{{Short description|UK higher education research charity}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Multiple issues| {{more citations needed|date=June 2020}} {{more footnotes needed|date=November 2014}} }} {{Infobox organization |name = Higher Education Careers Service Unit |image = Hecsu Logo 2017.jpg |image_size = |caption = <small>HECSU logo</small> |abbreviation = HECSU |formation = 1972 |extinction = |status = Non-profit organisation and registered charity |purpose = Careers research of graduates in the UK and supporting graduate recruitment via university careers services |location = Prospects House, Booth Street, Manchester, M13 9EP |region_served = UK and Republic of Ireland |membership = Higher education institutions and graduate employers |leader_title = Chief Executive |leader_name = Jayne Rowley |leader_title2 = Chair |leader_name2 = Prof Mark Smith |main_organ = HECSU Board |parent_organization = Universities UK and GuildHE |affiliations = AGCAS |budget = |website = [https://www.hecsu.ac.uk HECSU] |remarks = }}
The '''Higher Education Careers Service Unit''' was an independent research charity based in Manchester for the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, specialising in higher education and graduate employment. It funded research projects for the higher education careers sector, and conducted research into graduate employment and career decision-making on behalf of its own members and external funding bodies.
It was a registered charity, formed in 1972, and was an agency of Universities UK and GuildHE. The commercial part of HECSU, CSU, changed its name to Graduate Prospects in July 2003. In 2020 HECSU merged with Jisc.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jisc.ac.uk/news/jisc-and-hecsu-prospects-announce-merger-01-may-2020|title=Jisc and HECSU Prospects announce merger }}</ref> HECSU as an entity was then dissolved as JIsc took on their charitable objectives.
Its most recognisable function is to produce the ''Prospects'' series of booklets with information about graduate careers. Graduate Prospects is the commercial arm of HECSU and provides careers information and services to students, graduates, university careers advisory services, employers and others.
The group produces statistical information on the destination of graduates from particular universities and courses.
The research strategy adopted by HECSU has five themes: * Practitioner research * Labour market information * Careers guidance * International comparisons * Career learning and development
HECSU aims to: * Improve the dissemination of information about higher education and graduate employment * Contribute to knowledge of student and graduate career development and employment by conducting and commissioning research * Work with careers advisers, academic staff, and employers to support graduate employability
Main work includes: *Higher Education Degree Datacheck *Prospects Luminate
==NCWE== {{Infobox company
| | name = NCWE | logo = Image:Ncwe logo.png | type =Division of a registered charity | founded = 2002 | hq_location = Manchester, England, United Kingdom | website = [http://www.work-experience.org www.work-experience.org] }}
==See also== * Higher Education Statistics Agency * List of UK Careers Advisory Services * Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services * ASET (professional body)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://archives.ucl.ac.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=CSU Records of the CSU (Higher Education Careers Service Unit)] at the Institute of Education, University College London
Category:Career development in the United Kingdom Category:Educational charities based in the United Kingdom Category:Graduate recruitment Category:Higher education organisations based in the United Kingdom Category:Jisc Category:Organisations based in Manchester Category:Organizations established in 1972 Category:University of Manchester