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Employers satisfied with work performance of local graduates
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     Most employers are satisfied with the work performance of local first degree and sub-degree graduates, according to the findings of a survey commissioned by the Education Bureau and released today (September 7) on students who graduated from locally accredited first degree and sub-degree programmes in 2013.

     Overall, about 97 per cent of the surveyed employers rated the performance of first degree graduates as average or above, including 75 per cent who indicated that they were quite satisfied or very satisfied with the graduates' performance. About 95 per cent of the surveyed employers considered the work performance of the sub-degree graduates as average or above, including 61 per cent who were quite satisfied or very satisfied with their performance.

     The survey aimed to collect employers' opinions on nine broad aspects of graduate performance, namely language proficiency (English and Chinese), numerical competency, information technology literacy, analytical and problem-solving abilities, work attitude, interpersonal skills, management skills, technical knowledge required for the job, and knowledge on current affairs and self-learning ability. The survey results show that, of these nine aspects, work attitude and interpersonal skills were perceived by employers as the two most important aspects of competence.

     The first degree graduates performed the best in terms of work attitude, followed by information technology literacy, language proficiency and numerical competency. Their performance scores in six broad aspects are over 3.5 on a five-point scale, indicating that the graduates' performance was better than "generally meeting employers' required standard". The overall work performance score of the graduates is 3.62, showing that they have met and sometimes exceeded the employers' required standard. This is also the highest score obtained in the seven rounds of surveys conducted since 1998.

     On the other hand, the overall work performance score of the 2013 sub-degree graduates is 3.35. Their performance scores in seven broad aspects are over 3.2, showing that the graduates' performance was better than "generally meeting employers' required standard". The sub-degree graduates performed the best in terms of information technology literacy, followed by work attitude, interpersonal skills and language proficiency.

     For the first time, the survey also collected employers' opinions about how to enhance the curricula of undergraduate and sub-degree programmes and collaboration with industries. More than half of the surveyed employers opined that post-secondary institutions should enhance the curriculum design and relevance of undergraduate and sub-degree programmes. The improvement measure which was agreed on by most employers was "increasing the weight of professional knowledge in the curriculum". Some of the surveyed employers also indicated willingness to provide internships and pre-employment training for post-secondary students.

     The survey was conducted from the third quarter of 2015 to the second quarter of 2016 through questionnaires to the employers, from both private and public sectors, of the relevant graduates. Over 2,000 valid responses were received, covering nearly 1,400 local first degree graduates and over 700 local sub-degree graduates from 1,800 companies, organisations and government bureaux/departments.

     Details of the executive summary of the survey are available at the webpage (www.cspe.edu.hk/content/resources-surveys).
 
Ends/Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Issued at HKT 11:00
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