Professional Documents
Culture Documents
(Graduates of 2023)
August 2023
Hawassa
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Union college like to thanks ETA experts for assisting and inspiring us to prepare Tracer Study
Report timely and we would like to express our gratitude to graduates of 2023 of our college
who provided us all the required information for the completion of this report. This report is the
outcome of the collaborative effort of Union College.
We like to express our gratitude especially to Examination section, Research and community
service, and Union college members for providing suggestions during the time of preparing
Tracer Study Report. We thank to Programme in charge of Management, and Accounting &
Finance departments of UC who has collected Tracer Study forms from graduate students.
Co-ordinator
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This study traced the graduates of Union College of 2023. Descriptive survey method was used
to trace their status of employment, with the use of questionnaires. Data were analyzed of simple
percentages for significance of relationship. Illuminating were extrapolated and numbered. It
aimed to: ascertain the profile of graduates; determine a relationship between their present
occupation and the course they finished; and identify the cooperating industries/institution that
employed graduates. Union graduates were proven to proficient and competent to be employable
in the schools, banks, IT industries, business industries as revealed in the illuminating themes,
thus resulted in subsidy opportunities. Union mandate, as cascaded in its vision-mission,
prepared graduates for the field of work, with personality that matters compared than other
predetermined factors. Academic preparation and career performance exhibited signification of
successful employment.
QA -Quality Assurance
UC -Union College
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
Ethiopia as a developing country faces this same challenges having been beset for decades with
structurally high unemployment and underemployment rates. High population and labor force
growth continues to outpace formal job creation. Ethiopia’s education system churns out more
and more college graduates with various professional disciplines such as accounting & Finances,
management, Marketing, health, sciences, IT and other many fields of study. But the jobs are not
really created as fast as the colleges handing out of the graduates.
Tracer studies are commonly becoming a recognizable practice worldwide. Graduate tracer
studies involve identification and follow-up of graduates from higher education institutions
worldwide spurred by the need to give careful consideration to how graduates view their
experiences they underwent during their degree study and their transition to the job market. If
colleges are to improve their teaching and training of graduates the precedence should be to learn
and gather improvements from graduates’ work experiences. In this regard, Most Colleges
embraced the use of tracer studies for a plethora of reasons; especially to accredit their study
programmes; to explain the link between study programmes and the job market; to show
uniqueness and positioning of individual colleges.
Companies need highly skilled graduates in order to be competent. This implies that colleges
must shift their instructional competence to train students who are outcomes-based, so that they
can survive in the world of work relative on the respective careers they have chosen.
This report proposes to domesticate these universal approaches to graduate tracer studies with a
guide that will be most suitable and acceptable within Ethiopia’s context. Tracer survey results
are used at complex dichotomous platforms aroused by college needs such as improvement of
study conditions and programmes as fronted by college.
This graduate tracer study is mainly a survey intended to trace graduates from their school of
origin to their place of employment or self-employment. To obtain the needed information, the
questionnaires developed by the UGC were used which served as the data gathering instrument.
In this regard, first, this report presents methodological steps experienced during a recent
graduate tracer survey at UC. Second, the report presents select findings of thesurvey that we use
in this report to demonstrate how results obtained from graduate trace studies (GTS) can be
utilized for QA. Using selected results we argue that quality of education and services at UC can
improve through feedback obtaining from the immediate users of services (the graduate) about
study facilities, conditions and programs. Last, the report presents an outline of a graduate tracer
study methodological guide being developed for adoption and use among colleges in Ethiopia.
Graduate Tracer studies constitute an important tool for educational planners, as they can provide
valuable information for evaluating the results of the higher education and training institutions.
This information may be used for minimizing any possible deficits in a given educational
program in terms of content, delivery and relevance and for further development of the
institution in the context of quality assurance.
This report determined the employability and the status of employment of Union College
graduates programs, the academic years of 2023. It sought to answer these objectives to:
ascertain the profile of the graduates in terms of their obtained degrees; the graduates’
demographic background as regards to employment rate and status of graduates; categories of
the occupational groups that they perform; ways on how graduates find their present job; factors
that enabled them to get their first job; determine a relationship between their present occupation
and the course they finished; and identify the cooperating industries/academic institutions that
employed UC graduates.
