Three reports released this week by Graduate Careers Australia (GCA) highlight the advantages for students who undertake study at regional universities such as Charles Sturt University (CSU).

 

The three GCA reports are based on surveys of university students who graduated in 2006 and examine graduate employment destinations, graduate salaries, and graduate course experiences.

 

The results are particularly pleasing for CSU according to the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ian Goulter, because they show that there are strong advantages for students who chose to study at CSU.

 

“CSU is very pleased to be able to maintain its level of graduate satisfaction while at the same time significantly increasing research output,” said Professor Goulter.

 

“The reports show a high level of CSU graduate satisfaction with their higher education experience, with 89.5 per cent of graduates surveyed broadly satisfied.

 

“The reports also indicate a strong employment outcome with over 95 per cent of CSU graduates finding full-time or part-time work within four months after completion of their course; 83.1 per cent gained full-time employment and 12.1 per cent were working part-time.

 

“This compares well with data for all 2006 university graduates where 82.4 per cent found full-time employment four months after completion of their course, with a further 12.2 per cent working part-time,” he said.

 

In addition, new graduates employed in regional areas earned more than their capital city counterparts (an average of $42,000 compared to $40,000), with salaries in regional areas considerably higher for professions such as earth sciences, optometry, physical sciences and engineering.

 

“When considered with other recent reports, such as the Western Research Institute’s Destination of On-Campus Graduates of CSU 2006 Update, which recorded increasing employment of our graduates in regional areas, the GCA 2006 reports confirm CSU’s contribution to regional economies,” Professor Goulter said.

 

Professor Goulter summarised by saying that the power of these figures is reinforced by the fact that 73 per cent of CSU graduates with a regional home location gain initial employment in regions and 60 per cent of all CSU graduates are initially employed in regional locations.

 

“This is a significant outcome both for CSU and our regional economies and communities.”