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Australian postgraduate student experiences and anticipated employability: a national study from the students’ perspective
Citation
Cook, EJ and Crane, L and Kinash, S and Bannatyne, A and Crawford, J and Hamlin, G and Judd, M-M and Kelder, J-A and Partridge, H and Richardson, S, Australian postgraduate student experiences and anticipated employability: a national study from the students' perspective, The Journal of Teaching and Learning for Graduate Employability, 12, (2) pp. 148-168. ISSN 1838-3815 (2021) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright 2021 The Journal of Teaching and Learning for Graduate Employability. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)
DOI: doi:10.21153/jtlge2021vol12no2art1030
Abstract
Postgraduate students are navigating a rapidly evolving landscape for their future careers. In this
context, higher education providers are responsible for supporting and monitoring postgraduate
(masters and doctoral) students’ development for both education and employability contexts.
This empirical research provides a rich analysis of feedback breakfasts, focus groups and
interviews with 319 postgraduate student participants from 26 universities. Emergent themes
highlight widespread lack of confidence in university-mediated student experiences, particularly
in the context of employability, and pessimism regarding career outcomes. Students expressed a
view that higher education providers need to direct further attention and relevant supports
toward postgraduate education. Future career despondency was particularly prevalent among
students with academic aspirations. The findings are discussed using the theoretical framework of
eudemonia and flourishing as an approach to revitalising and improving both the process and
outcomes of postgraduate education. The paper concludes with practical recommendations for
universities to improve the postgraduate student experience in the context of employability.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | graduate employability, employability, student experience, student wellbeing, higher education, graduate outcomes |
| Research Division: | Education |
| Research Group: | Education systems |
| Research Field: | Higher education |
| Objective Division: | Education and Training |
| Objective Group: | Learner and learning |
| Objective Field: | Higher education |
| UTAS Author: | Crawford, J (Dr Joseph Crawford) |
| UTAS Author: | Kelder, J-A (Dr Jo-Anne Kelder) |
| ID Code: | 144785 |
| Year Published: | 2021 |
| Deposited By: | Curriculum and Academic Development |
| Deposited On: | 2021-06-09 |
| Last Modified: | 2021-10-27 |
| Downloads: | 3 View Download Statistics |
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