This study work is planned and implemented by Tracer Study Research committee of UC. The
primary data was collected by P I of UC. EMIS unit, Examination Committee and all of the
concerned Departments. UC has provided enough time to the staff who is assigned to prepare
Tracer Study Report.
UC started to prepare Tracer Study Report only from 2023 graduates. The present Graduate
Tracer Study was launched by the Tracer study committee of UC in the 4th quarter of 2023. It
targeted a number of 98 graduates of Accounting & Finance and Management department
graduates of the year 2023.
A copy of the questionnaire was handed to all the graduates concerned, together with a covering
letter and a stamped addressed envelope for return, explaining the objectives of the study.
Follow-up letters were issued time to time to non-respondents. As a result, questionnaires were
given to those students who completed the bachelor degree level in the year 2023. They filled the
questionnaire and returned to the concerned departments.
A close supervision and guidance to selected Programmed in charges who were assigned to
gather and collect the obtained data.
Data Processing and Analysis
The data collected were edited, coded and inputted on an MS Database Access. Data analysis
was done in Excel. The analysis of the survey data took longer than expected, owing to
numerous attempts made during the process to improve the structure of reporting and enhance
the quality and level of analysis. The real students were contacted by phone for the further
clearance of the data. The quantitative data gathered from the questionnaire were subjected to
statistical analysis, with simple frequencies through the use of percentage in determining the
significance of the relationship.
Research Instrument
The gathering of data was conducted for two months, enough to encourage more respondent
participation. A questionnaire was patterned from the College standardized form and was
approved for adoption for use by the Office of the College, after that this has been piloted. The
questionnaire comprised the following itemized categories: (a) Personal Information; (b) Current
Employment Status (c) Further Study and (e) Others
The total number of the graduates in 2023 from two departments of UC was 98. The graduates
from Accounting & Finance were 36. The graduates from department of Management were 62.
Although the study population was 98, the institution could complete (reach out) only 91 out of
total number of students which makes 90.59 percentage of the total population.
The study was made upon the graduates of 2023 UC. It had following delimitations.
The study was conducted within a short period of time and limited budget.
The graduates were who couldn't be reached \contacted had been left out in this study.
Beside face to face interview, social media telegram and telephone contact\conversation were
the key tools of data collection.
The above table presents that out of total respondents 43.4 percent male are graduated whereas
56.6 percent female students are respondents from the college graduates in the year 2023.
The table 2 shows the greater the number of respondents in the Management and lowest in
Accounting & Finance.
Table 3: Current Status of Employment of Respondents
Table 3 shows that out of total respondents, 49.5 percent are found employed and 50.5 percent
are found unemployed.
Table 4 shows that most of the respondents were found to be enrolled in private job rather than
the government and very less in public sector.
The above table shows that out of total respondents, 87.3 percent are full time and 12.7 percent
are part time. This shows that most of the graduates are found as full time employees.
Table: 6 Major strengths and weaknesses of the institutional Program
(Give number from the range 0-5) Very high = 5 Does not apply = 0
Particulars Respondents in %
0 1 2 3 4 5
Relevance of the program to your - - 9.5 23.81 61.90 4.76
professional requirements
Support of Work placement/attachment/ - 4.76 9.52 28.57 47.62 9.52
internship
Teaching learning environment - - - 33.33 57.14 9.52
Testing/grading system / - 6.76 28.57 33.33 9.52 19.0
Share of practice oriented education - 4.76 52.38 33.33 9.52 -
Quality of education delivered - - - 28.57 47.62 23.81
Teacher student relationship - - - 23.81 28.57 47.62
Problem solving ability - 9.52 9.52 28.57 47.62 4.76
Equipment/ stocking of libraries, - - - 23.81 47.62 28.57
laboratories, classrooms
Based on the findings more than 65% of respondent graduates reported that their jobs are related
to the college courses they have taken in their respective programs.
40
30
20
10
0
0 1 2 3 4 5
Based on the respondent’s assessment, it could be reliably noted that their employment in their
jobs were guided by the degrees that they finished. Their current careers are still related to their
degrees and realignments have taken place. Most of the respondents were totally agreed with the
section quality education delivered and teacher student relationship as the strength of the
institution.
