CREDIT: GEORGE MARAGOS
Fanshawe ranked well in graduation and employment rates with the key performance indicators survey (KPI), but more student input is always better.

With a student population of roughly 43,000 students, Fanshawe College is an institution filled with different people from all walks of life.

Regardless of age, gender, race, religion etc., a common mentality can be found amongst the majority of the student population; to use Fanshawe College as an investment and stepping stone to garner the knowledge, experience and credentials required to move on and successfully pursue desirable employment.

Fortunately, according to data collected amongst the 24 major colleges in Ontario, it seems that students who chose Fanshawe as their post-secondary institution have made an effective and sound decision.

Colleges Ontario recently released key performance indicators (KPI) survey results that was collected from June 2016 to February 2017, with concluding data faring quite well for Fanshawe.

The survey provides statistics regarding points of interests such as graduate employment, graduate satisfaction, employer satisfaction, student satisfaction along with capstone questions involving the quality of learning experiences, services of the school and the facilities.

“We're very consistent at delivering high quality education and there's many factors there. There's the teaching, the leaning, the facilities and new program development.” said Robert Downie, manager of Fanshawe's Institutional Research and Strategy department.

Results showed an exceedingly above average graduation rate of 70.4 per cent and an 87 per cent graduate employment rate, meaning that roughly 7 out of 10 students will successfully graduate and of that group approximately six will find employment within half a year of graduating.

“The London region labour market is picking up, there are a number of open jobs postings on the Career Services Jobsite. Students and graduates who are job searching should make sure to register there are full and part time opportunities, with new job postings added daily,” Lisa Rusal, assistant manager of Fanshawe's Employment and Student Entrepreneurial Services (ESES) said.

In layman's terms it seems that if the effort is put in on the student's behalf to complete his or her education, the transition to obtaining a position within the workforce will be relatively smooth albeit a few bumps along the way.

One of the biggest issues concerning KPI and other student feedback surveys is the response rate from students who have already completed their program and moved onto the workforce.

Seeing a drop of roughly 40 per cent according to Downie, the survey sample size acquired is large enough to draw data and conclusions, but it does not encompass the variety of different voices and experiences of Fanshawe College.

The majority of the survey questions are asked via telephone, months after graduation as they pertain to satisfaction while out in the workforce, but by then a large portion of past students have already changed contact information without advising the school.

“It's harder and harder to get a hold, to engage graduates in this survey,” replied Downie when asked about KPI reception, “We want the student feedback.”

Downie stressed the importance of student engagement and participation in feedback surveys as they effectively communicate the strengths and weaknesses of the college, allowing Fanshawe to better understand and address the latter.

It's the old adage heard many times, in many different variations if not different languages, but holds the same universal meaning “we can't help you if we don't know what's going on,” Downie said.