Trent University’s collaborative learning model, developed over five decades, has been endorsed by Ontario leaders, according to two surveys involving key opinion leaders from across the education, government and industry sectors
Survey findings counter the commonly-held belief that most new graduates do not find employment: over 90% of Trent grads are employed within two years of graduation.
High Employment Rate for Trent Graduates
Trent’s distinctive learning environment equips graduates with unique skills in demand by employers, graduate and professional schools. 88% of Trent students are employed within six months of graduation, and that rate increases to 92% two years after graduation. Responses from business, government and not-for-profit leaders representing a wide spectrum of organizations in Ontario show that Trent’s approach to learning helps students to develop the skills that will land them great jobs and that matter most to employers in these sectors.
“It’s no longer just what you know,” said Trent alumnus Dr. Don Tapscott, an internationally renowned business thinker and the Chancellor of Trent University.
“It’s your capacity to solve problems, to think, to research, and to reinvent your knowledge base. Trent’s student-focused, customized, collaborative learning experience is the new model for developing knowledge workers who can build more effective social and economic institutions.”
Employers Value the Trent Difference
Leaders surveyed in both the public and private sector tend to place a great deal of value on many of the skills that Trent emphasizes in its programs and its learning approach, particularly: the ability to work in a team and collaborate in group settings, speaking and listening skills, critical thinking and analytical reasoning. Leaders are much more likely to believe it is important for university students to learn how to think critically and to develop analytical skills than to gain skills for a particular career or profession.
In line with Trent’s collaborative learning model, more than 90% of respondents shared that they consider their most successful employees to be those who are highly collaborative and able to integrate multiple perspectives into their thinking. 80% also agree that the challenges employees face today are more complex and require a broader range of skills to address than in the past.
Endorsement from Educators
Trent’s collaborative environment and personalized, purposeful approach to learning proved to be popular amongst guidance counsellors from Ontario high schools as well. When asked to identify the most significant benefit to students of attending a university that places an emphasis on collaborative learning, counsellors were most likely to mention teamwork or the ability to work in a team environment; practical experience; workplace learning; or real world understanding.
Respondents also named other important benefits such as relationship-building skills, interpersonal skills, flexibility, adaptability, and the ability to think and apply knowledge in real-world settings. Trent’s proven record of adopting innovative approaches to teaching and learning has a significant impact on our reputation as a leading institution.
“Trent grads don’t just move into the world of work, they quickly make their mark as leaders,” said Dr. Haroon Akram-Lohdi, professor and chair of Trent’s department of International Development Studies. “They emerge from Trent not only with sense of commitment towards social justice or community service, but also with a sense of urgency – to improve things now. That is the Trent advantage.”
Sector Research on the Value of a University Degree
Recently, the Council of Ontario Universities (COU) released a report entitled University Works showing that Ontario university graduates enjoy a lifetime of positive employment outcomes when compared to those with other types of education. Among the COU’s key findings were the fact that Ontario graduates have experienced the highest employment growth of any group of students over the past ten years; they earn significantly more; and they are more likely to be working at a job related to their studies.
Further, Statistics Canada recently issued a report called “The Investment of a Lifetime?” comparing outcomes for over 8,000 university, college and high school graduates over a 20-year period, the first study of its kind. The findings indicate that a university degree is one of the best investments available.
“Ontario university graduates have higher employment rates and higher salaries than those with any other level of education,” said Bonnie M. Patterson, president and CEO, Council of Ontario Universities.
Posted on Monday, March 17, 2014.