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On Track: Class of 2004 - The Final Sweep!

Ipsos MORI contacts: Amy Homes or Lorraine Murray. tel: 0131 220 5699

'On Track Class of 2004' was commissioned by the Scottish Funding Council. The survey is a five year longitudinal study of people qualifying from Scotland's colleges and higher education institutions. It provides a unique opportunity to track the progress of the 'Class of 2004' and to explore the impact of students' learning experiences on their futures.

The fourth and final sweep of the On Track: Class of 2004 study is on its way! Five years on, the study is almost complete and this is the last opportunity to collect information about the individuals who left Scottish colleges and universities in 2004. The information provided will help universities and colleges to respond to the needs of learners more effectively.

Sweep Three was completed in 2007, and highlighted the continued success of the ‘Class of 2004' three years after gaining their qualifications.

Of the students questioned in the third sweep of the five-year survey:

Satisfaction continues to be high with the majority of people questioned being satisfied with both their choice of institution (88%) and their course (79%)
Most respondents think that the skills which are ‘very important' in their current job were improved during their course
Seven out of ten respondents have now commenced their chosen career or feel that they are ‘on track' to their chosen career.

So how can you help us?

If you have been sent a Sweep 4 questionnaire please complete it and send it back in the envelope provided. If you are from the ‘Class of 2004' but have not received a sweep 4 questionnaire, please contact us. This is the final sweep of the study to be conducted, so if you have moved house, town or even country, please update your address with us. You can do this by emailing Amy Homes or calling her on 0131 220 5699. And don't forget there is not only a £50 prize draw after each sweep; everyone who has completed all four sweeps will be entered into a grand prize draw to win £500! Don't miss out!

Previous Reports

Sweep Three

Sweep Two

On Track Class of 2004, Longitudinal Survey of Learners. Sweep Two: 2005.
MORI Scotland, Critical Thinking and Scottish Funding Councils for Further and Higher Education.

www.sfc.ac.uk/information/information_learning/longitudinal_survey_students.htm

Sweep One

On Track Class of 2004, Longitudinal Survey of Learners. Sweep One: 2004.
MORI Scotland, Critical Thinking and Scottish Funding Councils for Further and Higher Education.

www.sfc.ac.uk/information/information_learning/longitudinal_survey_students.htm

Exploring the data

If you are a researcher, you can undertake your own further analysis of the On Track: Class of 2004 data. An SPSS dataset combining results from the first three sweeps is available to download from the Scottish Funding Council website:

www.sfc.ac.uk/information/information_learning/longitudinal_survey_students.htm