April 9, 2018
9 April 2018
Go8 to undertake first-in-Australia survey of PhD graduate outcomes and economic benefits
The Group of Eight (Go8), which comprises Australia’s leading research-intensive universities, has invited more than 20,000 of its PhD graduates to provide information on their career outcomes at three, eight and 15 years after degree completion.
This first-in-Australia survey will illustrate the enormous economic and societal contribution made to Australia, and globally, by quality Go8 PhDs. The three-year project, Understanding PhD Career Pathways, in which the Go8 has partnered with Australia’s Social Research Centre, also enables benchmarking with United States institutions through a corresponding survey being undertaken by the US Council of Graduate Schools.
Vicki Thomson, Chief Executive of the Go8, says the project is “exciting and long overdue. Thousands of Go8 PhD alumni – some as far back as 15 years after graduation – are being contacted to participate in the online survey, and I encourage them to please do so.
“Most graduate outcome surveys focus on employment outcomes only post-graduation,” she said. “They have not focused on careers over a 15-year span. Now we are drilling down into the detail of the many and varied careers of our PhD graduates, and how their training assisted their accomplishments, and what this has delivered for Australia.
“Being Australia’s leading research-intensive universities and graduating more than half of Australia’s PhDs each year, we are keen for the survey to display the Go8’s solid commitment to PhD engagement with industry,” said Ms Thomson.
The survey asks a wide range of questions such as:
- What have been the short, mid and longer-term employment and occupational outcomes of PhD graduates?
- What transitions have PhD graduates made in their careers?
- How satisfied are Go8 PhD graduates with their degree and the skills training needed for their career?
“This Go8 survey is a first step in establishing the long-term evidence base to ensure that Australia receives the best research talent for a 21st Century economy”, said Ms Thomson.
Further details on the survey are available at: https://www.srcentre.com.au/our-research/understanding-phd-career-pathways
Contact: Vicki Thomson Group of Eight Chief Executive on +61 438 047 155
