3 Mar 2016
Graduates of Singapore Management University’s undergraduate university programmes have once again achieved the highest employment rates and highest incomes compared to those of their peers from Singapore’s other autonomous universities, the latest joint survey shows.
The results were revealed in an annual Joint Graduate Employment Survey (GES) conducted by Singapore’s five autonomous universities, namely Nanyang Technological University, National University of Singapore, Singapore Management University, Singapore Institute of Technology, and the Singapore University of Technology and Design.
A total of 1,248 participants of the 1,638 SMU alumni who graduated in 2015 took part in the survey. It revealed that 93.7 per cent of SMU’s grads from the 2015 cohort were employed within six months after completing their final examinations, with two out of three being offered jobs from before graduation.
The average gross monthly salary of SMU graduates in full-time employment is a record $3,624, since SMU graduated its pioneer cohort in 2004. This is an increase over the previous year’s salary of $3,592.
SMU Provost, Professor Lily Kong said, “Once again, the consistently strong survey results is a testament to SMU’s rigorous multi-disciplinary programmes which equip our students with a total skill-set, consisting of hard knowledge skills, soft people skills and ‘heart’ skills. Our holistic educational experience not only offers a distinctive interactive pedagogy but also opportunities for global exposure and community service to help them grow and become confident, articulate and well-rounded individuals and leaders.”
“This transformative experience is impactful as evidently shown in this year’s survey which revealed that close to nine in ten of our students felt that they have undergone a significant growth as a result of their time at SMU, and some of whom believe they have had a complete transformative experience,” she added.
Recognising the importance and value of having real-world and career-relevant work experience for its students, SMU is the first university in Singapore to make internships compulsory for all undergraduate students. Students are provided opportunities through the Dato’ Kho Hui Meng Career Centre (DKHMCC) which works closely with industry to ensure successful placement of students in internships and jobs.
DKHMCC Director Sim Cher Young said, “It is critical for SMU to help graduates be business-ready, both in terms of equipping them with cognitive and non-cognitive skills so that graduates hit the ground running as soon as they enter their work environments. In order to ascertain the skills that are critical for fresh hires, and prepare students accordingly, SMU Career Services is constantly in tune with the market place.”
“SMU is the only university with a full team of certified CDF® and MBTI® Career Coaches. Coaches are hired by SMU primarily for their corporate work experience and their innate desire to mould young minds. This ensures that students have access to willing, qualified and experienced Coaches to assist with their Career Planning and Career Development. These Career Coaches continue to guide students amidst keener competition for internships and full-time jobs, especially when such opportunities become scarcer as the market place contracts,” he remarked.
Click here for more detailed findings of the survey.
