SAGRA Conference Patrick Fish Kievits Kroon 30 November 2007

1. SAGRA Conference Patrick Fish Kievits Kroon 30 November 2007

2. Background • Phumzile Mlambo Ngcuka (Deputy Presidency & JIPSA) • Jerry Vilakazi (BUSA) • Half life of degrees, especially Hi Tech, nano and bio-technology • SABC • Unemployed graduates

3. Objectives & methodology of the ESS • Instrument Design • HESA • SAQA • SAGRA • SASCE • Social Surveys • Instrument Focus Areas • Organisation & respondent profile – 38% SAGRA • Graduate attributes in the workplace • Quality and standards in general • Feedback – 96% requested feedback • Baseline PILOT survey • Employers’ PERCEPTIONS - Quality of graduates produced by public higher education institutions - Focus: Undergraduates excluding post-graduates at the level of Master’s and PhD degrees (i.e. including Certificates, Diplomas, Degrees (incl. BTech, 4 year professional degrees & Honours))

4. Organisational Profile

5. Organisational Profile

6. Organisational Profile Note: Total % exceeds 100% as a result of multiple responses

7. Organisational Profile

8. Respondent Profile

9. Respondent Profile

10. Initial Top-Line Findings:Graduate Attributes in the Workplace • Basic skills & understanding • Knowledge & intellectual ability • Workplace skills & applied knowledge • Personal & interactive skills

11. Basic Skills & Understanding

12. Basic Skills & Understanding

13. Basic Skills & Understanding Gaps with communication and use of information

14. Principle Component Analysis • Average scores – One dimensional • Principle component analysis • Patterns of responses • Underlying driving forces • Component 1: • Proficiency in English • Written communication skills • Oral Presentation skills • Component 2: • Technical ability • Computer literacy • Component 3: • Prior exposure to work • Knowing the organisation • Component 4 • Ability to find and access information

15. Basic Skills & Understanding:Principle Components • Component 1: • Proficiency in English • Written communication skills • Oral Presentation skills • Component 2: • Technical ability • Computer literacy • Component 3: • Prior exposure to work • Knowing the organisation • Component 4 • Ability to find and access information Communication Functioning in a world of information and information technology Savvy about the world of work

16. Knowledge & Intellectual Ability

17. Knowledge & Intellectual Ability

18. Knowledge & Intellectual Ability Realities of the workplace

19. Knowledge & Intellectual Ability:Principle Components • Component 1: • Ability to follow and construct logical argument • Rapid conceptualization of issues • Component 2: • Understanding core principles • Component 3: • Subject/discipline knowledge • Component 4 • Interest in ideas and desire to continue learning Insight Knowledge Intellectual curiosity

20. Workplace Skills & Applied Knowledge

21. Workplace Skills & Applied Knowledge

22. Workplace Skills & Applied Knowledge Logic & Independence

23. Workplace Skills & Applied Knowledge Principle Components • Component 1: • Ability to deal with different cultural practices • Understanding of changing workplace practices • Component 2: • Ability to recognise a problem situation • Ability to choose appropriate information to address problems • An appropriate approach to problem-solving Understanding the current realities of change Logical systematic approach

24. Personal & Interactive Skills

25. Personal & Interactive Skills

26. Personal & Interactive Skills Openness & flexibility Networking Mediation/Negotiation

27. Personal & Interactive Skills:Principle Components • Component 1: • Sense of identity and self-confidence • Negotiation and mediation skills • Component 2: • Contribution to teambuilding and work • Ability to relate to wide range of people • Component 3: • Openness and flexibility Sense of self in relation to others Understanding realities of teamwork Open and flexible

28. Quality and Recruitment in General • Perceived important factors in assessing quality of graduates • Perceptions of public HEI’s in terms of: • Balance between knowledge and skills • Equipping graduates to adapt to change • Equipping graduates to contribute to social cohesion

29. What qualities employers want

30. Assessing quality: Principle Components • Component 1: • Attitude to work • Values and sensitiveness • Component 2: • Gender • Ethnic background • Component 3: • Reputation of HEI • Qualification type • Component 4: • Job-relevant specialist knowledge • Transferable skills Work ethic Organisational profile (BEE) Institution & qualification Knowledge, skills and capacity building potential

31. Balance and Ability of HEI’s to Equip Graduates • 4 year degree • WIL • Volunteerism • Fed back into curriculum • Inter-disciplinary modules

32. Some good news • Basic skills and understanding • Knowing the organisation • Knowledge & intellectual ability • General knowledge about local and global affairs • Interest in ideas and desire to continue learning • Workplace skills & applied knowledge • Ability to recognise a problem situation • Ability to deal with different cultural practices • Personal & interactive skills • Willingness to learn • Appreciation of different cultural contexts Towards global graduates?