Progress in innovative teaching and support in development of future-proof skills, survey finds
The Eurograduate 2022 survey confirms the key relevance of higher education for European labour markets and for developing competitiveness in Europe through future-proof skills.
The findings show that higher education institutions are increasingly using more innovative teaching and learning methods that are useful for developing skills that are in high demand by employers.
The 2022 edition gathers data from over 170 000 recent graduates in 18 European countries. The survey covers the graduation years of 2017 and 2021, so including students who graduated during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Findings
Graduate employment rates
Around 90% of graduates are employed 5 years after graduation, indicating a strong connection between higher education and the labour market.
Alignment of education and employment
Around 66% of graduates have jobs matching their education level and field of study. This suggests that higher education institutions are doing a good job of preparing students for the workforce.
Innovative teaching methods
There is a shift towards more innovative teaching methods, such as problem-based learning, which helps develop a wider range of skills in students.
Highly positive prospects for STEM graduates
Graduates in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), especially in informatics (ICT) and engineering, enjoy the best salaries and highest job satisfaction. They are among the top fields regarding low risk of unemployment and good match with their education, together with graduates in health and education.
Sustainability in education
Environmental sustainability is increasingly included in curricula. Graduates show high awareness of climate change, with over 70% agreeing that it is mainly human-driven.
Access the Eurograduate survey
Publications
Next steps
The next Eurograduate survey will take place in 2026 and build on the findings of the 2022 edition. Its aim will be to contribute to establishing more robust and comparable graduate tracking systems across Europe.
Publication of the next Eurograduate survey results is expected for 2027.
Together with the European Network on Graduate Tracking and the European Higher Education Sector Observatory, these resources will consolidate progress and integrate efforts at the European level.
Progress towards the Union of Skills
The Eurograduate 2022 survey results contribute significantly to the European Union’s upcoming ambition to establish the Union of Skills, enhancing the European Education Area.
The survey's findings demonstrate the current progress towards creating a European workforce that is more skilled, competitive, and ready to meet the demands of the 21st century labour market.
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