Keeping grads local

LEDC partners with post-secondary institutions on grad-retention effort

A NEW COLLOBORATION between London’s post-secondary institutions and the London Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) is hoping to attract more new graduates to work here in the city.

The partnership between the LEDC, Western, Fanshawe, Outcome Campus Connect (a post-secondary focused job opportunity resource) and the London-based job board Knighthunter will bring together the LEDC’s industry-specific job boards with the school-specific opportunity boards meant to connect new grads with employers who hire new grads.

The end result, basically, will be to supercharge the Outcome Campus Connect with more local work opportunities, making it “easier for students and recent grads to connect with local employers and employment opportunities through a one-post system,” the LEDC says.

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“This first of its kind multi-faceted partnership will make it easier for young talent to find local employment opportunities while giving employers more exposure to a talent pipeline,” says Kapil Lakhotia, LEDC president & CEO. “This strategic alliance incorporates bridging support for young people, employers and industry with leading technology.”

To date, utilizing OCC’s application programming interface and Knighthunter’s integration technology, over 840 postings from LEDC job boards LondonMfgJobs.com and LondonTechJobs.ca have been funneled directly into the opportunity boards of the institutions.

With fewer students attending campus during this largely virtual academic year, and without things like job fairs or good old on-campus recruitment, it may prove challenging for employers to attract graduates to stay in town after leaving school this year. Programs like this hope to smooth over that, and still offer employers a way to pitch the idea of staying local.

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The leadership at the two post-secondary institutions praised the announcement, saying that it would give them a new tool in helping graduates get jobs — now a pressing concern for schools whose funding could be impacted by the province’s controversial proposal for funding reform.

“This partnership will help us connect talented Western students and alumni with work integrated learning opportunities and new graduate jobs in London-Middlesex,” says Stephanie Hayne Beatty, director, careers & experience, Western University. “We hope more graduates will choose London as a place to build a meaningful life and career.”

“Fanshawe College is excited to collaborate with our partners to create more employment opportunities for our students and graduates, while contributing to the economic recovery of our community,” adds Darlene O’Neill, director of employment and entrepreneurial services at Fanshawe. Kieran Delamont