Australian Graduate Survey (AGS) - General Information
The Australian Graduate survey is an annual survey collecting information of the activities of university graduates who have recently completed their qualification. The survey questionnaire is designed by Graduate Careers Australia (GCA). The survey consists of two components, the Graduate Destination Survey (GDS) and the Course Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) for coursework graduates, or the Postgraduate Research Experience Questionnaire (PREQ) for higher degree by research graduates.
Aim of AGS
The aim of the GDS is to find out the activities of graduates around four months after they completed their program. Graduates are asked whether or not they are employed full-time or part-time at the time of the survey and, if so, their salary and main occupation. If they are not employed, they are asked if they are seeking employment, in further study, or are unavailable for either.
The CEQ/PREQ part of AGS asks graduates about their opinions of their course of study.
A copy of the GDS/CEQ and GDS/PREQ questionnaires for the 2009 survey are at AGS for Coursework Students and AGS for Higher Degree Research Students respectively.
Scope of the Survey
AGS covers all graduates who completed an undergraduate or postgraduate program at Macquarie University in the previous year. The 2009 survey covers all graduates in January to December 2008.
Schedule of the Survey
Macquarie graduates are surveyed around four months after course completion in two rounds in October and April for students graduated in January to June and in July to December respectively.
Questionnaires are sent to graduates close to relevant reference dates (for example, questionnaires were sent close to 31 October 2007 for graduates in January to June 2007 and close to 30 April 2008 for graduates in July to December 2007).
Follow up (e-mail and telephone) of non-respondents are conducted in mid-November to mid-January (October survey) or mid-May to mid-July (April survey).
Data entry and validation are done on a ongoing basis. The due date for submitting final data to GCA is the third week of September.
Initial tables are received from Graduate Careers Australia in late October for verification.
Media Release and release of final data by Graduate Careers Australia are done in mid-December.
Standard Survey Methodology (SRM, 2005-2007)
GCA's Survey Reference Group (SRG) has prepared a recommended standard methodology for AGS. The document outlines the procedures that institutions should follow in conducting the AGS with a view to ensuring consistency in survey methodology, procedures and form design and comparability of findings. Please click here to see The Standard Recommended Methodology.
Guidelines for Institutions (2008 Survey)
Following DEEWR's decision to use the AGS results in the Learning and Teaching Performance Fund (LTPF) allocation, GCA has issued new guidelines for institutions in conducting AGS in 2008. The purpose of the new guidelines is to remove as far as possible deviations in survey procedures between institutions to ensure that the results are collected on the same platform for a fair and equitable LTPF allocation. Click here to see the Institutional Guidelines released in August 2007.
Proposed New AGS Model (from 2009 survey)
For further standardisation of the survey methodology, in July 2008 Graduate Careers Australia (GCA) released a new model for the 2009 surveys. A national forum was conducted on 14 August 2008 to obtain feedback from institutions. A final proposal will be released soon. Please click here to see the draft new proposal.
AGS code of Practice
Universities Australia (formerly AVCC) and Graduate Careers Australia (GCA) have developed a Code of Practice that aims at ensuring that the GDS, CEQ and PREQ are conducted in a professional way in data integrity, confidentiality, privacy and result presentation. Please click here to see the Code of Practice.
AGS Manual
The AGS manual provides detailed information on conducting Australian Graduate Survey (AGS) including key points for the survey, main steps involved in the survey process, definition of survey population, recommended response rate (50% ) for publication of data, coding manual, data cleaning and submission. This manual is updated annually; the recent one is AGS 2009 Manual.
Usages of results from AGS
The AGS results provide useful job information for graduates and for potential undergraduate students to select their course of study.
Data from AGS provides useful references to career support services and improvement of learning experiences at Macquarie.
Good Universities Guide (GUG) uses the data in their national ratings of universities.
DEEWR uses the data in the Learning and Teaching Performance Fund (LTPF) allocation. Please see http://www.dest.gov.au/sectors/higher_education/policy_issues_reviews/key_issues/learning_teaching/ltpf/default.htm for details.
Please click here to see Macquarie's data for the Learning and Teaching Performance Fund (LTPF).
Reports
GCA publishes a number of reports on the national AGS data at http://www.graduatecareers.com.au/content/view/full/2994 and http://www.gradsonline.com.au/gradsonline/
Documentations
2009 Surveys (October 2008 and April 2009)
2008 Surveys (October 2007 and April 2008)
2007 Surveys (October 2006 and April 2007)
2006 Surveys (October 2005 and April 2006)
Further information on AGS at Macquarie
For more information contact Ms Chandrama Acharya on 02 9850 4790.