Students' expectations regarding employment in Malta

Abstract

This study aims to discover what students expect to achieve from going to University in terms of the aftermath of having a University education and most importantly to what extent will these achievements suffice graduates' expectations? The main reason for undertaking such a research project is to determine to what extent are graduate complaints concerning the underestimation of their true potential justifiable. However before doing so, graduates' expectations must be measures. This will be carried out through a survey handed out to a sample of University of Malta students coming from all faculties. The results portray the image of a graduate well aware that graduate supply is on the increase and that such shifts are not always matched by industry demands. Therefore over the years, graduate expectations even if they remain moderately high have abated in line with these new circumstances. Nonetheless graduates are still at an advantage compared to unskilled workers, and are bound to be more successful. However nowadays competition even among graduates is tough, and these will have to work hard and face a longer time lag before they are actually recognised as professionals, and start to reap the full benefits of a University Education.