This document discusses tracking systems for vocational education and training (VET) graduates. It provides an overview of the On Track project, which aims to improve the quality of VET provision by tracking the learning and career paths of VET graduates. The On Track methodology involves surveying graduates within one year and two years after graduation using standardized questionnaires. The surveys measure indicators like employment status, salary, and satisfaction. The document describes how to establish a graduate tracking system by defining objectives, indicators, methodology, and resources. It also presents the On Track tools, which include online surveys in multiple languages, and encourages participation in pilots of the tracking system.

1. Tracking systems for VET graduates
Methodology and tools
Webinar 25/6/2020
Natassa Kazantzidou, Orestis Ntagiantas IDEC
TRACKING LEARNING AND CAREER
PATHS OF VET GRADUATES TO
IMPROVE QUALITY OF VET PROVISION

2. What we
talked
about
• Tracking VET graduates - general overview
• VET tracking at VET institute level
• Benefits for VET providers
• Presentation of the On Track approach,
methodology and tools
• How you can benefit from On Track
• Questions and answers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0o4b7hXcJQ

3. • Tracking VET graduates at VET institute level
– Methodology
– On Track methodology
– On Track tools
• How to join
• Questions and answers
What are we going to talk about

4. On Track project in a nutshell
Erasmus + Strategic partnership in
VET
Project N°: 2018-1-SK01-KA202-
046331
Led by Technical University of Kosice
Nov 2018 – Oct 2020
Extended to Jan 2021
http://www.ontrack-project.eu/en/

6. VET
GRADUATES
TRACKING
Methodology

7. Establishing a VET graduates tracking
system
Evaluation
and use of
the results
ResourcesMethodologyIndicators
Objectives
and strategy

8. Objectives
Why do you want
to establish a
graduate tracking
system?
What is the need
that you want to
address?
What you will do
with the
information?

9. Strategy
• How often the tracking will take
place?
• How comprehensive it will be,
• What methodology will be
followed?
• Sample survey or a population
survey?
• What resources are you willing
to put in place?
• How the results of the tracking
system will be used?

10. • The indicators must be based on the objectives of
the tracking system and should respond to your
need for information.
• Indicators determine what information needs to
be gathered and should, therefore, be selected
on the basis of what data can be realistically and
efficiently collected – or even collected at all.
• The indicators will provide information that
somehow will be used. There is no point to
gather information that nobody will use.
Indicators

11. Examples of indicators
• the number of graduates
• gender representation
• percentage of graduates continuing
study
• percentage of graduates employed
• percentage of graduates registered
unemployed at the labour office
• percentage of graduates self-
employed, sole traders, or
entrepreneurs
• average gross monthly wage
• wage median
• the most common jobs of graduates
• key industries/sectors of employment
• region of employment
• key occupations
• educational attainment
• employment status
• satisfaction with teaching subjects
and specific teachers
• the utilisation of knowledge and skills
acquired during the study
• work position in the workplace
• employment in the field of study
• proposals for changes in education
• position within the employment
• satisfaction with career guidance
• the time to find a job
• job satisfaction
• the match between graduate’s skills
and job requirements

12. Data collection
• Data collection methods
• Primary data
• Questionnaire
• Interview
• Focus group
• Secondary data
• Administrative data

13. Development
of the
questionnaire
Link questions with indicatorsLink
Formulate the questions clearlyFormulate
Avoid complex and combined questionsAvoid
Make sure your respondents can and want to answer your
questions
Make
Use clear and balance rating scalesUse
Gather only the necessary demographic dataGather

14. Run the survey
Sampling
• Google form, Survey Monkey, Lime
survey, EUsurvey etc
• Easy to use, easy to track easy to
analyse, outreach
On line survey
• Through online survey system
• Direct e-mail
• Social media / events etc
Invitation

15. Cultivate a feedback culture
• Try different methods to approach your
recipients and see what works best.
• Provide a good reason to fill in the
survey
• Keep open channels with your
graduates through other activities
• Use the feedback – communicate it.
• Remember that participation rate will
increase every year with consistent
efforts. It takes time and continuous
effort to change behaviour of people, if
you want to incorporate tracking
graduates in your processes, design
your tracking system and
• Do not give up! be patient and
persistent.

16. Resources
• Staff
• Team leader
• Administrator
• Technician
• Analyst
• Training
• Time

17. Survey
output
• Data cleaning
• Data analysis
• Data interpretation
• Data visualization
Data analysis
• Report
• Executive summary
• Presentation
• Articles, press releases
Outputs

18. Use of
results
Integrate with
quality assurance
system
• Improve education
and support services
Feed into decision
making system
• Input in management
review process
Feed national or
regional
information
systems
Benchmarking
with national data
or other VET
institutions

19. ON TRACK
METHODOLOGY AND
TOOLS

20. On Track methodology
At the level of a VET provider
• Tracking VET graduates,
through standardised online
survey
• Two points survey:
• Within one year of
graduation
• After two years of
graduation
• Standard questions and
optional questions
• Follow up questions through
interview or focus group
• Three different questionnaires

21. Indicators
• Measuring a set of 9 indicators
1. Employment Status
2. Status in further education
3. Interlinkage between the received education and current employment
4. Simplicity or difficulty to find a job
5. Leading position
6. First salary after graduation
7. Current salary
8. Interlinkage between a further education track and received education
9. Probability of obtaining the same education again

22. On Track tools
• Three different questionnaires / tools
– EQF level 2-3
– EQF level 4-5
– EQF level 6-7
• Two different technical solutions
– Google form
– Limesurvey
• Seven languages
– EN, BG, DE, EL, ES, LT, SK

23. On Track surveys (google form)
• EQF level 2-3
• https://forms.gle/cJnUga7gr48w7ES3A
• EQF level 4-5
• https://forms.gle/wd2KRoU2SKo14e3j6
• EQF level 6-7
• https://forms.gle/eJ25wgYfVr8sdxft9

24. • EQF level 2-3
https://survey.ontrack-project.eu/index.php/635521?lang=en
• EQF level 4-5
https://survey.ontrack-project.eu/index.php/219361?lang=en
• EQF level 6-7
https://survey.ontrack-project.eu/index.php/368814?lang=en
On Track surveys (Limesurvey)

25. Participate in
the pilots
• Get in contact with one of the
partners
• Fill in the pre-evaluation form
• Adapt the questionnaire; set up the
online survey; set up contact details
• Run the survey; analyse results
• Fill in the post-evaluation form

26. Q&A

27. Stay in contact
3rd Webinar – September
Tracking VET graduates, experiences from the pilots, how to
establish a permanent tracking mechanism
Workshops for VET providers – to be announced by each
partner
Website http://www.ontrack-project.eu/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/On-Track-402265277256618
Reply to the survey

28. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA