Insights Programme

In preparation for entering the graduate labour market, it is vital that students develop their graduate attributes – actively taking part in the co and extra-curricular is good way to add value to the development that takes place in class. Not everyone has access to the networks and opportunities that facilitate such development. In an act of equity of experience, the Insights Programme uses the University’s own networks to provide access to fully funded short-term work based professional experience, in local and international locations.

Edinburgh alumni host small groups of students at their workplace and share their career stories, advice, and insights about what it is like to work in their sector. Students take part in weeklong events and activities offered by alumni hosts working in a cross-section of sectors in either Scotland (Local insights) or in one of our host cities around the world (Global Insights). Through a combination of meetings, work-shadowing and short projects, students learn about the career paths of the alumni, their sector and workplace culture. The University’s Careers Service help prepare students for their workplace visits through a development programme including skills workshops.

The Insights programme is specifically for students from a widening participation background.  This includes part-time or full-time students who have either received a contextual admissions flag when applying to us, or who receive an Access Edinburgh Scholarship, or who are an asylum seeker. The Insights project is a collaboration between the Careers Service, Development & Alumni, the local and global alumni community and widening participation.