Strong Careers Need a Degree
18 December 2004
This time of year is often a perplexing one for the many people
contemplating job or university education.
The research we have conducted at University of the Sunshine
Coast in recent months shows clearly that the reputation of USC is
soaring amongst prospective students. We consistently score highest
for 'make you feel like a person', 'offer you opportunity to study
overseas', 'more approachable lecturers', 'best lifestyle',
'location' and 'smaller tutorial groups'.
Yet despite these views, prospective students are also faced
with better job prospects on the Sunshine Coast than ever before.
Confronted with the choice between a part-time or casual job, and
perhaps another period of study, sometimes after a prolonged period
of school study, leads to a choice of the up-front money. In the
long-term this may not be the best choice and many subsequently
regret that they did not lay the foundations for life-long career
development.
In a context where the Sunshine Coast unemployment rate (over 9
per cent) is still higher than that for the State (around 5 per
cent), and where the average annual income is well below $30,000,
it was sobering to read the data from the Graduate Careers Council
of Australia this week. They annually track the employment patterns
of new graduates, and 112,000 were involved in the national survey
this year.
The data show clearly that graduates of universities enjoy an
enviable position in the labour market even at the start of their
careers, with the median starting salary of $38,000, and almost 80
per cent gaining full-time employment within four months of
completing their 2003 undergraduate courses.
This initial advantage continues throughout life, but
accelerates further beyond age 45 or so, when professional
qualifications really have an impact against an often dwindling
earning capacity of the under-qualified.
There are some medical, nursing and engineering areas that
consistently provide almost guaranteed employment opportunities.
There are others, like visual and performing arts, where there are
many fewer career opportunities opening up at present.
In many of the courses which are offered at USC, and to which
increasing numbers are attracted, there are often good career
opportunities, for example, in nursing, education, business
studies, accounting, economics, health, and computer science. The
list goes on, and the range of disciplines is annually increasing
at USC.
In addition to the study opportunities and the consequent career
advantages of a degree, the physical environment at USC will be
enhanced even further next year. All of the monies from the HECS
increases will go toward providing more facilities, more direct
support, and better infrastructure for students. There will be
enhancements in IT, reductions in some on-campus costs, more sports
and leisure facilities, and more opportunities to study
overseas.
Despite the strong economy and the temptations to take up a
full-time job, I would strongly advise students to consider
full-time study and part-time work as a better combination, tough
though it sometimes can be. There has never been a better, more
exciting array of opportunities at USC, and the long-term career
advantages of possessing a degree get greater each year.
Professor Paul Thomas is Vice-Chancellor of University of
the Sunshine Coast