AI, Analytical Disciplines, and Graduate Careers: Opportunity, Risk, and Institutional Responsibility
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping graduate careers, particularly in fields like maths, economics, computer science, physics, and engineering. Sectors such as finance and consulting—long major employers—already exhibit “winner‑takes‑most” dynamics, and AI risks intensifying inequalities in skills, confidence, networks, and access to opportunity.
At the same time, disciplinary pathways still matter: economists often move into policy roles, computer scientists into core tech, and engineers and physical scientists into specialised industries. This raises a key challenge for universities: should they continue preparing students for broad, discipline‑agnostic careers, or focus more on developing specialised expertise that may offer greater long‑term resilience?
This in‑person workshop will explore how AI is transforming graduate labour markets and what this means for universities’ educational and future-focused responsibilities. How can institutions equip students to navigate greater uncertainty while remaining flexible across roles, sectors, and careers?
Bringing together employers, academics, and professional bodies, the day will feature two panel sessions alongside structured small-group discussions. The first panel will focus on how AI is reshaping graduate labour markets, while the second will consider how disciplines, universities, and sector bodies should respond through curriculum design, assessment, and careers education.
Over the afternoon we'll be hosting a hackathon where participants design and prototype educational responses to AI-driven changes in graduate careers, with a focus on skills, inequality, and institutional responsibility.
The goal is to move beyond discussion and identify shared priorities and open questions, informing future cross-sector collaboration—whether through curriculum guidance, skills frameworks, or further work on inequalities in graduate outcomes.
Full Schedule
Morning Session: 10:00 - 12:50
Panel 1: How Graduate Labour Markets in Analytical Fields are Changing
Mark Blythe, TargetConnect
Elanor Currin, PWC
Charlie Ball, JISC
Gemma Gathercole, ACCA
Panel 2: Institutional & Disciplinary Responses
Joshua Fleming, OfS
Cathy Hobbs, Academy of Mathematical Science
Robyn Henriegel, Institute of Physics
Peter Watkins, CFA
Lunch: 12:50-13:50
Hackathon: 14:00-16:50