Preparing students for the world of work is an ever-changing challenge for modern universities. At the University of Derby, a wholehearted commitment to applied learning ensures graduates enter the workforce armed not just with qualifications, but with the technical skills, confidence, connections, and mindset to succeed and achieve.
Equipping students for the real world is at the very heart of the university’s purpose, according to Duncan Marson, programme leader and senior lecturer in tourism and applied management at the University of Derby. “Our students are not just leaving with an academic qualification,” he says. “They can be confident that they will graduate with the skills that employers seek. At Derby we have always taken great pride in our approach to teaching and learning and ensure our students leave with real-world readiness and the tools they need to be successful.”
Futureproofing students and supporting them to thrive within an unpredictable jobs market is one of the many passions of both Marson and the wider academic team, and it underpins everything on offer at the university’s Derby International Business School. From teaching placements to ongoing career support for graduates, the emphasis is firmly on career readiness, not just academic performance.
“At the University of Derby, every module we teach and every project we deliver is grounded in applied learning. It’s industry-linked, often shaped directly by the challenges businesses are facing right now and those anticipated in the future too.”
The university’s new Cavendish Building – the soon-to-be home of Derby International Business School – is set to provide an exceptional learning environment and has been designed with a “living lab” ethos in mind. A centre for innovation, circular economy projects, and hands-on learning, it’s planned to change the way students engage with issues such as sustainability. “Teaching modules are mapped to the UN sustainable development goals,” says Marson. “We’re part of the SDG Teach In initiative, and that focus on sustainability – both environmental as well as the inevitable economic parameters – runs through everything we do.”
Derby’s rich industrial heritage – particularly in engineering, rail, and aerospace – is a huge influence on the university. This is reflected in pioneering enterprise partnerships. Rolls-Royce, which has operated a manufacturing facility in Derby for more than 60 years, recently co-developed an international business and AI degree with the university, inspired by research from Derby’s Sustainable Business and Green Growth Research Cluster.
While the location of the university in the East Midlands is of profound importance, the University of Derby retains a distinctly global focus. “Our students get to work on projects with organisations all over the world, including the Bank of England, the FA, and Boots, as well as Marketing Derby, which is focused on generating inward investment into the city and takes a very global approach to doing so,” says Marson.
As well as supporting international enterprise, the University of Derby champions regional SMEs – an approach that earned it the small business charter, the national accolade that recognises excellence in SME support. It’s well documented that businesses must establish a robust talent pipeline in order to survive. In response, the university tailors its curriculum to ensure it is aligned with changing industry needs.
Max Smith, who graduated from the University of Derby this summer with a first-class degree in business management, credits the university’s career-focused approach with preparing him not just for work, but for life. Having secured a role with Alstom, a supplier of trains and train services, Smith believes the University of Derby’s commitment to real-world, applied learning helped sharpen his career and ensured he stood out when applying for the role.
“The careers and employment service were a great help,” he says. “A lot of praise goes to them. They helped completely restructure my CV, and even launched an initiative where you could pick up smart clothes for interviews if you needed them.”
Originally from Poland, Natalia Jarczyńska graduated from the University of Derby with a BA (hons) in business management and is now a senior analyst at Goldman Sachs in the US. Jarczyńska says the University of Derby’s practical approach not only helped her develop vital business acumen but crucial soft skills – including active listening, communication, and adaptability – that she uses daily in New York’s financial district.
“At Derby, we didn’t just write essays,” Jarczyńska says. “We pitched to clients, worked on real problems, and got feedback from actual stakeholders. That gave me confidence and communication skills that I use every day. Derby gave me a foundation few other universities offer.”
Should she ever wish to further her academic qualifications, Jarczyńska says she would think about returning to the East Midlands. “In terms of my career goals, I want to stay in finance, but if I ever think about doing an MBA or maybe a PhD in future, I will definitely consider returning to Derby, that’s for sure,” she says, underscoring the university’s impact on her both professionally and personally.
The University of Derby empowers students to hit the ground running when they graduate, but its commitment to employability doesn’t end there. Graduates can continue accessing career services – including job hunting, networking, CV advice, and mentoring from industry leaders – for up to three years after they graduate.
For students like Smith, the impact of studying at Derby is profound and long-lasting. “I feel ready to step into the job market and make an impact,” he says. “Derby doesn’t just teach you for exams – it teaches you for life.”
‘Derby helped create a safe, nurturing space for me to grow’
Los Angeles-born Tyra Tucker graduated from the University of Derby in 2020 with a degree in international relations and diplomacy. Now living in the UK, she works as a civil servant.
While studying at Derby, Tucker joined one of the university’s business development programmes, which offered workshops, mentors, one‑on‑one support, and grant funding to help students launch their own ventures. Inspired by her entrepreneurial mother, Tucker had an idea for a cultural platform and attended additional classes through the programme on design, finance, and marketing. She then registered her business, secured mentoring, and qualified for a startup grant, which enabled her to assemble a small paid team of student interns – a videographer, marketer, and social media coordinator – to help launch a multimedia site dedicated to global culture.
A turning point came when her mentor persuaded her to pitch at a university showcase. Nervous but encouraged, Tucker presented to a live audience and won decisively with 42% of the vote – a moment that built her creative confidence and strengthened her belief in her business.
Tucker says Derby didn’t just nudge her into entrepreneurship – it equipped her. Through practical training, mentor support, collaborative teams, and a “just start” culture, Tucker learned to “stop over‑perfecting” at the same time as developing her practical skills, such as how to manage finances.
Her advice to current students is simple.“Now is the best time to start something,” she says – university offers the time, creative community, and entrepreneurial freedom that can vanish after graduation.Looking back, Tucker says that Derby didn’t confine her – it “unboxed” her. She arrived with ideas and passion, and left with tangible achievements, experience, confidence, a professional network, and enduring support that continues to this day, long after she graduated and moved into the world of work. “I walked in with ideas and walked out knowing they mattered,” she says. “Confidence isn’t built by dreaming but by doing,” she adds. “Derby helped me to tap into what was already within me and created a safe, nurturing space for me to grow without limit.”
Tucker’s current role proves that creative student ideas, supported by the structure and community on offer at Derby, are laying the groundwork for real-world leadership.
To find out more about Derby International Business School, visit derby.ac.uk
