The data in this section is unweighted. The following analysis looks solely at graduates of programmes of:

1) Early years education and care: These graduates are further grouped into two categories, reflecting the level of degree completed by the graduate – (i) Honours Degree graduates and (ii) Ordinary Degree, Higher Certificate & Higher Diploma.

2) Teacher education: These graduates are further grouped into two categories, reflecting the type of teacher education studied by the graduate – (i) Primary and (ii) Post-Primary.

 

Overview of Graduate Population

• Early Years: 1,183 graduates (99% female)
• Primary Teacher: 1,052 graduates (79% female)
• Post-Primary Teacher: 1,357 graduates (60% female)

 

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Main Graduate Destination

8.1 Main Graduate Destination

Early Years: Nine months after graduation, two-thirds (69%) of graduates were in employment.

Teacher Education: For Post-Primary graduates, 89% were in employment, while 96% of Primary graduates were in employment nine months after graduation.

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Employment Outcomes

This section relates only to graduates who are considered “In Employment”, as defined below. Thus, all figures reflect only the cohort of graduates defined as “In Employment”.

In Employment: Graduates are considered to be employed 9 months after graduation if they are working full-time, working part-time or due to start a job in the next 3 months.

 

8.2 Employed Graduates: Province of Origin & Employment

Early Years: More than half (58%) were in employment in Leinster nine months after graduation. However, there was no large shift from one province to another. Most graduates stayed in the same province for employment.

Teacher Education: For Post-Primary graduates from Ulster, 48% were in employment in Leinster, while 48% remained in Ulster. For Primary, the majority (87%) of Connaught graduates moved to Leinster for employment. Similarly, 77% of Ulster graduates moved to Leinster for employment.

8.3 Employed Graduates: Salary

Early Years:

For Honours Degree graduates, 94% were employees, while 6% were self-employed or starting their own business. Two-thirds (65%) were on permanent or open-ended contracts, and a further 18% were on fixed term contracts lasting 12 months or longer. For Ordinary Degree, Higher Certificate & Higher Diploma graduates, 76% were employees, while 24% were self-employed or starting their own business. However, these graduates were more likely to be on permanent or open-ended contracts (79%).

One-third (35%) of Early Years Honours Degree graduates earned between €20,000 – €24,999. This was 19% for Ordinary Degree, Higher Certificate & Higher Diploma graduates.

Teacher Education:

All Primary graduates indicated that they were employees. Nine months after graduation, 37% were on fixed term contracts lasting 12 months or longer. Another 37% were on temporary contracts (includes substitute teaching). One in three (32%) earned between €30,000 – €34,999.

For Post-Primary graduates, two-fifths (43%) were on fixed term contracts lasting 12 months or longer, while one-fifth (23%) were on temporary contracts (includes substitute teaching). Half of graduates earned €30,000 – €34,999.

 

8.4 Employed Graduates: Placement/Work Experience

Early Years: Overall, 89% of Honours Degree graduates completed work placements, while 72% of Ordinary Degree, Higher Certificate & Higher Diploma graduates completed work placements. Two-fifths (39%) of work placements completed by Honours Degree graduates were more than 6 weeks but less than 4 months long. Only 14% were 6 weeks or less. However, for Ordinary Degree, Higher Certificate & Higher Diploma graduates, more than half (52%) were 6 weeks or less.

Teacher Education: Most Post-Primary (95%) and Primary (94%) completed work placements. Amongst Post-Primary graduates who completed work placements, 59% were more than 6 months long. For Primary graduates, 36% completed work placements between 4 and 6 months long, and 28% were more than 6 weeks but less than 4 months. Only 22% were more than 6 months long.

8.5 Employed Graduates: Relevance of Area and Level of Qualification

Early Years: In total, 85% considered their area of study Very Relevant or Relevant to their job. Similarly, 80% considered their level of study Very Relevant or Relevant to their job.

Teacher Education: In total, 82% considered their area and level of study Very Relevant or Relevant to their job.

8.6 Employed Graduates: Need for Qualification

Early Years: In total, 65% of graduates considered their qualification a formal requirement or advantageous in attaining their job. For Honours Degree graduates, 71% of graduates had this view. This was slightly lower for Ordinary Degree, Higher Certificate & Higher Diploma graduates, at 53%.

 

Teacher Education: Only 2% of graduates did not consider their qualification a requirement for their job.

8.7 Employed Graduates: Source of Job

Early Years: One in three (30%) graduates found their job from already working there (this includes previous work placements or internships). One in five sourced their job through personal contacts.

 

Teacher: The most common source of job was recruitment sites (42%), followed by personal contacts (14%) and having already worked there (14%).

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Graduate Reflections

This section relates to ALL Education Graduates surveyed.

8.8 Graduate Reflections: Study Same Area/Qualification

Early Years: Most (84%) would study the same area again. Similarly, 80% would study the same qualification again.

Teacher Education: Most (90%) would study the same area again. Similarly, 88% would study the same qualification again.