Futuretrack: pre-entry, information, advice & guidance Jane Artess Director of Research Higher Education Careers Services Unit June 10th 2009

Futuretrack Four stage longitudinal tracking study of career development of the 2006 cohort of entrants to HE Funded by HECSU and undertaken by the Institute for Employment Research at the University of Warwick, led by Professor Kate Purcell. (see also

HECSU Commissions and undertakes research into student/graduate career development and decision-making Supports university careers advisory services Aims to put research outcomes into practice (see also, HECSU Development Plan 2008 – 2015 at

Session outline –Getting into HE –Support and guidance to get into HE –Who studies what? –Career planning –Changing –Discussion

Type of HEI of accepted applicants, by type of prior education

Support and guidance – not enough information on..

Not enough information about the implications of post-16 subject choices, comparing selected school students’ response by gender

Who studies what? % Female% Asian% Black% 25+ % ‘professional managerial background ALL 2006 accepted UK applicants Pre-clinical Medicine Pharmacy etc Nursing Physics Mathematics Computer Science Mechanical Engineering Economics Sociology Media Studies History by period Design Studies Languages

I am worried about the prospect of having to repay loans and debts when I have completed my course

Clarity of Career plans – by subject at application

…and one year later

… changing ideas about career after 1 year in HE

Reasons for changing course

Discussion what do these findings mean for practice?

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