer pupils a supportive and realistic insight into a university workplace, while also reinforcing our wider commitment to improving access, aspiration and opportunity.

“This pilot shows the value of colleagues across the University coming together to invest in Birmingham’s future talent.”