From defending the thesis directly to work

28.04.2023

The nationwide system for monitoring the Economic Fate of Higher Education Graduates (ELA) was created at the request of the Ministry of Education and Science. The research is based on data from the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) and the Polon system. The material we are publishing pertains to graduates from the year 2020. At that time, 631 graduates completed their studies. It is worth emphasizing that this was a very challenging period in the job market as it marked the first year of the pandemic, with the most restrictive measures in place.

Despite the specific circumstances, graduates of the Mazovian Public University in Płock (now the Mazovian Academy in Płock) quickly found employment. Nursing graduates secured new positions on average within a month after graduation, while IT specialists and economists did so within just two months. The average job search time for any of the study programs did not exceed five months.

As of the end of 2021, the percentage of graduates experiencing unemployment was very low. For the nursing program, only 2% of graduates experienced unemployment, and for the midwifery program, this rate was 3%. For other programs, on average, one in five graduates experienced unemployment within a year of completing their studies. Our graduates perform very well compared to city and county statistics. Those with degrees in nursing, midwifery, social work, pedagogy, internal security, and computer science are more likely to find employment in their professions than the average.

If a graduate does secure employment, what kind of earnings can they expect? For graduates of first-degree studies, the Relative Earnings Index for our university is 0.61. Nurses earn the highest salaries (an average of 5,625 PLN gross), which is the only result above the city average. It is essential to note that this largely comprises women in their twenties with no professional experience. The salaries of young midwives are close to the city average (an average of 5,406 PLN gross). Among non-medical professions, IT specialists lead the way, earning an average of 4,331 PLN gross.

Employees with a title of ‘magister’(master’s degree) on their diploma achieve significantly higher earnings. Second-degree graduates earned an average of 1,350 PLN more than bachelor’s degree graduates. The earnings of nurses are particularly impressive, averaging 7,525 PLN gross. This amount is significantly higher than the city’s average salary. Linguists, specifically philology graduates, also have no reason to complain, as their average salary was 4,138 PLN.

It’s worth noting that some of the graduates started their own businesses in the first year after defending their diploma. In the case of self-employment, cosmetologists, nurses, and IT specialists are leading the way.

What contributes to the attractiveness of graduates from the Mazovian Academy in Płock? To defend a bachelor’s thesis, students must complete 720 hours of professional internships. For magister(master’s) studies, this number increases to 1080 hours. Many classes are led by experts and practitioners in their fields. Combined with the theoretical knowledge imparted by a highly qualified academic staff, employers receive professionals ready for effective work. It’s worth adding that many university students work during their studies. On the first-degree studies, an average of 20% of students takes up employment. During second-degree studies, more than half of the students gain professional experience (in nursing, it was up to 95%).

An advantage of the educational offer of the Mazovian Academy in Płock is that it aligns with professions facing shortages. In Płock, among the professions in demand are doctors, nurses, and midwives. Uniformed services are also actively seeking reinforcements. In the Płock, Gostynin, and Sierpc counties, there is a shortage of, among others: caregivers in childcare facilities, philologists, independent accountants, and psychologists. The Mazovian Academy in Płock offers high-quality education in these fields.

All these components have ensured that the graduates of the Academy had no trouble finding employment and were a sought-after group in the job market.