Before embarking on a first degree or postgraduate course which
requires a significant investment of time, effort and finance or
loss of earnings, applicants are entitled to know what their
employment prospects might be after graduation. The Scottish
Government's "refreshed skills strategy" document, Skills for
Scotland: Accelerating the Recovery and Increasing Sustainable
Economic Growth, published in October 2010, specifically
requires "equal access to and participation in skills, career
information, advice and guidance…for everyone." This places
easier access to information on graduates' destinations high on the
agenda for both the Scottish Government and careers guidance
practitioners, as well as individuals who are making important
decisions which will affect their future.
The most comprehensive source of this information is the Survey
of Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE), conducted
by higher education institutions six months after graduation on
behalf of the Higher Education Statistics Agency. While it is
commonly acknowledged that many graduates do not settle into a
career immediately after graduation, the DLHE data-set contains a
wealth of information. However, the challenge is to present this
valuable information in a way which is more user-friendly and
accessible to a wide range of potential users.
This challenge has been addressed by university careers services
when producing What Do Graduates Do? Scotland (http://www.scottishdegrees.com).
This innovative, interactive website tells users what happened to
2009 first degree and postgraduate leavers in specific subjects.
Although this snapshot is taken very early in their careers, it
shows how career paths vary according to students' choice of degree
subjects. It gives clear evidence that graduates are not confined
to occupations directly related to their degree subject. They can
branch out into the many jobs open to graduates of any discipline,
using transferable skills gained through their studies and other
experience.
Charts show the proportions from each subject area who went into
various types of work and further study or who were unemployed or
doing other activities in the year after graduation. Salary ranges
and typical jobs are displayed where sufficient data have been
collected. The website can also be interrogated for information on
salaries in various Scottish regions.
While this user-friendly information is very helpful for current
and prospective students, it has its limitations, the main one
being that it is based on data collected only six months after
graduation, when many graduates have not begun to move towards a
graduate level career. The information is based only on 2009 data,
a year in which graduates entered a very difficult labour market,
and users should be aware that the pattern of graduate destinations
fluctuates from year to year, depending on the state of the
economy.
To strike a balance, based on the knowledge of university
careers advisers over time, the website addresses a series of
frequently asked questions such as:
- How many graduates don't find graduate level jobs?
- How can I find out what I can do with my degree in …?
- Will I improve my prospects by taking a postgraduate
degree?
Other essential topics are covered in more extensive articles,
including:
- How can you find out more about the labour market in
Scotland?
- How can graduates improve their employment prospects?
- How can graduates find relevant jobs?
Funded by the Scottish Government and with technical support
provided by The Careers Group of London University, What Do
Graduates Do? Scotland demonstrates the depth of expertise of the
Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services [Scotland], with
contributions from Skills Development Scotland. It is an excellent
addition to the information available to prospective and current
students, teachers, careers advisers and parents who wish to help
their child with choices about the future. The "proof of the
pudding" lies in feedback from students who have viewed the
site:
- "This is a good site to look at before choosing which degree to
select."
- "It is good for suggesting alternative career paths."
- "I found the report section most helpful in terms of finding
out graduate employment percentages and average salaries."
This confirms that What Do Graduates Do?
Scotland can support informed career decision making for
its target audience.
Barbara Graham,
University of Strathclyde