Futuretrack 2005 and 2006 Researching the changing graduate labour market: a longitudinal study Kate Purcell HECSU Changing Student Choices conference, Manchester University, 12 July 2006

This presentation The HECSU Career-making Programme - higher education, career decision-making, career information and employment outcomes Futuretrack 2006 : the Core study Futuretrack 2005 : a new kind of pilot study

Considerations underlying the design of the core study: it must be.. comprehensive and authoritative, covering full spectrum of UK ‘Mass HE’; flexible enough to accommodate changes; build upon existing knowledge; facilitate a focus upon subgroups of interest; generate information not just on those who succeed, but on those who drop out/defer entry; sufficiently large to allow for longitudinal robustness despite the inevitability of sample erosion.

Initial population census with targeted follow-up of under-represented groups. Reliance exclusively on web-based surveys. Contact with HEIs only for ‘rebalancing’. Substantial resources devoted to: retention of sample members co-ordination across HECSU wider research programme dissemination of research findings. Collaboration with UCAS, HESA and Funding Councils to track students - and data-linking where feasible. Longitudinal pilot, cognitive testing, consultative approach to identification of priorities at each sweep. The proposed approach

Design for feasibility Futuretrack 2005 : a longitudinal pilot –to investigate research options –to explore the practicalities of potential sampling and access strategies –to develop a well-researched and realistic budget for the longitudinal study Futuretrack 2005 non-response investigation Cognitive testing workshops with 2006 UCAS applicants –To refine the questionnaire design –To test for (and take account of) variability in the target population

May/ June Main study Wave Pilot study Wave 1 Pilot study Wave 2 Pilot study Wave 3 Pilot study Wave 4 Sept/ Oct Sept/ Oct June Main study Wave Main study Wave 2 June Main study Wave 4 December The link between the Pilot Study and the Core Study 2005 – 2012

…some findings from Futuretrack 2005

2005 applicants’ reasons for applying for HE course

2005 UCAS applicants’ reasons for choice of course

UCAS 2005 applicants’ reasons for choosing course, by gender

2005 UCAS applicants’ expectations of debts and paid work and study

Plans to fund higher education

2005 HE applicants’ views about HE ‘hot topics’

‘Its always been my ambition to go to university, and so I was never in any doubt about applying to enter higher education when I finished secondary education.’ ‘I am going to be a doctor.’ ‘I wanted to be able to develop and challenge myself as a person, get out of my own comfort zone and little bubble!’ ‘I wanted to live away from home, meet new people & gain independence.’ ‘I love the subject, and continuing study of it would be an enjoyable learning experience.’

‘I had worked with children as an LSA for the last 10 years, wanted to take it to the next level. It is the right time as my children older and more independent.’ ‘I'm doing that for me and my daughter to make our future certain and better. We living apart because I'm divorced and she lives with her mum.’ ‘I want to get a degree. Make my family and myself proud of me!’ ‘To change the loop that everyone gets stuck in from a my area; they end up teen moms or working deadbeat jobs in Sainsburys. I knew I was better than that and didn’t want to end up like my parents. I wanted to change the mould and have a better future to look forward to.’ ‘To fulfil a lifelong ambition - to prove to myself that I could do it (having worked alongside many younger people with better academic qualifications than me.) It was always destined to b my project for my retirement!’

Futuretrack 2005 and 2006 For further details about the survey and related research see: or contact or