Maritime Universities Prepare Students for Further Studies, Work

NOTE: A list of key findings follows this release.

Maritime universities meet most students' expectations and three-quarters of the Class of 2007 have plans for further studies within the next decade, says a survey.

The key findings, released today, Jan. 29, are found in the upcoming report Intentions of Maritime University Students Following Graduation: A Survey of the Class of 2007.

The survey, completed by students in the final weeks of a bachelor's degree last year, was designed to gather information on students' intentions, preparedness for further study and to gather information on trends and attitudes toward lifelong learning.

"These results show that student satisfaction with their university program is high," said Education Minister, Karen Casey. "Our institutions are giving students what they want to succeed, such as critical-thinking skills, in-depth knowledge and academic preparation."

The survey asked students how the institutions rated in meeting their expectations for acquiring skills such as critical thinking, gaining in-depth knowledge of their field of study and becoming prepared for further studies.

The survey was conducted through a partnership between New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission and the Canadian Council on Learning, and depended upon the co-operation of the region's universities. The Strategic Counsel, a third-party national market-research firm, conducted the research.

Paul Cappon, president and CEO of the Canadian Council on Learning, said, "The study shows that 60 per cent of students who indicated interest in pursuing further studies plan to take a master's degree. "The council is delighted to see the high level of commitment to ongoing learning."

Findings also showed that more than half of students destined for programs at the master's level said they planned to study outside the Maritimes, often because their program of interest was not available in the region or because of program reputation.

However, nearly three-quarters of students originally from the region, and one-quarter of those who came to study here, say they would like to eventually settle in the Maritimes.

"As we have seen in previous graduate surveys, academic program type has a significant influence on the path students take after graduation," said Mireille Duguay, CEO of the MPHEC. "In this study we found that liberal arts and sciences students are much more likely to plan to go back to school, and most popular among their reasons is that they believe it will help them get a job, or a better-paying job."

Ms. Duguay also noted that students in applied or professional programs were less likely to say they plan to pursue further studies in the near future, which is likely linked to their program's stronger focus on labour-market preparation.

The report also indicated that high student debt, $40,000 or more, may be a barrier for students to pursue further studies.

A minority of those surveyed, mainly those in liberal arts and sciences programs, expected more labour-force preparation.

In two years, the education commission plans to conduct a follow-up survey with the 2007 class to compare intentions to actual outcomes.

The Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission was established in 1974 to assist institutions and governments to enhance the post-secondary learning environment. The commission's 19 members are from the Maritime provinces and represent higher education institutions, provincial governments and the general public.

The Canadian Council on Learning is an independent, not-for-profit corporation funded through an agreement with Human Resources and Social Development Canada. Its mandate is to promote and support evidence-based decisions about learning throughout all stages of life, from early childhood through to the senior years.

Following are key findings from Intentions of Maritime University Students Following Graduation: A Survey of the Class of 2007:

• University programs meet most students' expectations.
• Seventy-six per cent of Maritime university students completing undergraduate degrees plan to return for further study. Eighty-seven per cent of liberal arts and sciences students plan to return, compared with 65 per cent of applied/professional students.
• Many liberal arts and sciences students who intend to pursue a second credential made the decision early on, 52 per cent during or before the first year of study.
• Sixty per cent of students plan to pursue a master's degree and many are attracted to master's programs outside the region.
• High debt (at least $40,000) reduces the likelihood that students plan to pursue further education.
• Student debt has increased 10 per cent in 2007 constant dollars, on average, between 2003 and 2007.
• Family educational background does not affect a student's intentions for further study.
• The proportion of students from families where at least one parent has a bachelor's degree or greater continues to increase.
• Seventy-three per cent of Maritimers, and about one-quarter of students from outside the region, would like to stay in the region to live and work.

NOTE: Survey results are accurate within plus or minus 1.4 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.