Creative Graduates – Creative Futures

Creative Graduates, Creative Futures

This is the largest-ever study of the career patterns of graduates from UK courses in art, design, craft and media.

The study explores graduates’ experiences of higher education, their activities since graduating, the work they are currently engaged in, and their plans for the future.

First stage of the research: questionnaire survey

In September 2008 we launched a survey of the career patterns of 26,000 UK, EU and international graduates in art, design, craft and media practice-based first degrees and foundation degrees who had graduated from the 26 partner institutions in 2002, 2003 and 2004.

When we closed the survey in December 2008, almost 3,500 graduates had completed the survey (14% response rate) and we are now analysing their responses.

We promised to provide a glimpse of some of the emerging findings as soon as possible, and these are available now. Please bear in mind that more detailed analysis is being done over the coming months and the full research report for the questionnaire survey will be published later in 2009 with a launch event planned for early 2010.

Prize draw

Daniel Hooten, winner of the prize draw

Each graduate taking part in the survey had the opportunity to enter into a prize draw to win the top prize of £1,000 in high street vouchers or 20 runner up prizes of £100 also in high street vouchers. The draw took place after the survey closed in December 2008, and the winners have been contacted and have received their prizes.

Donations to charity

For every completed survey, 50p was donated to one of three charities, and respondents could choose which charity their 50p went to.

What’s next?

The project team is undertaking more detailed analysis of the responses to examine issues such as: graduates suggestions for what else they would like to have experienced on their courses; the relationship of work experience or placement to career trajectory; the diversity of occupations, particularly those seemingly unrelated to subject of study; regional graduate retention and mobility; the experiences of different subject and ethnic groups and how those with a disability have fared.

Second stage of the research: Email survey and depth interviews

In the summer of 2009, to complete our study, we will be approaching over 2000 graduates who agreed to be contacted again. We hope to gain further insights and more detailed personal responses about the complexities of career transition and progression, for example: what graduates value from their creative education; the complexities of career progression and the extent to which they create opportunities for themselves; issues relating to professional and practice development; and how graduates support themselves through different income streams including success with awards and other sources of finance. This is timely, because we will learn more about how graduates’ circumstances have changed since last autumn, giving us a picture of how they are faring in the economic downturn.

Qualitative research through structured telephone interviews with 30-50 respondents will give further insights by gathering narratives relating to graduates’ experiences during the transition from higher education and emerging careers paths, the values and lifestyles that influence their choices, and how they are applying their creativity in different settings within and outside the creative industries – contributing to typologies for career development for creative graduates.

Further details


 

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