Findings of the (pre-COVID 19 pandemic) 2020 graduate outcomes survey: an improvement in all employment and education quality indicators
This is the main conclusion drawn from the 2020 survey study of graduate outcomes in Catalonia, based on data form prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The president of AQU Catalunya, Josep Joan Moreso, explains that "since these survey studies were started twenty years ago, regardless of the labour market situation, the findings have continually validated the fact that the higher the level of education, the higher the rate of employment and the quality of employment".
The findings of this year's survey, which do not reflect the real impact of the crisis on employment, show that:
- 9 out of 10 gaduates were in employment, which is almost at the same level as prior to the 2008 crisis.
- 9 out of 10 had graduate-level job duties and responsabilities.
- Over half had indefinite contracts.
- Over half had a gross monthly income of over 2.000 euros.
These data vary according to the field of knowledge. Overall, Engineering Sciences and Architecture continue to have the highest employment rate (93%) and the best quality of employment compared to Humanities (82%), although there were differences according to specific degree programmes.
Aside from the employment figures, which are conditioned by the economic context, the findings of this years's survey stand out in particular due to the consolidation of the positive trend in the improvement of the level of skills and and competences acquired by graduates.
Regadless of the COVID-19 pandemic situation, according to the director of AQU Catalunya, Martí Casadesús, "all soft skills that were analysed have improved, with substantial improvements in oral expression, team work and practical skills acquisition, as a result of the immerse effort made in recent years by higher education institutions and their teaching staff to transform higher education provision".
The survey also shows that graduate satisfaction with the degree programme taken has remained steady for first degrees and doctoral programmes, with a significant increase in satisfaction with master's programmes from 65% to 71% of those who would be inclined to take the same degree again.
On analysing the findings of the 2020 survey study, the secretary for Universities and Research, Francesc Xavier Grau, commented that "aside from the specific improvement of one indicator or another, the survey consistently shows the value of measurement and, what is more, of doing so in a steady way. This is what really makes improvement possible and makes evident that it is taking place; for example, the gradual alignment between graduates' expectations in different fields and their final assessment of their studies (delivery) and, in particular, the now very positive trend in practical skills acquisition".
The sample for the graduate outcomes survey study, which receives support from all of the universities in Catalonia and in particular the social councils of the public universities, has now reached almost 30.000 responses from graduates of first/bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctoral/PhD programmes.
Level of studies | Population | Sample | Response rate % | Sample error |
---|---|---|---|---|
Distance learning first degrees | 2.308 | 947 | 41,03% | 2,45% |
Classroom-based first degrees | 30.236 | 13.902 | 45,98% | 0,61% |
Master's | 27.950 | 9.477 | 33,9% | 0,82% |
PhD/doctoral degrees (in Spain) | 4.198 | 1.945 | 46,33% | 1,63% |
The survey fieldwork was started in the first quarter of 2020 and was recently completed. Reports and databases with the results and findings will be published and uploaded in the course of the next few weeks to estudis.aqu.cat and estudis.aqu.cat/dades.
More results and findings are available in the presentation at the following link:"Seventh survey study of graduate outcomes in Catalonia".