Authors

• Puhakka, Antero (University of Joensuu)
• Rautopuro, Juhani (University of Joensuu)
• Tuominen, Visa (University of Joensuu)

Keywords

appointment to job, career development, educational certificates, employment opportunities, graduates, tertiary education (first stage), unemployment

Abstract

The survey charted the employment situation and job placement of persons who had graduated from the University of Joensuu with a Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts or equivalent degree during the years 2003-2006. Other main themes included the degree obtained, unemployment periods and views on the quality of the university education received.

The first theme focused on the respondents' studies. Questions covered the degree completed, duration of studies (in months), number of credit points, grade obtained for the thesis, other degrees completed and whether the respondent had obtained work experience relevant to the field of study during studies.

Employment was investigated by asking about the respondent's employment situation at the time and after graduation, type of employer, type of contract, type of job and whether their current job was commensurate with their degree. Views were probed on how significant various factors had been for obtaining a job (e.g. the academic degree, main subject, subsidiary subjects, subject of the thesis, work experience, study success, language and computer skills, social networks, own activity, personal characteristics, hobbies etc).

Unemployment was charted by asking whether the respondents had experienced unemployment after graduation and what factors they thought had contributed to their unemployment.

Finally, some questions pertained to what the respondents would do if they were to begin their university studies at that moment (for instance, would they obtain the same degree, or change main or subsidiary subjects, if yes to what subject, or would they not study at a university at all). The respondents were asked to what extent they agreed with a number of statement relating to the quality of the university education obtained, importance of an academic degree, and whether their studies had been useful for working life.

Background variables included the respondent's year of graduation, gender, year of birth, region of residence (NUTS3) at the time of the survey and before commencing studies at Joensuu University.