Loyalist shines in annual provincial survey

By Chad Hackl

Loyalist College graduates have no trouble finding jobs, and current students are confident about their futures in the workforce, according to a survey released this week.
Key Performance Indicator (KPI) results released yesterday state that 87.1 percent of 2008-2009 graduates from Loyalist found jobs in the workplace within six months of graduation. This is a slight reduction from the 90.8% in 2007-2008 graduates.
Statistics Canada most recent study shows the employment rate for people without post-secondary education at 74.9 percent. President Maureen Piercy said in a press release yesterday that the employment rate indicates the importance of a post-secondary education.
“The strong education and training provided at Ontario’s 24 public colleges continues to prepare people for success,” she said. “Colleges continue to provide students with the higher education they need to fulfill their career ambitions.”
Piercy said she was pleased with the results of Loyalist being similar to or above provincial averages.
“This is a positive reflection on the education provided by our faculty and staff, and the strength of our programs and graduates,” she said.
KPI results showed 88.3 percent of students at Loyalist satisfied with the knowledge and skills provided in their particular program.
Branden Mcrea, a first-year television new media student, believes he received the skills to succeed in the workplace.
“This is just my first year, but so far I’ve learned a lot,” he said. “I already feel like I can get out there.”
Sasha Gudzenchuk, who is a second year nursing student in the Registered Nursing program, says the college’s size helps with the learning process.
“I like how you can get a really personalized experience from it, instead of if you went to a big school where they kind of treat you like a number,” she said.
Gudzenchuk is confident her time at Loyalist will make the transition into the workplace an easy one.
“I think our program has one of the earliest placements, which is really helpful because it’s really hands-on,” she said. “I’ve heard the employment rate is pretty high for this college, which is encouraging.”
The KPI results stated that 92.7 percent of employers were satisfied with the work done by the students they hired from Loyalist. This compares to similar figures of 95 percent and 91 percent in the previous two years at the college, and it is near identical to the 93 percent provincial average this year.
80.5 percent of Loyalist students were satisfied with the overall quality of services, programming, and resources available to them, just over 4 percent higher than the provincial average.
Second year Animation student, Alex Glenn, is pleased with the services offered at Loyalist.
“It’s got everything I could ask for and the teachers are from out in the field,” he said.
According to the CNW, a report released by Seneca College president emeritus Dr. Rick Miner found that more than 700,000 people in Ontario will be unemployable by 2021 due to insufficient level of higher education and training.
“It is particularly important in this new economy for students pursuing higher education to explore a range of programs at Ontario’s colleges,” Piercy said. “College graduates enter the workforce with an excellent combination of academic education and skills training. They have the problem-solving abilities and the up-to-date skills to succeed in their careers.”