Establishing standards for student internships could help more graduates to secure ¡°quality jobs¡±, an international university group has advised, as the European Commission continues its push to improve employment conditions.

The Coimbra Group, representing 42 research-intensive European universities,?has called for a ¡°greater focus¡­on the importance and value of university careers and employability services in supporting graduate transition to quality employment¡±.

Responding to the commission¡¯s call for evidence for its upcoming?, the group¡¯s ?cites obstacles to employment including global and national economic strain, scarcity of local job opportunities, difficulties ¡°translating [graduates¡¯] academic background into clear career paths¡± and limited resources for careers services.

¡°EU funding should be made available to support the implementation of university activities,¡± the Coimbra Group says.

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Describing internships as a common pipeline to employment, the university association calls for ¡°the question of quality internships [to be] treated together with the wider issue of promoting quality jobs¡±.

European Union legislation could be introduced to ¡°ensure fair pay and robust hosting agreements for all internships¡±, the group suggested; if not, common EU guidelines could be developed to which member states should be encouraged to adhere.

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More EU funding should be directed towards lifelong learning, the Coimbra Group further recommends, with a particular focus on training subsidies for those from ¡°peripheral or semi-peripheral regions, or in countries with rigid economic ecosystems and labour markets¡±. Continuing education is particularly important in the fields of AI and digitalisation, the group stressed, and must be affordable.

Mutual exchange between universities and graduate employers, the umbrella body said, enables universities to ¡°better align their academic offerings with evolving labour market needs¡± and employers to establish graduate roles with a ¡°clearer appreciation¡± of graduates¡¯ skills and knowledge.

To support this exchange, the Coimbra Group suggests, the EU could support ¡°university-led enterprise advisory groups¡±, while at the European level, a ¡°European Skills Council¡± could help to coordinate the activities of such groups.

The Coimbra Group also called on the EU to make ¡°clear, timely and robust labour market information available to all to help inform related decision-making and planning¡±.

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¡°Universities have a moral imperative to ensure that all students, regardless of location, socio-economic status, programme or mode of study, have equitable access to opportunities to enhance their employability,¡± the Coimbra Group said, urging institutions to ¡°[embed] careers and employability in university strategy, teaching and learning policies, processes and practices¡±.

emily.dixon@timeshighereducation.com