Education survey of past graduates

16 June 2011

A major new survey is taking place this summer to chart the destinations of Jersey’s graduates over the past 20 years.

The aim is to find out what proportion of local graduates have returned to the Island as well as the reasons some have stayed away. Information will also be collected about how these trends have changed over time.

The survey is being conducted by Careers Jersey, on behalf of the Skills Board, and is similar to one carried out 8 years ago. The information collected will be used in the formulation of States policies in future.

Andy Gibbs, the Head of Careers & Learning Support, said: “This survey gives us a valuable opportunity to find out where our local students are now working, to see how their degree links to the work they are doing and also gain their opinions on a variety of issues linked to the higher education process and graduate employment.”

Careers adviser Angela Charles, who is leading the project, aims to use electronic media, such as social networks, to get in touch with people. Her team have also asked universities whether they can use alumni newsletters to contact past students.

“It will be a challenge to contact 20 years worth of graduates. With the increase in the use of technology for information storage we are able to get contact details for more recent graduates relatively simply. However, once we go beyond 10 years the details become less reliable," Mrs Charles said.

“Over the next few weeks we will be trying to get the current contact details for graduates so we want to tell people about the project. We hope they will understand and be sympathetic to what we are trying to do. Later this summer when the survey takes place it will be also available online. In the meantime we would be happy to hear from graduates.”

The Statistics Department has helped to compile the questionnaire, which will be conducted in the second half of the summer.