Based on the findings more than 76% of respondent graduates reported that testing and the
grading system are related to the college courses they have taken in their respective programs
needs improvements. Over 45% respondents told that, market linkages and Support of Work
placement/attachment/ internship was challenging,
Among 198 respondents, the highest numbers were fully satisfied with teaching learning
environment, library and lab etc. Further, the findings suggest in the problem solving ability
situations should be improved.
3. MAJOR FINDINGS
A less number of the respondents are currently employed while a more are unemployed. Based
on the responses, majority of the graduates are employed in the city. The greater edge of the
number of respondents in the Management and lowest respondents found in Acfn. The
employment rates among respondents were 43.4 % among which 87.3 % were engaged as full
time workers and 12.7 % were part time job. Much of the respondents were found to be enrolled
in private job rather than the public and government. More than 90 percent respondent’s rated
Enhanced academic knowledge as very good in this institution similarly problem solving ability
was rated fair. Among 198 respondents, the highest number was fully satisfied with teacher
Student Relationship, library and lab etc.
There is a gap after the completion of the study and getting the job and because most of the
respondents have no job while some were doing further study.
4. IMPLICATIONS TO INSTITUTIONAL REFORM
To use tracer studies as an aid to education/manpower policy making, graduates from all the
programs run by college. To encompass all the programs, a sample will need to be selected to be
precise, the question should be asked of what size of sample is necessary to reflect the market
demand for specific types of educated manpower.
Another issue in methodology is formulating questions. At the center of a tracer study is the
questionnaire. In designing questions it should be borne in mind that much of the resulting
analysis will be statistical and therefore the answers will need to be in a form whereby they can
be aggregated. Another important consideration in designing questions is to ensure that their
meaning is clear and unambiguous. There are some factors to take into account in the wording of
questions. All wording should be simple, direct and familiar. Each question should have a single
issue. The result of tracer studies can be useful to and fed into the work of departments,
particularly Afcn, and Management. There should be a permanent tracer study unit in college.
The advantage of setting up a permanent tracer study unit is that it can integrate information
from tracer studies to college planning purposes. The setting of a permanent tracer study could
develop a series of tracer studies right across to education/training system. To improve policy
decision on education and manpower, tracer studies need to be organized as part and parcel of
the activities of the institution and the information they generate should regularly be fed into the
policy-making process. To get up-to date information on the market performance of graduates
tracer studies should be made regularly.
To train more-people who will be in charge of the tracer studies. The person in charge should
have, as a minimum, practical experiences of survey work including coding and analyzing cross
tabulation.
The UC graduates were proven to proficient and competent to be employable in the government
and private organization, thus resulted in gain opportunities.
The UC command, as cascaded in its vision-mission, prepared graduates for the field of work,
with personality that matters compared than other predetermined factors. Academic preparation
and career performance exhibited signification of successful employment in different area.
(1) UC may strengthen its linkages in the field of education in identifying the skills and
competencies that students must learn in order to meet the manpower requirements,
(2) the methods employed in classroom activities and other venues must be geared towards
developing well-rounded personalities of students, associated with academic quality standards,
(3) the placement services may initiate more activities in enhancing the students’ capabilities and
readiness into job markets in order to facilitate better employability, and
(4) ongoing research should be initiated within the context of graduate follow-up.
APPENDICES:
5 Data presentation, analysis and report July 15 – Task team RCS office Table work,
writing august 15 Description,
Analytical and
Mathematical
Dear participant,
This survey is aimed at collecting information about your studies at Union College and your employment situation
after graduation in order to identify needs for improvement or change. Thus, we would like to ask you to complete
the following questions to reflect your opinion as accurately as possible.
Your responses are voluntary and will be confidential. Responses will be identified by individual. All responses will
be compiled together and analyzed as a group. Your response is highly appreciated and an important contribution to
the development of Ethiopian Higher Education to the Union College in particular.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION!
