What is the survey about?
The Ministry of Colleges and Universities has procured a survey vendor, currently Forum Research Inc., to conduct an annual Ontario College Graduate Outcomes and Employer Satisfaction Survey (the Survey) since 1998-99. The survey has two components – the Graduate Outcomes Survey and the Employer Satisfaction Survey.
The Graduate Outcomes Survey asks recent graduates from all 24 publicly assisted colleges, including Centennial College, to provide feedback on education and professional outcomes six months after graduation. In particular, graduates are surveyed about their labour market experience, employment status and their satisfaction with their college programs.
The Employer Satisfaction Survey asks employers of recent graduates how well they think graduates’ studies prepared them for the workforce. It is not an evaluation of graduates’ job performance. Instead, the survey is intended to understand the level of importance employers assigned to each vocational and generic skill. This allows Ontario’s publicly assisted colleges to better prepare current and prospect students with the knowledge and skills they need to get a job.
The Ministry of Colleges and Universities uses the survey data to calculate three Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). KPIs are used to measure college performance against the ministry’s stated goals and objectives for the college sector in a consistent manner across the college system. The three KPIs are:
- Graduate Employment Rate
- Graduate Satisfaction Rate; and
- Employer Satisfaction Rate.
Who can answer the survey?
Graduates who have completed their programs at least 6 months before the survey is out. With Centennial graduates’ consent, employers who have welcomed Centennial graduates to their teams are also surveyed.
How to answer to the survey?
This is an online survey carried out in both English and French. The survey vendor, currently Forum Research, contacts Centennial students by email from gradsurvey@forumresearch.com. The survey is carried out in both English and French.
For graduates who don’t respond to the online survey, the survey service provider will also attempt to contact you by telephone. An attempt is made to contact every graduate, even if they are residing out of the province.
With a Centennial graduate’s consent, an attempt is made to contact the graduate’s employer.
Completing the survey is voluntary, and graduates receive a $5 gift card upon survey completion.
When does it happen?
The survey cycle begins with graduates of the summer term. There are three survey windows per year, each at approximately six months after the end of a term. However, the survey period may be longer than that.
For how long is the survey available?
The Graduate Outcomes Survey is usually in the field for 8 weeks and the Employer Satisfaction Survey is in the field for an additional 4 weeks, for each term.