Graduate Career Advantage Scotland (GCAS), a Scottish Government-funded programme, provided vital support and paid internships to graduates, many of whom faced additional barriers when looking for graduate employment, over its two years of operation.
It supported 2703 graduates and provided 613 internships. The majority of interns stayed with their GCAS employer after funding had ended.
Every Scottish University participated in the project. Staff at Glasgow Caledonian University, the University of Aberdeen and here at Edinburgh worked to ensure the project reached graduates throughout Scotland.
Collaborating with student counselling services from the University of Edinburgh, the GCAS team also developed four toolkits aimed at supporting graduates’ transition into work
- Advice on developing a CV and cover letter
- Navigating practicalities such as finances and employment
- Graduate wellbeing
- Building confidence for interview
The Project Director of GCAS, Kirsten Roche, said: “GCAS bridged the gap between university and graduate employment for hundreds of graduates across Scotland. Graduates were at the heart of the project and the careers support GCAS provided was a significant element of the project’s success. Offering funded internships minimised the risk of undertaking an internship for both graduates and their employers. It was a truly collaborative project, based and led by the Careers Service at the University of Edinburgh.”
Poppy Jeffery, who participated in two GCAS internships and now works as Internal Communications Officer at the University of Edinburgh, said: “Completing my GCAS internships developed my professional skills significantly and led me directly into my first office-based role. Without these paid internships, I would have really struggled to find employment in this field after graduating.”
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