Alumni/Graduates

Degree of networking crucial to Scottish graduates

IT IS who you know, not what you know at university that matters. In a survey of Scottish graduates, 62 per cent said they valued the contacts made at university at least as highly as their degree.

In the survey, for student accommodation company Unite, 42 per cent of those questioned said a university friend got them a job interview or introduced them to a potential employer.

Almost a third, 31 per cent, landed a job because of a univerADVERTISEMENTsity friend or contact and 78 per cent claimed a helping hand from friends boosted their initial salary by up to £10,000.

Several well-known partnerships were forged at university. The healthy drinks firm Innocent was formed by Cambridge friends Richard Reed, Adam Balon and Jon Wright.

Conservative leader David Cameron and shadow chancellor George Osborne were members of the Oxford Bullingdon Club where the sons of the rich eat, drink and network.

The survey found that university also creates social opportunities for Scots. A third had visited overseas countries because of university friends and 15 per cent are married to or in a long-term relationship with their university love.

Unite sales and marketing director Nathan Goddard said:

"Our research reveals that people who go to university in Scotland make strong social networks which help set them up for life, whether it be work, lasting friendships or even marriage."

The survey of 5,283 graduates aged 25 to 45 was carried out in July by www.OnePoll.com on behalf of Unite.

A spokesman for St Andrews University said: "A university education has always been about more than just a degree."

Rob Morton, Alumni Relations Officer for Heriot-Watt said: "We know that our graduates love to network with each other and I regularly see business and personal contacts made at alumni events and online, even years after graduation"

Article written by Fiona Macleod, Education Correspondent, The Scotsman