UK digital services non-profit Jisc has today announced a merger with the Higher Education Careers Services Unit (HECSU) and its commercial subsidiary Graduate Prospects (HESCU Prospects).
The partnership will expand on Jisc’s higher and further education catalogue to form a brand-new student services directorate, adding HESCU Prospects’ staff products and services to their offering – which will now include digital careers information and guidance, as well as degree verification.
It’s a timely collaboration, enabling both corporations to support the delivery of the government’s Careers and International Education strategies.
The organisations have already established a successful affiliation, which has included the creation of digital services such as Career Explorer and XCRI.
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The allegiance will drive greater collaboration in intelligence-led careers information and product development, while bolstering the experience and employability of students considering their options post-16.
Parents, educators and employers will also enjoy improved and expanded data to help make students aware of the employment opportunities available to them – regionally and nationally.
“This merger cements the strategic partnership that we have nurtured over several years,” said Jayne Rowley, chief executive of HECSU Prospects. “It means that the benefits of our products and services will be more widely dispersed among students and graduates and that we can better support careers services through greater investment opportunities, delivering a broader, more innovative offering.”
While the HECSU brand will be phased out, Prospects will continue to offer a portfolio of careers publications alongside prospects.ac.uk.