Sheffield Hallam University in partnership with Gradcore has welcomed a group of government and higher education’s leaders from Azerbaijan as part of a study tour on graduate employability supported by the British Council.

Press contact: Greg Mattocks-Evans | g.mattocks-evans@shu.ac.uk

Increasing graduate employment is a high priority for the Ministry of Education in Azerbaijan as many graduates in the country cannot find graduate jobs after successful completion of their studies at higher educational institutions.

Esther Kent, Academic Director in Employability at Sheffield Hallam University, said: “One of our goals as a university is to build creative and constructive partnerships across the globe. Visits like this help make that vision a reality and help us transform lives in Sheffield, the region and beyond.

“The delegation was particularly interested in learning more about Hallam's Highly Skilled Employment commitment.

“This not only provides students, staff and employers with a real chance to continually review, inform and evolve their curriculum, it also ensures that we identify and develop applied learning experiences that will prepare students and give them the confidence to access and gain future employment though meaningful work experience.”

The group of seven representatives, from both the Ministry of Education and higher education institutions, also visited the Bullion Chocolate factory, a company founded by Hallam alumni Max Scotford, who developed his business with support from the Sheffield Hallam Enterprise Team.

They also met the University’s Formula Student (F1) team, SHU racing, a group of students from a diverse selection of academic backgrounds who have applied their learning in a unique way by designing, manufacturing and building their own Formula 1 style racing car.

Raziya Isayeva, director of development at Khazar University said: “This was an exceptionally designed and delivered programme offering information from all angles of employability.”

The visit follows the Graduate Outcomes Conference, organised by the British Council in October 2019, which brought together policy makers and practitioners from the UK and Azerbaijan to explored how the employability of graduates in Azerbaijan can be enhanced, making them competitive locally and globally.