Kingston Business School students put future skills teaching into practice at simulated assessment centre

Undergraduates from Kingston Business School were given the opportunity to hone their communication and problem-solving skills in front of graduate recruiters during a simulated assessment centre experience.

Held at the Twickenham Stoop Stadium, home of Premiership rugby union club Harlequins, the group of second-year students were put to the test with mock 121 job interviews, presentations and a problem-solving group challenge.

All the exercises were designed to draw on their skills for innovation – the graduate attributes industry most values that are now being embedded across course modules at the University to help prepare students for the world of employment.

Graduate recruiters from SRS Gradcore assessed the students and offered individual constructive feedback so they could take home key learnings from the day, Kingston University faculty employability partner, Zoe Conlon, said.

"The students were here bright and early, raring to go and relishing the opportunity to take part in a session with industry professionals that will help prepare them for career success after they graduate. They have been really positive and see the value of taking part in these experiences to improve their employability skills," she said.

The students' communication skills were particularly being put to the test and all participants would have gained enormous confidence from taking part, Ms Conlon added.

Business management student Adil Irfan said developing the skills that would put him on the road to succeed in his career pathway would prove hugely beneficial. "Being given the chance to learn what I might face in future job interviews and presentations I do with employers, and for internships and placements, is what I was most looking forward to about the day," he said.

His course mate, Tamimah Begum, said she had been apprehensive about giving a presentation in front of her peers, but it went well. "I was nervous beforehand, but once I went inside the room, I was fine. The assessor gave useful tips on how I could improve, which I will use in the future," she said.

Head of Graduate Outcomes and Employability at Kingston University Ali Orr said the assessment centres gave students the opportunity to put into practice the future-proofed skills they are developing through their degree programmes. "Through these events, Kingston University students are able to demonstrate their skills to industry assessors in a simulated experience very similar to a real-life recruitment process for a placement or graduate role," he said.

"Opportunities like this will be a key part of the Future Skills student journey we are implementing through the University's Town House Strategy."

• Find out more about Kingston University's award-winning Future Skills campaign
• Find out more about Kingston University's Town House Strategy