#DMUglobal's vital role in boosting student employability praised by business boss

De Montfort University Leicester (DMU)’s commitment to producing global graduates was underlined at a high-profile festival showcasing the very best of British creativity and innovation.

Audiences from around the world have headed to Shanghai for the UK Government’s GREAT Festival of Creativity, which started on Monday.

DMU is the only education partner at the event, which aims to generate jobs and growth by promoting Britain as a world-class destination. Other partners include British Airways, Mulberry, Jaguar Land Rover and BBC Worldwide.

Professor Dominic Shellard, Vice-Chancellor of DMU, took part in a keynote session on graduate employability alongside CBI director Neil Carberry and Anne Morrison, chair of BAFTA.

Inspirational objects on show at the GREAT Festival in Shanghai, including Anne Morrison’s BAFTA award and Professor Dominic Shellard’s QPR shoe.

DMU is home to one of the UK’s most ambitious programmes to ensure graduates get the international experiences employers are looking for - #DMUglobal.

This ambitious programme aims to provide international experiences for the majority of DMU students, both overseas and on campus.

Professor Shellard told how students at DMU have benefited enormously from #DMUglobal experiences, enhancing their employability and helping bring their studies to life.

Professor Shellard said: "It was an honour to speak in front of such an engaged audience today. At DMU, we understand the importance of equipping our graduates with skills that meet the needs of global employers and by 2017, every DMU undergraduate degree will include a #DMUglobal opportunity.

"Providing students with international experiences which are academically aligned and career-focused is a key focus of #DMUglobal."

Lord Sassoon, who moderated the session, said: "DMU is a leading British university which has a particularly strong connections with China. It has what is probably a unique approach to giving their undergraduates global exposure.”

Mr Carberry, Director of Employment and Skills for the CBI, said: “#DMUglobal is a great example of universities playing a vital part in employability of young people and one of the elements key to unlocking the next creative generation.”

The demand for graduates with a global outlook is growing. With more and more companies now operating on the international stage, people who can appreciate and consider global influences are highly sought after.

Mr Carberry called for schools to better prepare students by strengthening language teaching and international experiences.

The keynote session was one of a series of talks and seminars examining how global businesses can use creativity to develop and grow. The second day of GREAT focused on the importance of sharing knowledge in the education sector with global partners.