SURVEY OF 2000 AND 2001 GRADUATES
HIGHLIGHTS
Institutional Research and Planning (IRP) is pleased to present the highlights of our survey of 2000 and 2001 graduates. The survey's purpose is to gather information from alumni concerning their satisfaction with their program of study and their employment situation since graduation. Alumni feedback about their studies allows us to adjust our operations accordingly. Employment information is also important to us and in-depth information collected through the survey is posted by Career Services on their Web site.
Participation and Response Rates
- The survey was received by approximately 7,500 alumni. About 1,250 graduates completed the survey - a response rate of 17 per cent.
- This sample can support analyses of the University as a whole and a breakdown by faculty. However, the sample size limits the analysis of small individual programs.
Highlights
Satisfaction with the program of studies
- Graduates were asked about the contribution of their program of studies to the development of particular skills. In general, the results were very positive. Over 85 per cent of respondents indicated that their program contributed a lot or moderately to thinking critically and analytically, and learning effectively on their own. For the majority of skills listed, such as building independence and adaptability, writing clearly and effectively, defining and solving problems, developing sensitivity toward different views and acquiring work-related skills, at least 70 per cent of graduates indicated that their program contributed to their development.
- About 40 per cent of respondents considered that their programs contributed little to developing a personal code of values and ethics, using computing and information technology, and exercising leadership. These are areas for future improvement.
- Graduates are generally satisfied with their program's key features, such as course content, structure and bilingual character. Graduates from the Faculty of Medicine are generally the most satisfied while graduates from the Faculty of Engineering are generally less satisfied.
- Graduates appear satisfied with the majority of services offered on campus, such as libraries, sports facilities and health services.
- Graduates appear most dissatisfied with parking and food services, which echoes the concerns expressed by students currently on campus. To better understand these areas, the University undertook a survey of food services in the spring 2005 and will run a survey of commuting practices in the fall 2005.
- The vast majority of graduates (92 per cent) said they would definitely or probably recommend the University of Ottawa to others.
- Over 70 per cent of respondents report having permanent full-time employment. Close to 90 per cent report being in the active workforce.
- Almost two-thirds of our graduates work in the public sector. This may be attributable to being located in the Capital region combined with the large proportion of graduates from the faculties of Arts, Education and Social Sciences.
- Graduates by employment sector:
- 22 per cent in public administration,
- 13 per cent in health services, and
- 13 per cent in social and legal services
- The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) is the largest single employer identified, with almost six per cent of respondents holding a position in that organization.
- Over 75 per cent believe that the general skills they learned (written/oral communication, analytical thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, leadership, etc.), as well as the program content, have helped them in their current job.
- Almost half of our graduates still reside in the Ottawa-Gatineau area, and almost as many live elsewhere in Ontario or Quebec.
- Close to 96 per cent of respondents use at least some English at work and about 65 per cent use at least some French. This is consistent with the University's mission and the demographics of its geographic location.
- At the time of the survey, more than one-third of respondents were pursuing further education or training with 40 per cent of them enrolled in full-time university graduate programs.