Only by ascertaining students’ and graduates’ satisfaction levels as regards their educational experience and understanding markets’ expectations and needs are we able to improve the degrees we offer and thus increase our contribution to society. To this end, the UOC is an active participant in different projects in Catalonia, Spain and Europe. The aim is to analyse current students, recent graduates and alumni who have been working for more than three years to assess their satisfaction levels and the impact their studies have in the labour market and in society at large. The results of these studies allow universities to make decisions based on indicators to ensure the courses and guidance services offered and the training activities designed respond to the demands and needs of society and the professional world.
Below we present a selection of the most representative and prestigious studies the UOC has participated in:
Current students
Scope: Catalan-speaking regions.
Focus group: students enrolled on official bachelor's degree and university master's degree programmes at the 20 participating public and private universities.
1st issue: 2016 (biannual).
Last updated: 2022.
Study in progress: 3rd issue (2020-2022).
Objectives: generate a solid knowledge base that provides data and common analysis results to the universities in the Vives Network of Universities regarding students' characteristics and their satisfaction with the university and its teaching, fostering the development of university policies from an equity viewpoint.
Methodology: online survey.
For more information: Via Universitària.
Published reports:
Scope: Europe.
Focus group: students enrolled on the last year of official bachelor's degree and university master's degree programmes (equivalent to 1st and 2nd cycle of the previous university system) at public and private universities in the 24 participating countries (includes Catalonia or Spain).
1st issue: 2011 (annual).
Last updated: 2016.
Study in progress: 7th issue (2017).
Objectives: ascertain students' perception of universities' academic quality and services before they complete their studies. A comparative report is generated between universities (independently of official rankings) and information is collected about companies that are interested in the university to improve cooperation possibilities.
Methodology: online survey.
For more information: Trendence.
Published reports:
2016 | Eurobarometer report (available in Spanish) |
Eurobarometer report: Economics and Business (available in Spanish) | |
Eurobarometer report: Engineering (available in Spanish) |
Recent graduates
Scope: Catalonia
Focus group: students who have recently graduated with bachelor's degrees and university master's degrees.
1st issue: 2015 (annual).
Last updated: 2021.
Study in progress: 7th issue (2021)
Objectives: the survey provides common indicators for improving courses in terms of satisfaction with the teaching and learning, services and facilities, personal impact that it has had on the student, etc.
Methodology: online survey.
For further information: AQU - Recent graduates satisfaction survey.
Track the UOC data: EUC data
Published reports:
2021 | Satisfaction of graduates from Catalan universities (2018-2020 cohorts) (available in Catalan) |
Scope: Catalonia
Focus group: manufacturing companies; primary and secondary school teachers; government; and the health sector.
1st issue: 2014 (one-off).
Last updated: 2021.
Study in progress: 2nd issue (2020-2023).
Objectives: ascertain employers' perceptions concerning recent graduates' skills and university training. The aim is for universities to be able to develop policies for improving the university system as regards the academic offering and the formative programmes, and align university education more closely with labour market needs.
Methodology: online and phone survey.
For further information: AQU - Employers survey.
Published reports:
2017-2019 | Recent graduates' employability and skills: the opinion of companies and institutions (available in Catalan) |
Graduates that entered the labour market over 3 years ago
Main findings from the 2017 AQU's study: "Labour market: graduates' perspective"*:
* 2020 data in process
Scope: Catalonia.
Focus group: graduates with bachelor's degrees, university master's degrees and doctoral degrees (equivalent to 1st and 2nd cycle of the previous university system) who entered the labour market three years ago. All public and private universities in the Catalan university system are represented.
1st issue: 2001 (triennial)
Last updated: 2021.
Study in progress: 7th issue (2021-2023).
Objectives: 1. To adjust supply and demand: employment rate, suitability rate, stability rate, salary. 2. To design the learning proposal: skills acquired regarding those in demand, functions, branch of economic activity, practicum design, type of businesses. 3. Guidance services: work while studying and subsequent adaptation, factors regarding hiring and professional improvement, skills acquired, etc.
Methodology: online and phone survey.
For further information: AQU - Graduates' perspective.
Track the UOC data: EUC data
Published reports:
SUC | UOC | |
2020 | Bachelor's Degrees report | Bachelor's and Master's Degrees report |
Master's Degrees report | ||
Doctoral programmes report |
Scope: Spain.
Focus group: graduates with bachelor's degrees and university master's degrees (equivalent to 1st and 2nd cycle of the previous university system) who entered the labour market five years ago. All universities belonging to CRUE association (Crue Spanish Universities – 50 public universities and 26 private universities) are represented.
1st issue: 2015 (one-off).
Last updated: 2017 (2nd issue).
Study in progress: no information.
Objectives: the barometer is a tool designed to monitor university graduates' employability and employment in Spain to provide senior university and government officials, employers and families the necessary information to improve alignment between education and employment.
Methodology: online survey.
For more information: Observatorio de empleabilidad y empleo universitarios.
Published reports:
Other observatories and projects
Focus group: experts associated with three sectors:
1. University system.
2. Corporate sector.
3. Government.
Objectives: assess the importance of the universities' role in the Spanish economy and society, and also evaluate the evolution during the reporting year of the most significant trends detected in the universities' contribution to Spain's economic and social development.
For further information: Fundación CYD.
Published reports:
2017 | CYD Barometer 2017. The role of universities in Spain (available in Spanish) |
2018 | CYD Barometer 2018. The role of universities in Spain (available in Spanish) |
Focus group: students enrolled on official bachelor's degree and university master's degree programmes at public and private universities in the 22 participating countries (does not include Catalonia or Spain).
Objectives: this is a project that collates comparable data on the social dimension of European higher education. It focuses on students' socio-economic background and living conditions, but it also investigates temporary international mobility.
For further information: Eurostudent.
Published reports:
2018 |
Social and Economic Conditions of Student Life in Europe Synopsis of Indicators |
EUROSTUDENT VI Short Report |