An industry review of recent graduate employee’s performance compared to workplace expectations: An environmental science case study

This study developed and tested a model of higher education environmental science program review through industry-wide surveys of environmental science graduate employers. We surveyed 62 environmental professionals who manage recent environmental science graduate employees in eastern Australia. The survey captured expectations of graduates’ skill performance compared to workplace expectations in the first 6 months of employment in both degree-specific skills and general employment skills. Graduate employee skill importance was ranked significantly higher than their actual performance in degree-specific skills including field work, formal correspondence, policy development, data analysis/interpretation, and understanding environmental legislation. Performance was also significantly lower than expectations of generic employment skills including foundation, collaborative, and employability skills. Work placement within undergraduate programs was reported as being pivotal in efficiently preparing graduates, although workplace time limitations hinder participation. This study provides new evidence for universities to adopt work placement or other work integrated learning as a core program component, embed skill awareness and skill portfolio development in curricula, and periodically undertake industry review of graduate employee performance compared to workplace expectations. The new model presented here, of higher education program review, incorporating both graduate employee performance and employer expectations, will assist universities continuing relevancy in a dynamic employment market.