(1875) MASTER'S DEGREES AND BACHELOR'S DEGREES: HOW TO INCREASE EMPLOYABILITY FOR FORMER STUDENTS

摘要

Adapting to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) due to the emergence of new degrees andmasters required an adjustment of the Spanish Higher Education System within this framework. Newdegrees and masters are designed to improve employability for new graduates. Employabilityoutcomes must be assessed by higher education institutions. Occupational Observatory - of thecareers service from Jaume I University (UJI) -has been carrying out various studies monitoring theschool-to-work transition of graduates from this university, focused in first cycle degrees so far. Inprevious articles we studied variables affecting employability for recent graduates in first cycle ofstudies. The main aim of this study is to extend the scope to new graduates and postgraduates,comparing differences in employability.The study was conducted on a sample of 1904 graduates and postgraduates from new adaptedstudies from UJI who finished between 2011 and 2013 (1 and 3 years in the job market). The sampleincludes 11 Bachelor's degrees and 42 Master's degrees. 62% are women (average age 34 yearsold).We compared demographic variables such as age, sex or parental status; careers serviceprogrammes (such as participation in internships and international placements embedded in thecurricula, and also voluntary, and in vocational guidance programs); and other mediating variables.The study also includes employability success variables such as time needed to get the first job,employment status or job matching. Results show that postgraduates have higher levels ofemployability than new bachelor's graduates and first cycle graduates. Further implications for careerguidance and masters and degrees planning are commented.