BC Student Outcomes: The 2015 Highlights
Author: BC Student Outcomes (Canada)
Date: 2015-00-00
Type: Reports - Evaluative
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Student Surveys,College Students,Academic Degrees,Associate Degrees,Bachelors Degrees,Certification,College Graduates,Employment Level,Unemployment,Outcomes of Education,Job Skills,Educational Attainment,Apprenticeships,Postsecondary Education,Intellectual Disciplines,Educational Finance,Paying for College,Educational Quality,Satisfaction,Debt (Financial),Workplace Learning,Wages

Student feedback is an essential component of a high-quality, relevant education system. BC Student Outcomes provides that feedback by surveying former post-secondary students who took baccalaureate programs, apprenticeship technical training, and diploma, certificate, or associate degree programs. In 2015, almost 28,000 former students were surveyed. This report presents key results from those surveys. The 2015 Diploma, Associate Degree, and Certificate Student Outcomes (DACSO) Survey had 14,849 respondents. The former students were surveyed within two years of leaving their programs. Of graduates from diploma and certificate programs: (1) 91% were in the labour force; (2) 9.3% was the unemployment rate; (3) 84% of those employed were working full-time; and (4) 85% said the knowledge and skills they learned were useful for employment. Of former students from associate degree programs (including university transfer): (1) 81% took further studies; (2) 92% of those who took further studies said they were prepared for those studies; and (3) 73% were studying at the time of the survey. The 2015 Baccalaureate Graduates Survey (BGS) of 2013 graduates had a response rate of 44 percent, with 9,964 respondents out of 22,495 who were eligible for the survey. Of baccalaureate graduates: (1) 47% went on to further study; (2) 89% were in the labour force; (3) 7.1% was the unemployment rate; (4) 85% of those employed were working full-time; and (5) 85% said the knowledge and skills they learned were useful for employment. The 2015 Apprenticeship Student Outcomes (APPSO) Survey had a 51 percent response rate with 5,616 former apprentices eligible for the survey. They were surveyed within two years of completing their in-school training. Of former apprenticeship students: (1) 86% received their Certificate of Qualification to practice their trades; (2) 89% said their in-school training was related to their workplace experience; (3) 97% of those from a traditional apprenticeship program were in the labour force; (4) 6.2% was the unemployment rate for former traditional apprenticeship students; and (5) 93% said the knowledge and skills they learned were useful for employment. Findings from the BC Student Outcomes surveys are used by the Province of British Columbia for labour market analysis, policy development, and accountability. Post-secondary institutions use the data to improve programs and services; their academic and career counsellors draw on the results to advise prospective and continuing students. [The BC Student Outcome surveys are conducted with funding from the Ministry of Advanced Education, the Industry Training Authority, and from British Columbia's public post-secondary institutions.]