Career Planning – an essential tool for improving tertiary educational management

G McAuliffeCareer Planning CentreCareer NetWork Rotorua

'Think Tomorrow, Today’

ATEM conference…. Tertiary institutions are under pressure to

ensure their sustainability into the future. This conference focuses on the strategic thinking that we need to do now to prepare us for tomorrow. Presenters are invited to share their own thoughts and the planning and activities taking place in their institutions.

Student Retention, Completion & Attrition

Two-thirds of all students fail to complete their qualifications.

50% of all students leaving do so in their first year of study

Completion rates 69% of students that begin

Diploma level courses fail to complete

62% of Certificate students fail to complete

46% of degree level students fail to complete

Overall there is a 57% non-completion rate

… what solutions?

Student Retention Programme.

1. Career clarity

2. Relationships

3. Study and self-management skills

Career Clarity Confidence that they have made a

good choice Good understanding of the job

market Understanding of the relationship

between their studies and their future application

Linking the skills/knowledge taught with the job

Non-completion – not always an issue Not all students want a completed

Qualification Some leave early for employment Have personal learning objectives

not packaged as a Credential

Education Consumers

The Hopeful Reactors The Anxious Seekers The Passion Honers The Confident Explorers

Vaughan, Roberts and Gardiner (NZCER) Young People Producing Careers and Identities (2006)

The Hopeful Reactors

see a lack of personal options have a low sense of career identity are typically directed into a

pathway by someone else tend to ‘hang in’ even though they

are no longer engaged in the course.

Vaughan, Roberts and Gardiner (NZCER) Young People Producing Careers and Identities (2006)

The Anxious Seekers

have a low commitment to their current pathway

are typically dissatisfied and could make a complete change at any time

don’t know which way to turn next looking for a job title for identity.

Vaughan, Roberts and Gardiner (NZCER) Young People Producing Careers and Identities (2006)

The Passion Honers happy and committed to a specific

vocational pathway rather narrow view of career as

vocation identify with a job title Some are beginning to see career

options beyond their current commitment

Vaughan, Roberts and Gardiner (NZCER) Young People Producing Careers and Identities (2006)

Confident Explorers

see a range of options available seek challenges explore options & possibilities -

change creating an identity though self

rather than vocation might informally design their own

programmes

Vaughan, Roberts and Gardiner (NZCER) Young People Producing Careers and Identities (2006)

Careers Industry in New Zealand

CPANZ - Career Practitioners Assoc

CATE – Career & Transition Educators

Qualifications available (AUT, Weltec…)

Careers Industry in New Zealand Careers advisers – provide

general information, liaison & guidance

Rehabilitation - return to work

Professional career counsellors

Careers Industry in New Zealand Career Service rapuara (Govt) Private practice Commercial products (e.g)

FutureSelves New Directions JiigCal Career Quest On-line

Career NetWork Experience…

Focus students on more appropriate learning pathways resulting in longer periods of enrolment

Raise student motivation levels Drive greater ‘labour market outcomes’ Allow us to plan and deliver more

appropriate programmes based on the needs of students – flexible learning

Contribute to better management of limited resources

Gain industry confidence

Tertiary Career services Focus on Graduate

employment CV writing/Interview skills etc

Offer range of simple tools at completion point

Still focus on recruitment More qualified staff emerging

… from university career websites…

Usually students leave the job quest to the last minute and do it at the worst possible time after finals.

Enrolling in a course … and completing your degree is the easy bit. Less obvious and easily overlooked is a crucial research project you need to complete: “What I am going to do with my degree?”