MASTER’S DEGREES AND BACHELOR’S DEGREES: HOW TO INCREASE EMPLOYABILITY FOR FORMER STUDENTS

Adapting to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) due to the emergence of new degrees and masters required an adjustment of the Spanish Higher Education System within this framework. New degrees and masters are designed to improve employability for new graduates. Employability outcomes must be assessed by higher education institutions. Occupational Observatory - of the careers service from Jaume I University (UJI) –has been carrying out various studies monitoring the school-to-work transition of graduates from this university, focused in first cycle degrees so far. In previous articles we studied variables affecting employability for recent graduates in first cycle of studies. The main aim of this study is to extend the scope to new graduates and postgraduates, comparing differences in employability.

The study was conducted on a sample of 421 graduates and postgraduates from new adapted studies from UJI who finished between 2011 and 2013 (1 and 3 years in the job market). The sample includes 9 Bachelor’s degrees and 37 Master’s degrees. 62% are women (average age 34 years old).

We compared demographic variables such as age, sex or parental status; careers service programmes (such as participation in internships and international placements embedded in the curricula, and also voluntary, and in vocational guidance programs); and other mediating variables. The study also includes employability success variables such as time needed to get the first job, employment status or job matching. Results show that postgraduates have higher levels of employability than new bachelor’s graduates and first cycle graduates. Further implications for career guidance and masters and degrees planning are commented.