Graduate pathways: a longitudinal study of graduates in outdoor studies in the U.K.

A longitudinal study provides a more detailed analysis of the career pathways of graduates than the First Destination Survey can achieve. This survey of 41% of graduates from a BSc (Honours) Outdoor Studies degree also examines the importance of named skills to their careers and the success of the degree in developing each skill. Two thirds of graduates surveyed were in careers related to Outdoor Studies and there is an increasing relevance of employment activity to degree and work satisfaction with time in the workplace. However, there is no trend towards increasing graduate level employment in the workplace with indications that the majority of Outdoor Studies graduates seem to make choices based on interest, values or work satisfaction rather than salary or status, beyond a baseline of earnings (which contributes to a low unemployment rate). Personal and process skills, often poorly developed in other degree programmes, are developed successfully within the Outdoor Studies degree and applied in the workplace. It is suggested that suitably qualified Outdoor Studies graduates are able to find employment in the outdoor industry but that this will need monitoring in the future. The need for, and the development of, outdoor technical skills may be illustrative of a circular argument but graduates report the need for further National Governing Body award opportunities and professional experience at undergraduate level.