Norland named best university in the UK for enhanced graduate outcomes

The world-famous specialist provider of childcare training and higher education won first place in the Enhanced Graduate Outcomes award category, beating many other universities to win the top spot.

Uniquely, the WUSCA nominees and award winners are selected by students themselves, judged by a specially chosen panel made up of prospective and current university students from across the UK.

Each winning institution will receive £10,000 to be awarded to five eligible students as Whatuni Bursaries in 2021/22 (£2,000 each). This is a valuable contribution to Norland’s existing bursary scheme and reflects Norland’s commitment to improve social mobility through its widening participation agenda.

This year’s award continues an outstanding success rate at the WUSCAs.  In 2019, Norland won the Independent Higher Education award and came a close second for the same award in 2020. The higher education college also holds a Gold TEF rating for the standard of its teaching, the highest standard possible in the UK, and holds degree awarding powers from the Privy Council.

Established in 1892 by early years pioneer Emily Ward, Norland is dedicated to providing high quality specialist early years training and higher education in order to cultivate exceptional early years practitioners. Fully qualified graduates, known as Norlanders or Norland Nannies, benefit from their own dedicated employment agency, the Norland Agency, which places them in nanny and maternity practitioner positions around the world and provides them with lifelong career support.

Dr Janet Rose, Principal of Norland, said: “We are absolutely delighted to win the top award in the UK for Enhanced Graduate Outcomes at the WUSCAs. We have worked so hard during the pandemic to ensure our students continue to receive the high-quality training and outstanding career opportunities for which we are world famous. This work has paid off. We currently have seven jobs for every Norlander seeking one and offer an average starting salary of £40,000 within one year of qualifying through the Norland Agency.”

Vice Principal and Head of Quality and Standards and Registrar, Mandy Donaldson, added: “We are particularly proud of this award as it is judged by students from across the UK. Our rigorous training, taught over four years full-time, uniquely blends theory and practice with a wealth of hands-on experience to ensure our graduates are equipped with all of the skills necessary to give young children the best start in life. We’re pleased to be able to offer Norland students with the rarest of prospects for graduates – guaranteed employment opportunities with children and families.”