First Destinations of Graduates and Diplomates in Scotland: 2001-02
Annex : Statistical Notes to News Release
First Destinations of Graduates and Diplomates in Scotland: 2001-02
1. Data Sources
The figures in these tables contain information on destinations of students, from both Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Further Education Colleges (FECs), who successfully completed a higher education course in Scotland in the reference year. The data typically refers to the destination of students six months after graduation.
The information on the numbers and characteristics of graduates and diplomates, and their destinations after qualification, are collected from the two sectors separately:
- Prior to 1 July 1999, The Scottish Executive (formerly The Scottish Office) collected information from Further Education College in Scotland on those who had achieved a higher education qualification, and their destination after leaving. Since 1 July 1999, the Scottish Further Education Funding Council (SFEFC) has collected this information.
- HESA (the Higher Education Statistics Agency) undertakes the collection of information from all HEIs in the UK since 1994 - 1995.
2. Information Collected
2.1 Destination of Graduates and Diplomates
SFEFC (Scottish Further Education Funding Council) collects annual information from FECs in Scotland on first destinations of full time students who achieved a higher education qualification. Part-time students are not included in the data for FECs.
The collection of destinations for graduates and diplomates from HEIs is based on a population of primarily full time students (including sandwich students and those writing up theses) during the academic year. HESA ceased collecting information on non-EU students in 1999-2000, therefore these students have been excluded from figures for both HEIs and FECs in this publication, in order for comparisons to be made.
The data presented in this release, therefore, relates solely to graduates and diplomates from full-time higher education in Scotland.
Information is collected by the colleges and universities through a voluntary survey to individual students of all nationalities within the European Union who have successfully completed their course. Details are requested about the graduate's or diplomate's destination on 31 December (or any definite arrangements starting by 31 March) following the end of the academic session in which they qualified.
2.2 Data Quality and Coverage
The structure of the higher education sector in Scotland changed as a result of the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992. The 8 universities previously funded by the Universities' Funding Council, the SOEID-funded central institutions, the teacher education institutions and the Scottish Agricultural College, funded by Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department, are now grouped together under the heading 'Higher Education Institutions'. The other institutions offering higher education courses in Scotland are the FECs and the Open University. Throughout this release, the term 'higher education in Scotland' denotes provision by HEIs and FECs only, and excludes figures for the Open University in Scotland.
This release gives data for a number of years to allow trends to be identified more easily. In doing this, some data have been reclassified, so may no longer agree with previously published data. Where this is the case, this bulletin should be assumed to supersede any previous publications .
Data on HE graduates and diplomates from FECs are collected by SFEFC. In each of the past two years SFEFC has changed the methodology used to identify graduates and diplomates. The result of this has been a reduction in the reported number of graduates and diplomates from FECs and an increase in the number of continuing students. Higher education graduates and diplomates from further education colleges account for approximately one quarter of all higher education graduates and diplomates. These are mainly at the sub-degree level. The effects on the percentages shown in this publication are likely to be minimal.
Nursing students were absorbed into the Higher Education Institution sector in 1996-97, and counted in returns for the first time in that year.
2.3 Response Rate for Destinations Survey
Response rates for 1994-95 to 2001-02 have been calculated as the percentage of all graduates and diplomates in the target population who were sent a questionnaire and replied stating a known destination. Therefore non-respondents and unknown responses have been excluded from Tables 1-7.
The response rate to the first destination survey has stayed relatively constant at between 70% and 80% in each year since 1994-95. The response rates for each year are given in Table 8.
3. Definitions
3.1 Level of Study
The three levels of study used are:
Postgraduate - students successfully completing courses where a first degree qualification is an entry requirement. This includes students gaining higher degrees, postgraduate diplomas or equivalent.
First Degree Graduate - students successfully completing courses leading to a first degree or equivalent.
Sub Degree Diplomate - students successfully completing courses classified as higher education but not classified as postgraduate or first degree. These qualifications include the Certificate of Higher Education and Diploma of Higher Education, and Higher National Diplomas and Certificates (HNDs/HNCs); however they exclude Higher National units below group award level.
The term ' graduate' refers to a student who has successfully completed a course at first degree level or above; the term ' diplomate' refers to a student who has successfully completed a course at below first degree level.
3.2 First Destination of Graduates and Diplomates
Full-time Study - graduates and diplomates who are taking another course leading to a higher education qualification or who are undertaking teacher training or other training, e.g. Law Society and Bar exams, excluding those training whilst in employment.
Permanent UK Employment - graduates and diplomates who gain employment or return to a previous employer in the UK.
Temporary UK Employment - graduates and diplomates who gain employment which is expected to cease before 30 September in the year after graduation.
Overseas Employment - graduates and diplomates who gain employment working exclusively overseas or who expect to spend the major part of their time working abroad.
Believed Unemployed - graduates and diplomates who are available for employment or study and have no firm arrangements to start employment or study by 31 March.
Other - graduates and diplomates who are: returning to an employer overseas; overseas students leaving the UK; and those not seeking employment for whatever reason.
3.3 Type of Work
Table 4 shows the nature of the work carried out by graduates and diplomates.
Categories are based on HESA's Standard Occupational Classification.
For further information regarding these categories, please refer to the Web link below.
http://www.hesa.co.uk/manuals/01016/01016a04.htm
3.4 Type of Employer
Table 5 shows the type of industry of the employer rather than the graduate or diplomate's occupation.
Categories are based on HESA's Standard Industrial Classification.
For further information regarding these categories, please refer to the Web link below
http://www.hesa.co.uk/manuals/01016/01016a03.htm
3.5 Percentages
Percentages may not add up to 100 due to rounding.
Further Information
For further information on these figures and other information on statistics covering lifelong learning in Scotland you can contact the following:
Scottish Executive - www.scotland.gov.uk - 0141 242 0274 (ETLLD Analytical Services Division)
Enquiries to fhestatistics@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Statistics home page - www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/
Publications:
Higher Education Graduates and Diplomates in Scotland: 2001-02
Nov 2003
www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00302-00.asp
Standard Tables on Higher Education and Further Education in Scotland 2001-02
July 2003
www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00270-00.asp
Students in Higher Education in Scotland, 2001-02
May 2003
www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00260-00.asp
Students in Higher Education Institutions in Scotland, 2001-02
Mar 2003
www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00248-00.asp
Higher Education Statistics Agency - www.hesa.ac.uk - 01242 255 577
Non-governmental enquiries to data.provision@hesa.ac.uk
Scottish Further Education Funding Council - www.sfefc.ac.uk - 0131 313 6500
The SFEFC website offers an online analysis service called in-fact www.sfefc.ac.uk/infact/
Non-governmental enquiries to g.mcbride@sfc.ac.uk
Other Information
Universities and Colleges Admissions Service - www.ucas.ac.uk - 01242 222 444
Scottish Funding Councils for Further and Higher Education - www.sfc.ac.uk - 0131-313-6500