USP Graduates – Where do they go?
“The University's academic programmes are not only tailored to meet the unique economic and cultural needs of the University's 12 member countries, but are also designed to prepare graduates for the international workforce. The University's priority is to ensure that USP graduates have the benefit of a world-class curriculum, to equip them with the very latest knowledge and practical 'know-how' which they can apply anywhere in the world.”
Economic uncertainty exists in many parts of the region, with a number of member countries experiencing significant financial constraints. Within such a climate, it is imperative that the USP can demonstrate to its member and donor countries that it is effectively utilising available funds to deliver tangible quality outcomes for students in the region. The USP Strategy Plan notes that the USP was established to “contribute to the social and economic development” of its member countries. The USP website further emphasises the important role that the USP undertakes in the region, with regard to preparing graduates to successfully participate in the labour market. One important quality measure is the extent to which USP graduates are successfully entering both the regional and international labour markets.
While the USP continues to enjoy a positive reputation as a quality higher education provider, there is a need to constantly measure and validate the USP’s performance in preparing graduates for employment, and put in place a systematic process for obtaining student feedback on their satisfaction with courses offered. Collection of statistical information from graduates will provide such a mechanism and impart valuable information upon which to base future curriculum review and research.
Graduate Destination Surveys or Tracer Studies are conducted by many tertiary institutions throughout the world for planning purposes and as an integral component of quality assurance systems. Graduate destination surveys generally involve the collection and analysis of data on the following factors:-
- Response rate
- Main destinations at a point in time: working (full/part-time), seeking work, studying full-time, etc.
- Work sector; government, education, private, not for profit.
- Location of work
- Level and type of occupation
- Starting salaries
- Extent to which employment is related to completed course of study, as a percentage.
- Further study undertaken
- Course experience (customer satisfaction).
USP is undertaking Graduate Destination Surveys on an ongoing basis of both graduates and post-graduates, to measure graduate success in entering labour markets. The database of graduate contact information is being established in such a way as to meet requirements for the destination survey and Alumni records. Discussions have occurred with the Academic Office and the Public Relations Office and ongoing consultation will be maintained, to ensure that the coordination of survey and Alumni records can be achieved over an initial 3 year period.
The PDO writes to all students who register for graduation annually, advising them of the proposed Graduate Destination Survey and seeking their assistance in providing an appropriate postal address for future contact. A database has also been established to enable an electronic mailing list to be maintained for survey and Alumni purposes. An on-line facility is also available for graduates to update their contact details at any time.
While surveys will largely concentrate on current academic/employment status of graduates, the opportunity will be taken to gain information on the graduates’ satisfaction levels with the quality of education provided at USP.
The registration process for the survey includes provision for graduates to agree to the use of their personal contact information by USP, for the purposes of individual graduate profiles or further contact, to allow the option of more qualitative information to be gathered, if required. Depending on the response from graduates, and the resources available to the University, some follow up interviews or focus groups may be undertaken to gain additional information on specific aspects of the survey, as required.
Focus groups and/or individual interviews would be particularly useful with regard to further feedback from graduates on the quality of education provided and as a means of facilitating discussion on future improvements to curriculum and student services.
It is further proposed that employer focus groups will be undertaken, so that information regarding employer expectations can also be gathered in a more systematic way.
It is envisaged that the information gathered from surveys and focus groups will provide the basis upon which informed decisions can be made on future curriculum redevelopment and research. It will also provide an important means by which the University can retain and further develop its reputation as a relevant and vibrant tertiary institution that recognises the role of customer and stakeholder feedback, in shaping its future directions.
For further information regarding the Graduate Destination Survey, please contact Sandhana Kisun, Planning and Development Office on +(679) 321 2255.
2005 USP Graduate Destination Survey Questionnaire
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