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Futuretrack: stage 2 and beyond (Autumn 08)

Summary

In this article, Futuretrack manager, Dafydd Singleton, explores some of the findings from the second stage of the Futuretrack survey including student feedback on standards of course work, management of finance and working while studying.

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Introduction

In GMT’s summer edition, Kate Purcell revealed some of the key stage 1 findings of Futuretrack - a major longitudinal research programme that’s examining the relationship between higher education, career decision-making and labour market trends.

Futuretrack key facts:
Longtitudinal mixed-method study
Follows the career decision-making of the cohort of 2006 UCAS applicants
Respondents followed from 2006 UCAS application, through university (or other experiences) until 2012.
The study is conducted in four stages via an online survey
277 of the 295 universities and colleges in the UK have Futuretrackers
An independent study funded completely by HECSU. Research conducted by Professor Kate Purcell at the Warwick Institute for Employment Research

Respondents were emailed in September 2007 and asked to complete stage 2 online. The survey closed in January 2008 with over 50,000 useable responses.

Some of the key themes explored were:

  • type of higher education institution, accommodation and travel
  • the experience of being a student
  • the impact of taking a gap year, changing course or entering employment
  • current career aspirations
  • use of careers services
  • finance and debt
  • obstacles encountered and access to opportunities.

Stage 2 data are currently being checked and merged with responses from Stage 1. Results from the full analysis will be available in early 2009. There are, however, some preliminary findings from those students who completed both Futuretrack questionnaires.

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Standard of work

"It’s good fun….but there’s a lot of pressure on you. I’ve got ten assignments to do at the moment! It’s a lot harder than I imagined it to be"

Spencer Armitage, 2nd year Futuretracker

The majority of those enrolled in a higher education course reported that the standard of work required was about the same as they had expected. However, around a quarter stated that it had been higher.

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Finance

“It’s horrible and I feel completely overwhelmed! My debt level is looking like £14,000 at the moment and it will go higher. I spend £6,000 a year on accommodation and tuition fees. What happens if I fail? How will I pay it all back?!"

Spencer Armitage, 2nd year Futuretracker

Just over half of the respondents were anticipating debts of over £15,000 after the end of their HE course. Encouragingly, 7 out of 10 these respondents agreed that they managed their finances well last session.

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Working during study

Around two-thirds of the respondents undertook paid work during their first year of study. A third of these worked during vacations and term-time. Just under a third did voluntary work.

Futuretrack Stage 2 will reveal how they got their jobs, why they worked and how they spent their earnings. It will also examine how they funded their studies more broadly and their expectations and attitudes towards debt.

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Retaining the Futuretrackers

With stage 2 closed – and stage 3 planned for early 2009 – the main challenge facing Futuretrack is survey attrition. The website www.futuretrack.ac.uk has been developed to keep students engaged with the project. Containing news, results, student profiles and an interactive members’ section, the website is a vital communications tool in-between questionnaires.

The students can even get involved with the data themselves. ‘People Like Me’ is a searchable database of stage 1 results which allows users to compare people like themselves (by sex, age and subject studied) against other groups.

As stage 3 approaches, we will use the website and contacts with the National Union of Students and university careers services to publicise Futuretrack and encourage students to fill in the questionnaire. If you’d like to know more about this – or the project in general – email d.singleton@prospects.ac.uk