Study: Over 60 percent of graduates stay in Saxony

Graduates from Saxon universities like to stay in Saxony after their studies and take a job there. This is one of the findings of the 4th Graduate Study in the Free State, presented by Science Minister Sebastian Gemkow (CDU) in Dresden. "The long-term study confirms that our universities are training the skilled workers that Saxony urgently needs. The so-called glue effect is working."

According to the study, more than 80 percent of young graduates from Saxony start their professional career in the Free State and rate their studies here extremely positively. However, a large number of graduates who come to Saxony from other regions to study (44 percent) also stay here for a job. Overall, more than 60 percent take up their first job in Saxony.

Good marks for study and examination organization

In the current survey, the participants rated the study organization, teaching, examination organization, spatial and technical equipment and social climate even higher than the previous cohorts, it was reported. As in the last survey, the organization of studies and examinations received the highest marks. Positive assessments also increased significantly for the range of courses and facilities. Only in terms of teaching competence and supervision was the increase not sustained, the organizers announced.

94 percent would study in Saxony again

The proportion of those who would study in Saxony again was 94 percent. More than 56 percent of respondents stated that they would choose the same subject at the same university again today. In terms of subject groups, the figures are highest in the teaching profession and engineering sciences at just over 60 percent.

Another result of the study: the employment rate rises quickly to a high level after graduation and then continues to grow. For graduates with a master's, diploma or state examination in 2019/20, the rate was 47 percent immediately after graduation and 84 percent 36 months after graduation.

The study was funded by the Saxon Ministry of Science and carried out by the Center for Quality Analysis - Competence Center for Education and Higher Education Research at the Technical University of Dresden. It covered several graduate cohorts from all Saxon state universities and colleges as well as, for the first time, art colleges.

Around 15,000 questionnaires were evaluated for the study. Around 8,000 graduates from the 2019/2020 examination year were surveyed for the first time, as well as follow-up surveys from earlier years. The study was conducted for the fourth time after 2009, 2013 and 2018.