National survey puts UTS among the best for graduate employment

A newly released national survey of graduate job outcomes has shown that UTS graduates are achieving among the highest rates of employment and remuneration three years after their graduation.

The 2018 Graduate Outcomes Survey - Longitudinal lists UTS number three nationally for the percentage of graduates in full-time employment three years after graduation (92.7%) and equal fourth nationally for highest median graduate salaries after three years ($75,000).

The longitudinal survey supplements the shorter-term Australian Graduate Outcomes Survey by measuring the medium-term employment outcomes of higher education graduates approximately three years after they have completed their courses. This year's survey is based on data from those who responded to the 2015 Graduate Outcomes Survey conducted some four months after their graduation.

These Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) surveys are funded by the Australian Government.

UTS Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students) Professor Shirley Alexander said the strong result for UTS graduates was the culmination of a number of strategies – the UTS Model of Learning that emphasises preparing students for professional practice, the Graduate Attributes project, and the focus on graduate employability.

“This is testament to the hard work of many people, in particular the academics implementing the learning.futures and Graduate Attributes initiatives and their focus on authentic learning activities and authentic assessment,” Professor Alexander said.

“They have been supported by staff in the UTS Careers service who have developed numerous innovative employability workshops and strategies for students, with a member of the Careers team dedicated to assisting alumni in getting employment.”

Overall the Graduate Outcomes Survey has found that three years down the track there has been substantial improvement in full-time employment rates across universities, so that all universities have full-time employment rates for undergraduates above 81 per cent, with a higher rate of 92.4 per cent for postgraduate coursework graduates.

In regard to outcomes based on fields of study, the second sample has shown that while those graduating with generalist degrees have weaker employment outcomes soon after completing their course, their rates of full-time employment “tend to experience particularly strong improvements” over the medium term.

For more on the 2018 Graduate Outcomes Survey results visit the QILT site.