1. GDS – What Does It Tell Us? Presented by Planning & Research
RMIT Open Program
Understanding and Using the Graduate Destination Survey (GDS) and Course Experience Survey (CEQ)
GDS – What Does It Tell Us?
Presented by Planning & Research
Wednesday 12 April, 2006

2. Overview The GDS dataset GCA Online Information
RMIT Online Information
RMIT Analyses – examples of data usage
Employment
Self-Employment
Starting Salaries
Further Full-Time Study
Response Rate
Forthcoming GDS Online Analysis Tool

3. The GDS Dataset
The GDS is administered to all Higher Education graduates in Australia each year
It is the most robust dataset available which tells us about what our graduates, and those from other institutions, are doing a few months after graduating.
More than half the graduates in Australia respond to this survey in the months following their graduation!

4. GDS Collects information about graduates:
Demographics and program details,
any work in their final year,
their status regarding work and study four months after graduation, and
methods they have used to search for jobs.

5. GCA Online Information
GCA homepage:
Information for graduates in specific disciplines on activities, salaries and jobs:
GradStats and the Grad Files:

6. RMIT Online Information
Planning & Research publishes student outcome information at:
www2.rmit.edu.au/departments/planning/ircu/reps.php

7. RMIT Analyses RMIT can undertake analyses
Internally
Looking at portfolios, schools and programs
Externally
Looking at the whole of Australia or Victoria, at groups of other institutions, or at specific student cohorts (e.g. international)
The GDS has been running for over 30 years
RMIT has national electronic datasets available for
There have only been small question changes over this time period.

8. Graduate Employment Outcomes GDS 2004 Example
In 2004, for the fifth consecutive year, RMIT reported a full-time employment outcome better than the national average amongst domestic Bachelor graduates (82.1% cf. 79.7%).
Employment is one measure of “Relevance”.
While encouraging, the trend was indicative of RMIT not reaching the strategic plan target of being 5% above the national average by 2005.

9. Graduate Employment Outcomes GDS 2004 RMIT vs. National - Example

10. Graduate Employment Outcomes GDS 2004 by Portfolio - Example

11. More about Graduate Employment Outcomes GDS 2004 - Example
Almost three-quarters of employed 2003 RMIT domestic Bachelor graduates (72%) were working in professional or para-professional jobs four months after graduation .
Close to half (47%) were working in Industry/Commerce, about one in seven in Health (16%), and 9-10% in each of Government, Professional Practice and Education.

12. More about Graduate Employment Outcomes GDS 2004 - Example
Postgraduate coursework graduates were particularly likely to have full‑time employment, with 86.6% of those available for such work finding it.
Amongst those studying for Graduate Certificates, almost all RMIT graduates were working (97.3%).
Around nine out of ten PG coursework graduates from the Business and DSC portfolios obtained full-time employment (90.3% and 87.1% respectively), and about eight in ten SET postgraduates (81.0%).

13. Graduate Employment Outcomes Employers GDS 2004 - Example

14. Graduate Self Employment Outcomes GDS 2004 - Example
In 2004, RMIT continued to record a rate of enterprise formation (self-employment) approximately double the national average (6.3% cf. ~3%).
While encouraging, the trend was indicative of RMIT not reaching the strategic plan target of being 5% above the national average by 2005.

15. Graduate Self Employment Outcomes GDS 2004, RMIT vs. National - Example

16. Graduate Self Employment Outcomes GDS 2004 by Portfolio - Example

17. Graduate Starting Salaries by Field of Study GDS 2004 - Example

18. Graduate Starting Salaries
Caution should always be used in interpreting data. It is important to look at the context of what else is going on when drawing conclusions.
For Example:
In previous years RMIT graduates have exceeded the national average salary. In 2004 (of 2003 graduates), RMIT is below the national average.
The fall in salaries of Business Studies and Accounting graduates is consistent with statistics reported by the ABS for those working in the Property and Business Services area.

19. Graduates in Full-time Study GDS 2004 Example
RMIT generally has a lower proportion of its graduates continuing with further full-time study than do other universities.
Over the past few years, the GDS has shown that about 17-20% of RMIT’s Bachelor graduates continue with further full-time study compared with 23-24% nationally.

20. Graduates in Full-Time Study RMIT vs. National GDS 2004 - Example

21. Graduates in Full-Time Study by Portfolio GDS 2004 - Example
Note: The Business Portfolio has many more graduates continuing with part-time study.

22. GDS 2005 – Response Rate
RMIT’s GDS has a good response rate from domestic graduates (70%), but a poor response from their international counterparts (24%).
Because this is a survey of significance in the national tertiary educational sector, RMIT needs to continue to take steps to improve this relatively poor response rate from international graduates.

23. GDS Online Analysis Tool
Planning & Research are developing an online tool for analysis of graduate outcomes.
Interface and usage same as CEQ online analysis tool.
Analyses to Program, School and Portfolio level, and for different cohorts.

24. Any Questions?
See:
www2.rmit.edu.au/departments/planning/ircu/reps.php