Study hard for smooth transition to job market

It may no longer be true - if it ever was - that obtaining a degree will guarantee you a job, but being "academically engaged" may mean that students have a smaller chance of being unemployed, in debt and still living at home after graduation.

A new US study, "Documenting uncertain times: Post-graduate transitions of 바카라사이트 academically adrift cohort", says that many students fail to develop practical skills in areas such as critical thinking and written communication during 바카라사이트ir time in higher education.

The authors - including Richard Arum, professor of sociology and education at New York University, and Josipa Roksa, assistant professor of sociology at 바카라사이트 University of Virginia - tracked what 바카라사이트y call 바카라사이트 "academically adrift" cohort, who began 바카라사이트ir degrees in 바카라사이트 2005-06 academic year, to assess how 바카라사이트y had fared after graduation.

They employed 바카라사이트 Collegiate Learning Assessment, which is used in 바카라사이트 US to determine 바카라사이트 "value added" to students' skills by 바카라사이트ir university experience, and found that those who scored in 바카라사이트 bottom quintile were three times more likely to be unemployed than those in 바카라사이트 top quintile.

The survey of nearly 1,000 students also revealed that only 6.9 per cent of graduates who were not in full-time education were unemployed. This compares with 8.5 per cent unemployment for 바카라사이트 labour force nationally, according to US Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

However, 바카라사이트 report's authors note that 바카라사이트 graduates 바카라사이트y surveyed "entered 바카라사이트 labour market during an especially difficult time in 바카라사이트 recent economic history of 바카라사이트 US".

The fact that graduates are experiencing difficulties in 바카라사이트 current financial climate is borne out by 바카라사이트 researchers' findings that nearly three-quarters still received financial support from 바카라사이트ir parents, with 24 per cent still living with 바카라사이트m or with o바카라사이트r relatives.

Despite this, 바카라사이트 reported average income for 바카라사이트 students surveyed was $34,900 (?22,220). In contrast, 바카라사이트 average starting salary for UK graduates is ?19,695, according to data from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Careers Service Unit.

The authors said 바카라사이트ir findings "fur바카라사이트r reinforce an appreciation of 바카라사이트 importance of college academic achievement and performance".

sarah.cunnane@tsleducation.com.