WORKING-CLASS ACADEMICS BLOG

Study update – questions for graduates.  Thank you to all those who have taken part so far. My PhD experience would not be the same if I did not have the chance to hear about the experiences of other graduates in north Wales.  In an nutshell my research is finding evidence to suggest that the degree subject you study is important, as it can positively or negatively (depending on why you went to university), affect your post graduation experiences.  I am now on the final data collection stage of study.  If you have not taken part so far in my ESRC funded study there is still a chance.  I am posing 5 questions to Business; Social Studies or Engineering graduates from Glyndwr University; Bangor Univeristy and OU Wales:

• Who was the biggest influence in you going to university?
• Have your experiences post graduation been as expected?
• Knowing what you know now, would you still have gone to university?
• If you were looking for a new, graduate level, job today what methods would you use?
• Do any of the following (Welsh language skills; driving licence; having local contacts) influence your gaining employment/postgraduate opportunities?

Feel free to contact me with your observations to these questions via email sopc2c@bangor.ac.uk or Twitter (personal message).  I am also available to contact if you would like to talk face to face or on the telephone .  Thank you, Teresa

…………….For those who have came to my blog for the first time here is a recap of my study………I am conducting research into the destinations of graduates from north Wales. This study is being carried out in conjunction with the School of Social Science, Bangor University and is funded by the Economic Social and Research Council. This study aims to gain a thorough understanding of the experiences of north Wales graduates, post graduation, so as to help university careers services deliver careers advice and guidance that is responsive to what local graduates need.

Whilst I am mainly focusing on those who graduated in 2008, with a degree in either Engineering & Technology; Social Studies or Business & Administration from north Wales,  I am always interested in speaking to graduates from north Wales and beyond – no matter what your degree subject was.  I am however concentrating on people who graduated within the last five years.

 Where I am up to with this research.  At present I am carrying out interviews with north Wales graduates to discuss their post graduation experiences.  I am also setting up interviews with University and College Careers Services to discuss issues relating to careers advice and guidance for graduates.

 Details of the study.  Please see below for links to the letter to respondents;  information sheet and online survey.

• Letter to potential respondents –  https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1Mjl-rGaFkyV7pW2EvbHRo0-XOjICN8AtZCX4cRj18u0
• Information sheet – https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1I9_Ovkn1kR6OzMz2zsKcDcvqOKrz84WXbpfQgy9oFeI
• Online questionnaire – https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dHdyNklFb2Rzb3FGaWw0OWhGai02WVE6MQ#gid=0

 Further details.  If you would like to be kept up to date with the progress of this ESRC study or if you have any further questions you are welcome to email me on sopc2c@bangor.ac.uk, get in touch via this blog, or through Twitter @Beyond_Grad

Thank you.

Teresa