the briefing room

University graduates can find jobs twice as fast as individuals with no degrees, observes a new report that analyzes education data from 37 systems in Europe. The report highlights trends across the elementary, secondary, and post-secondary sector, such as the growing autonomy of education systems throughout the continent from direct government oversight. Although more Europeans now have university degrees, the report states that one in 5 graduates appear to be overqualified for their jobs. The report notes that a rising number of nations have implemented tuition fees for students, but says that simultaneous introduction of student aid and other support programs has softened the effects of the new charges. As a result, grants and loans for students “are a major strand of public expenditure on education and account for more than 16.7%,” the report says. The Chronicle of Higher Education (free access) | Read the report (Academicagroup)

Anew Conference Board of Canada report observes that communities in northern Canada often lag behind the south with respect to educational outcomes, but they are leaders in developing innovative ways to improve educational programming and delivery. The report shows that initiatives such as a learner-centred approach incorporating technology to deliver curriculum, schools acting as community hubs, on the land programs, and partnerships between northern and southern institutions are having a positive impact on educational outcomes. The report recommends additional support for career preparation programs, adult learning centres, and educational bridging programs that would encourage northern youth to pursue higher education. Conference Board News Release (Academicagroup)

Irrespective of their income status, parents who lack a higher education are not likely to see their children pursue post-secondary studies, observes a University of Saskatchewan report that examined the accessibility of a university education in Canada and Saskatchewan. Much of the conversation about PSE accessibility has focused on tuition rates and other costs, but the report notes that non-financial barriers are key to understanding why some youth choose not to pursue PSE. Despite continuing increases in tuition and other education-related expenses, the overall cost incurred by the average student remains relatively unchanged as a result of increased tax credits, scholarships, bursaries, and other government initiatives, states the report. The study notes that while the financial-aid system is an important aspect of accessibility, there must be a focus on the 10- to 15-year-olds who demonstrate an academic aptitude and who do not come from a culture of PSE. uSask News Release | Accessibility and Affordability Report 2011 (Academicagroup)

College graduates who showed paltry gains in critical thinking and little academic engagement while in college have a harder time than their more accomplished peers as they start their careers, according to a report released today.

The report, “Documenting Uncertain Times: Postgraduate Transitions of the Academically Adrift Cohort,” follows up on the highly influential and controversial book Academically Adrift, which was published one year ago. The report is being released at the annual meeting of the Association of American Colleges and Universities, and it expands upon many of the themes that the book explored by following a subset of students from the book into early adulthood.

Like the book, the new study was written by Richard Arum, professor of sociology and education at New York University, and Josipa Roksa, assistant professor of sociology at the University of Virginia. They were joined by Esther Cho, program coordinator at the Social Science Research Council, and Jeannie Kim, a doctoral candidate in sociology at NYU.

In the spring of 2011, the authors surveyed more than 900 of the students that they studied in Academically Adrift to learn about their progress since graduation: whether they were employed, enrolled in graduate school, what their living arrangements were, and how civically engaged they were.

It has proven to be difficult for researchers to link data on students’ academic performance to what happens to them when they enter the labor market, said Mr. Arum. The results that he and his colleagues found were so arresting, he said, that they chose to release them earlier than the follow-up book that they are planning to publish in the next year or two… Read More

Also see: Inside Higher Ed

According to a new report from the Institute of International Education, over 43,000 American students are enrolled in academic degree programs outside of the US. Of those students, 44% are enrolled in master’s degree programs, 39% in undergraduate degree programs, and 17% in doctoral degree programs. According to the report, the top fields for degree by study by American students abroad are the humanities, social sciences, and business and management. Field preferences vary depending on level of study and host nation, the report states. The top 3 destination countries are the UK, Canada, and Germany. IIE News Release | Read the report (Academicagroup)

College and university students graduating next year will face the same stagnant hiring conditions 2011 graduates faced, the Canadian Association of Career Educators and Employers noted in a recent report. Most of the job-providing organizations surveyed have no plans to increase hiring in the coming months. What’s more, students might find it harder to connect with potential employers as on-campus recruitment activity is being reduced for a third straight year. The report, however, says many organizations are turning to social networks as a substitute for on-campus recruitment. On the bright side, the report said grads who find work will get starting salaries 10% higher, on average, than the previous year. That’s because some industries, such as telecommunications and mining, are struggling to find people with the right skill sets, it said.

(Source: financialpost.com)

Despite higher education levels, Canadian immigrants face higher unemployment rates and lower incomes than domestic-born workers, according to a new report from RBC Economics. The report estimates that the potential increased incomes for immigrants if observable skills were rewarded similarly to domestic-born workers is $30.7 billion, or 2.1% of GDP in 2006. The findings suggest that gaps may result from both genuine skill differences between immigrants and Canadian-born workers and labour market inefficiencies that hinder immigrants from making full use of their skills. The report says there could be room to improve immigrant outcomes through more extensive language training and faster credential recognition. RBC News Release | Read the report (Academicagroup)

Developed by the Calgary-based Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, the 2011 Campus Freedom Index measures the commitment of 18 Canadian public universities, as well as their student unions, to uphold the right of students to express their beliefs, opinions, and philosophy on campus in a peaceful manner. The index assigns rankings in 4 categories: university policies and principles; university actions and practices; student union policies and principles; and student union actions and practices. In the 2 university categories, SFU, UWO, uToronto, uManitoba, MUN, and uSask were ranked as the best, while Dal, Queen’s, uOttawa, uCalgary, and Carleton were listed as the worst. In the 2 student union categories, the student unions at SFU, UBC, uManitoba, and uToronto were listed as the best, while those as uOttawa, uCalgary, Carleton, MUN, and Lakehead were ranked as the worst. 2011 Campus Freedom Index | Report (Academicagroup)

A paper published by the Canadian Bureau for International Education explores Canadian PSE institutions’ efforts to recruit international students and brand Canadian PSE internationally. While the report welcomes a more coordinated brand, it cautions against an over-reliance on international students. The paper argues that government funding should increase, and that institutions should make investments that enhance the student experience, including the academic experience, rather than superficial additions geared toward increasing rankings. The report also urges institutions to encourage Canadian study abroad, as Canadian students are effective brand ambassadors. Read the report (Academicagroup)

Institutional context, culture, and mission cannot be overlooked in the organizational structure for student affairs and services (SAS) divisions, concludes a new Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario report. Many SAS staff interviewed said faculty do not comprehend the role of their program or initiative in fostering student success. The report states that by engaging in town hall style meetings and other collaborative efforts, many schools have started to open communication, promote partnerships, and encourage innovation between staff and faculty. Students are also an important partner in delivering effective SAS programs, the report finds. Institutions that seek student input and volunteers to help create and implement programming seem to benefit greatly through positive relationships and increased participation in leadership and mentoring programs. The need for SAS programs continues to grow as student demographics shift, and government funding is often available to provide assistance. However, the report notes it is critical that any program driven by government investment is integrated into an institution’s whole vision, particularly for one-time or short-term funding. Research Summary | Full Report (Academciagroup)

In a new report, the Toronto-based Institute for Competitiveness & Prosperity highlights the importance of education for Ontarians and Ontario’s overall economic performance, especially during the economic downturn. While Ontario leads the US in bachelor and professional degree attainment, the rate of master’s degrees per capita in the US is nearly double that of Ontario. In order to improve the competitiveness of Ontario’s workforce, the report urges the provincial government to continue to invest in PSE, improve access for low-income students, and encourage students to increase their qualifications. Institute for Competitiveness & Prosperity News Release | Read the report (Academicagroup)