Abu Dhabi: About 70 per cent of Engineering graduates in Abu Dhabi are employed, according to data released by Abu Dhabi Education Council’s (ADEC’s) Graduate Destination Survey (GDS). An increasing 67 per cent employment rate is recorded in Health and Welfare subjects, said an ADEC press release.

Participants in the survey included 6,163 graduates who studied in one of the 22 higher education institutions located in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Western Region. This number represents 64 per cent of the total graduates in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, out of which 34 per cent are Science, Technology and Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) graduates.

The fourth annual GDS reveals that 58 per cent of information technology graduates found immediate employment, while 46 per cent of science related subject students found immediate employment.

Speaking about this year’s GDS results, ADEC’s Higher Education Executive Director, Dr. Mohammad Yousuf Baniyas, said that findings from this year’s GDS clearly demonstrates the value of students focusing on STEM.

“The data that the survey provides shows the evolving nature of Abu Dhabi’s higher education sector, with more youth choosing to pursue STEM related disciplines and careers, an optimistic trend that is in line with ADEC’s mission to meet the Abu Dhabi 2030 vision through graduating a competent, knowledgeable workforce of youth who can effectively contribute to the economy.”

The first GDS was conducted in 2014 with a participation rate of 51 per cent added ADEC’s Higher Education expert. “ADEC is pleased to witness an increase in number of students participating in this year’s survey. This significant improvement in response rates will provide us with reliable data and a clearer image of market trends, which need to be correlated with our education plans.”

When asked about their satisfaction rate, 87 per cent of Abu Dhabi graduates claimed to be satisfied with the teaching in their institution, while 95 per cent of graduates feel that due to the type of education they received in their universities, they have become much more confident to work in a team, with evident improvement in their reading, writing and critical thinking skills.