የተከበራችሁ ተሳታፊዎች
ይህ ጥናት የሚያተኩረው በኮሌጁ ወይም በተቋሙ ይሰጥ የነበረውን ትምህርት እንዲሁም ከምረቃ በኃላ ስላለው የስራ ሁኔታ
መረጃ ከተሰበሰበ በኃላ መቀየር ወይም መሻሻል ያለባቸውን ሁኔታዎች ለመመዘን ነው፡፡ ስለዚህ ያላችሁን ሀሳብ እና አስተያየት
ለማንጸባረቅ ይህን መጠይቅ እንድትሞሉ እንጠይቃለን፡፡ በፈቃደኝነት የተሰጠው መረጃ በሙሉ በሚስጥር የተጠበቀ ይሆናል፡፡
ሁሉንም ምላሽ በአንድ ላይ በማቀናጀት በህብረት ጥናት ይደረግበታል፡፡ የናንተም ምላሽ ለከፍተኛ ትምህርት በተለይም ለዩኒየን
ኮሌጅ እድገት እና መሻሻል ከፍተኛ አስተዋፅኦ ያደርጋል፡፡ ስትብብራችሁ በጣም እናመሰግናለን፡፡
1. From which department/study program did you graduate? ከየትኛው የትምህርት ክፍል ነው የተመረቅከው/ሽው
Regular/መደበኛ Extension/የማታ
3. What year (Ethiopian Calendar) did you graduate from this study program? በስንት ዓ.ም ነው የተመረቅከው/ሽው
E.C/ ዓ.ም
4. Which degree/level did you earn? በየትኛው የትምህርት ደረጃ (ማዕረግ) ነው የተመረቅከው/ሽው
BA Degree
Level 4
Level 3
Level 2
Level 1
5. What was your cumulative grade (CGPA) or result? አማካይ ውጤትህ/ሽ ስንት ነው
Grade/Result
6. Was this your preferred field of study?
Yes/ አዎ
No, please state what study program you would have liked to study/ please specify
7. How do you rate the study program & study conditions you experienced in the course of study that you graduated
from? /በተማርክበት/ሽበት ኮሌጅ ውስጥ የትምህርት አሰጣጥ እንዴት ትገመግመዋለህ/ሽ
8. To what extent were the following points emphasized by your lecturers during your studies?
A Theoretical Knowledge
B Problem-solving learning
C Research orientation
D Presentation skills
E Independent learning
F Group work
G Presence in classroom
H Tasks to gain work experience and internship
J Individual developmnet
I work / I am employed.
Please continue with question 12
I am doing an internship
11. How do you/did you look for jobs? (Multiple answers possible)
Months/
13. How many employers have you worked for (including self employment) since you have graduated from university?
Number of employers since graduation
Public advertisement
Yes
No, I do casual jobs/temporary work
I am self employed
Please continue with question 19
16. Do you have a second job?
Yes
No
Months
Government organization
Public enterprise / company / industry
Private enterprise / company
Non-profit organization / NGO
Other (please specify)
Please continue with question 20
19. Why did you start your own business?
20. What type of work do you do in your main job? What are the main tasks in your job?
21. Which is the area/sector of your main job? (including temporary job and self-employment)
Only me
Less than 6 employees
6-30 employees
More than 30 employees
23. What is your approximate monthly gross income from your current major occupation (ET Birr)?
2 1001-2000 Birr
3 2001 – 3000 Birr
4 3001 – 4000 Birr
5 4001 – 5000 Birr
6 5001 – 6000 Birr
7 6001 – 7000 Birr
8 7001 – 8000 Birr
9 More than 8000 Birr
10 I do not want to tell (do not read out)
24. Altogether, how satisfied are you with your current work?
Job satisfaction
26. If you marked question 25 with ‘1’ or ‘2’ ; If you consider your work as hardly / not linked to your education, why
did you take it up? (Multiple answer possible)
Teamwork ability
Project management
Research skills
Social skills
Intercultural skills
29. To what extent has your study program at the university been a good basis for ….
A Finding a job?
C
Potential/future career development?
31. To what extent has your former internship been a good basis for …
A Finding a job?
C
Potential/future career development?
32. Based on your work experience, is there anything you would like to change in the organization of your field of study?
33. What aspects during your studies at the college did you like most?
34. Gender
1 Female
2 Male
35. How old are you?
1 <20
2 21-25
3 26-30
4 31-35
5 >35
6. What region are you originally from? In what region do you work?
A B
Region of origin Current working
region
Addis Ababa
Afar
Amhara
Benishangul
Dire Dawa
Gambella
Harari
Oromia
Somali
SNNPR
Sidama
Tigray
Other
37. which is the highest educational level attained by your parents (father and mother)
Father Mother
Without education
Non-formal education
Primary school
High school
TVET
Higher education
Do not know