I
. IntroductionThe information contained in this paper is extracted from the Graduate Employment Survey of 1997 to answer the following questions about Animal and Plant Biotechnology majors : -
II. Employment Situation in 1997
Altogether 33 persons graduated from the University with a B.Sc. degree in Animal & Plant Biotechnology. Among them, 25 (76%) responded to the survey. Most (68% or 17 graduates) of the Animal & Plant Biotechnology graduates were in full-time employment within six months of graduation. 12% (or 3 graduates) were still looking for full-time employment at the time of the survey. 16% (or 4 graduates) went on for further studies. (Table 1)
Animal & Plant Biotechnology |
HKU Overall* |
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Total |
Male |
Female |
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‘97 |
‘96 |
‘97 |
‘96 |
‘97 |
‘96 |
‘97 |
‘96 |
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No. |
% |
No. |
% |
No. |
% |
No. |
% |
No. |
% |
No. |
% |
No. |
% |
No. |
% |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. of respondents | 25 |
100 |
42 |
100 |
17 |
100 |
24 |
100 |
8 |
100 |
18 |
100 |
2272 |
100 |
2139 |
100 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| F/T employed | 17 |
68.0 |
31 |
73.8 |
13 |
76.5 |
19 |
79.2 |
4 |
50.0 |
12 |
66.7 |
1829 |
80.5 |
1743 |
81.5 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| P/T employed seeking F/T job | 2 |
8.0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
11.8 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
37 |
1.6 |
34 |
1.6 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unemployed seeking F/T job | 1 |
4.0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
5.9 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
53 |
2.3 |
34 |
1.6 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Further studies | 4 |
16.0 |
10 |
23.8 |
1 |
5.9 |
4 |
16.7 |
3 |
37.5 |
6 |
33.3 |
339 |
14.9 |
314 |
14.7 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Emigration/home country | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0.2 |
6 |
0.28 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Not seeking F/T job | 1 |
4.0 |
1 |
2.4 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
4.2 |
1 |
12.5 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
0.4 |
8 |
0.4 |
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Table 1. Employment situation
* HKU overall refers to the figure for the total HKU population and includes M.B.,B.S. and B.D.S. graduates.
III. Further Studies
Three graduates pursed postgraduate studies in science and were enrolled in local tertiary institutions. Table 2 shows the academic programme Animal & Plant Biotechnology graduates were engaged in and Table 3 shows the source of finance.
Academic programme |
|
| Field of Study | M.Phil. |
| Science | 3 |
No Response = 1
Table 2. Academic programme
| Source of Finance | No. of Graduates |
| Teaching Assistantship/Studentship | 2 |
| Government Grant & Loan | 1 |
No Response = 1
Table 3. Source of finance for further studies
IV. Time Taken to Secure Employment
Among those graduates who were in full-time employment, 82% secured
their first job offer before the end of September. The percentage increased to 100% by the
end of December. In general, the 1997 graduates were faster in securing employment than
their 1996 predecessors. (Figure 1) 
V. Employment Sectors
71% (or 12 graduates) of the Animal & Plant Biotechnology graduates were employed in commerce and industry, followed by 18% (or 3 graduates) in education. The remaining 12% (or 2 graduates) joined the civil service. (Figures 2 & 3)
VI. Basic Salary and Gross Income
In general, the average income of 1997 Animal & Plant Biotechnology graduates was higher than that of their predecessors in the previous year. (Table 4)
Basic Salary |
Gross Income |
|||||||||
Animal & Plant Biotechnology |
HKU Average* |
Animal & Plant Biotechnology |
HKU Average* |
|||||||
‘97 |
‘96 |
‘97 |
‘96 |
‘97 |
‘96 |
‘97 |
‘96 |
|||
| Mean | $13,821 |
$9,963 |
$15,749 |
$14,457 |
$16,845 |
$12,332 |
$17,552 |
$15,902 |
||
| Median | $13,515 |
$9,000 |
$12,500 |
$12,000 |
$15,167 |
$11,700 |
$14,521 |
$13,542 |
||
| Minimum | $8,000 |
$4,000 |
$4,400 |
$3,000 |
$10,167 |
$9,000 |
$5,000 |
$5,500 |
||
| Maximum | $28,910 |
$27,700 |
$59,000 |
$55,000 |
$28,910 |
$28,400 |
$74,000 |
$60,000 |
||
Table 4. Basic salary and gross income
* HKU average refers to the figure for the total HKU population and includes M.B.,B.S. and B.D.S. graduates.
VII. Number of Full-Time Job Offers
53% of the graduates in full-time employment had two or more job offers. 35% reported having three or more job offers. (Figure 4)
VIII. Names of Employers and Job Titles
The job titles of the Animal & Plant Biotechnology graduates who took up full-time employment and the names of their employers are listed below.
Employers : |
Job Titles : |
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| CIVIL SERVICE - | ||
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| EDUCATION - | ||
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| COMMERCE & INDUSTRY - | ||
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Table 5. List of employers and job titles
Note: Some alumni have indicated willingness to talk to individual students about their work. Their contact telephone number can be obtained from counsellors at CEPC.
IX.
Similar information on graduates from other disciplines of study are available for reference in the Careers Library. Please enquire with the CEPC.
Careers Education and Placement Centre
3/F Wong Chuang Lai Wah Building
Meng Wah Complex
The University of Hong Kong
Pokfulam Road
Hong Kong
Telephone : 2859 2314
Fax : (852) 2559 5238
E-Mail : CEPC@HKUCC.HKU.HK
Homepage : http://www.hku.hk/cepc
Opening Hours : Monday - Friday (9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.)
Saturday (9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.)
Margaret Lee
Nelson Yip
June, 1998
The analysis is based on information provided by the respondents, and the Careers Education & Placement Centre should not be held responsible for any errors arising therefrom.
No part of this report may be reproduced in any form or by whatever means,
without written permission from the Director of the Careers Education and Placement Centre,
The University of Hong Kong