The results of the research on the employability of graduate students in Croatia were presented on Monday 3 December 2018 in Zagreb. The research was conducted by the Agency for Science and Higher Education (ASHE) in cooperation with the Faculty of Organization and Informatics of the University of Zagreb.
This is a national employment survey for students who graduated in the academic year 2015/2016. Through this research, by the example of other European countries, Croatia is introducing the practice of systematic gathering of data that is useful to higher education institutions, students, employers, policymakers and the general public. The results were presented by Dr. Katarina Pazur Anicic, Ph.D. and Dr. Diana Simic, Ph.D., from the Faculty of Organization and Informatics of the University of Zagreb and published in the publication titled “What after the diploma?”
The event was opened by the Director of ASHE Dr. Jasmina Havranek, Ph.D., who pointed out that youth employability today is undoubtedly the priority task of social and economic policies in Croatia and that systematic monitoring of employment is an important contribution to addressing the challenges facing Croatian society today.
The Minister of Science and Education Dr. Blazenka Divjak, Ph.D., emphasized the importance of supporting the relevant bodies with the aim of continuous monitoring of employability. She added that the data collected in this way can be a good starting point for decision making and planning in the higher education and economy sector.
As part of the presentation of the research results, a round table discussion was held on the topic of Systematic monitoring of employability in the connection of education and economics, where, along with researchers Dr. Katarina Pazur Anicic Ph.D., and Dr. Diana Simic Ph.D., also attended by experts from the field of higher education and representatives of employers and students: Dr. Ivan Rimac Ph.D. from the Faculty of Law of the University of Zagreb, Dr. Darko Huljenic from Ericsson Nikola Tesla d.d. and Ms. Jasminka Martinovic from the Croatian Employers Association, Ms. Kristina Aleric from the Croatian Employment Service, Ms. Vladimira Ivankovic Bradic from the Ministry of Labour and Pension System and Mr. Dominik Ivkosic, President of the Council of Students of Polytechnics and Colleges. The debate was moderated by Dr. Teo Matkovic Ph.D.
The event gathered more than a hundred participants: representatives of the Ministry of Science and Education, the Ministry of Labour and Pension System, the Ministry of the Economy, the Central Bureau of Statistics, the Croatian Employment Service, representatives of higher education institutions, businessmen and students.
Research Conclusions:
• In the research, there were 7201 student participants that graduated in the academic year 2015/2016
• 48.4% of respondents completed undergraduate and 51.3% competed graduate studies.
• 46.2% of respondents within the study program did not have mandatory professional practice
• Six months after graduation, 78% of the students were employed
• One year after graduation, 85.6% of the students were employed
• The largest number of respondents (34.1%) were employed to the extent of vocational training for work, without establishing an employment contract
• 56% of respondents found their first job in the private sector
• 78.2% of respondents found employment in their profession
• unemployed students state that the main reason for their unemployment is the insufficient job offerings in their profession
• the most common (25%) strategy of finding first employment is through the Croatian Employment Service, while 18.6% respondents contacted the employers independently
• respondents rated their first job with an average score of 3.72
• the highest number of respondents (46.4%) have a salary between 3500 and 5000 Croatian Kuna
• a large number of respondents did not have the opportunity to use student support services and career development services at higher education institutions
