Sandwich placements: negating the socio-economic effect on graduate prospects

The lower rates of undergraduate attainment and related professional employment of students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds has been well documented. This study combines a large-scale analysis of graduate employment outcomes with qualitative data from recent widening participation (WP) graduates, focusing specifically on the impact of a full 'sandwich' year within a coursei. We present a statistical analysis of the Higher Education Statistics Agency's (HESA) Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey covering the three academic years from 2011/12 to 2013/14, analysing Nottingham Trent University's (NTU) own graduate data as well as all UK university mission groups. We supplement these with outcomes from semi-structured interviews with NTU graduates, held some 18 months after graduation, to gauge a retrospective view of the value of work placements. Our findings demonstrate that participation in year-long sandwich placements can negate the known socio-economic effects on employability prospects. These findings are discussed in terms of potential institutional policy direction. Providing more workplace opportunities to widening participation students is likely to contribute to upward social mobility.