Career Planning – an essential tool for improving tertiary educational management G McAuliffe Career Planning Centre Career NetWork Rotorua

'Think Tomorrow, Today’ ATEM conference…. Tertiary institutions are under pressure to ensure their sustainability into the future. This conference focuses on the strategic thinking that we need to do now to prepare us for tomorrow. Presenters are invited to share their own thoughts and the planning and activities taking place in their institutions.

Student Retention, Completion & Attrition Two-thirds of all students fail to complete their qualifications. 50% of all students leaving do so in their first year of study

Completion rates 69% of students that begin Diploma level courses fail to complete 62% of Certificate students fail to complete 46% of degree level students fail to complete Overall there is a 57% non- completion rate … what solutions?

Student Retention Programme. 1. Career clarity 2. Relationships 3. Study and self- management skills

Career Clarity Confidence that they have made a good choice Good understanding of the job market Understanding of the relationship between their studies and their future application Linking the skills/knowledge taught with the job

Non-completion – not always an issue Not all students want a completed Qualification Some leave early for employment Have personal learning objectives not packaged as a Credential

Education Consumers  The Hopeful Reactors  The Anxious Seekers  The Passion Honers  The Confident Explorers Vaughan, Roberts and Gardiner (NZCER) Young People Producing Careers and Identities (2006)

The Hopeful Reactors see a lack of personal options have a low sense of career identity are typically directed into a pathway by someone else tend to ‘hang in’ even though they are no longer engaged in the course. Vaughan, Roberts and Gardiner (NZCER) Young People Producing Careers and Identities (2006)

The Anxious Seekers  have a low commitment to their current pathway  are typically dissatisfied and could make a complete change at any time  don’t know which way to turn next  looking for a job title for identity. Vaughan, Roberts and Gardiner (NZCER) Young People Producing Careers and Identities (2006)

The Passion Honers  happy and committed to a specific vocational pathway  rather narrow view of career as vocation  identify with a job title  Some are beginning to see career options beyond their current commitment Vaughan, Roberts and Gardiner (NZCER) Young People Producing Careers and Identities (2006)

Confident Explorers  see a range of options available  seek challenges  explore options & possibilities - change  creating an identity though self rather than vocation  might informally design their own programmes Vaughan, Roberts and Gardiner (NZCER) Young People Producing Careers and Identities (2006)

Careers Industry in New Zealand CPANZ - Career Practitioners Assoc CATE – Career & Transition Educators Qualifications available (AUT, Weltec…)

Careers Industry in New Zealand Careers advisers – provide general information, liaison & guidance Rehabilitation - return to work Professional career counsellors

Careers Industry in New Zealand Career Service rapuara (Govt) Private practice Commercial products (e.g)  FutureSelves  New Directions  JiigCal  Career Quest  On-line

Career Net Work Experience… Focus students on more appropriate learning pathways resulting in longer periods of enrolment Raise student motivation levels Drive greater ‘labour market outcomes’ Allow us to plan and deliver more appropriate programmes based on the needs of students – flexible learning Contribute to better management of limited resources Gain industry confidence

Tertiary Career services Focus on Graduate employment  CV writing/Interview skills etc Offer range of simple tools at completion point Still focus on recruitment More qualified staff emerging

… from university career websites… Usually students leave the job quest to the last minute and do it at the worst possible time after finals. Enrolling in a course … and completing your degree is the easy bit. Less obvious and easily overlooked is a crucial research project you need to complete: “What I am going to do with my degree?”