The University of Hong Kong

Careers Education and Placement Centre

Where did the 1996 Earth Science graduates go?

I. Introduction

The information contained in this paper is extracted from the Graduate Employment Survey of 1996 to answer the following questions about Earth Science majors : -

II. Employment Situation in 1996

Altogether 29 persons graduated from the University with a B.Sc. degree in Earth Science. Among them, 24 (83%) responded to the survey. Most (96% or 23) of the Earth Science graduates were in full-time employment within six months of graduation (Table 1). The remaining 1 graduate (or 4%) pursued further studies. No one was unemployed.

Earth ScienceHKU Overall *
TotalMaleFemale
‘96‘96 ‘96‘96
No.% No.% No.% No.%
2410013100 111002139100
F/T employed 2395.813100 1090.9174381.5
P/T employed seeking F/T job 0000 00341.6
Unemployed seeking F/T job 0000 00341.6
Further studies 14.200 19.131414.7
Emigration/home country 0000 0060.28
Not seeking F/T job 0000 0080.4
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

There was only one respondent (or 4%) who pursued further studies. This graduate took up a taught master programme in U.K.

Field of StudyAcademic programme
Master (Coursework)
Science 1
Table 2. Academic programmes

Source of Finance No. of Graduates
Own Fund1
Table 3. Source of finance for further studies

IV. Time Taken to Secure Employment

All the graduates were able to secure employment before the end of September 1996.

Figure 1. Time taken to secure employment

V. Employment Sectors

82% (or 18) of the Earth Science graduates were employed in commerce and industry. 9.1% (or 2 graduates) each joined the civil service and education sector. Figure 3 shows the employment sectors by sex.

Figure 2. Employment sectors

No Response = 1

Figure 3. Employment sectors by sex

VI. Basic Salary and Gross Income

Table 4 shows the basic salary & gross income that 1996 Earth Science graduates received.

Basic SalaryGross Income
Earth ScienceHKU Average* Earth ScienceHKU Average*
‘96‘96‘96‘96
Mean $13,780$14,457$15,040$15,902
Median $13,800$12,000$15,043$13,542
Minimum $10,000$3,000$10,833$5,500
Maximum $17,000$55,000$21,417$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

65% (or 15) of the graduates in full-time employment had two or more job offers. 43% reported having three to six job offers. (Figure 4).

Figure 4. No. of full-time job offers

VIII. Names of Employers and Job Titles

The job titles of the 23 graduates who took up full-time employment and the names of their employers are listed below.

Employers :Job Titles :
CIVIL SERVICE -
· Civil Engineering Department· Engineering Geology Graduate
· Civil Engineering Department· Engineering Geology Graduate
EDUCATION -
· The University of Hong Kong· Research Assistant I
COMMERCE & INDUSTRY -
· ATKINS Haswell· Graduate Engineering Geologist
· Bachy Soletanche Group· Assistant Geologist
· BHP Minerals Exploration· Geologist
· BHP Minerals Exploration· Geologist
· Fong On Construction & Engineering Co Ltd· Graduate Engineering Geologist
· Fugro (HK) Ltd· Assistant Engineer
· Gammon Construction Ltd · Assistant Geologist
· Gammon Construction Ltd · Assistant Geologist
· Greg Wong & Associates Ltd · Engineering Geologist
· Halcrow · Engineer
· I P Foundation Ltd · Assistant Geotechnical Engineer
· I P Foundation Ltd · Assistant Geotechnical Engineer
· Mannsell · Graduate Engineer
· Maunsell Geotechnical Services Ltd · Graduate Geotechnical Engineer
· Maunsell Geotechnical Services Ltd · Graduate Geotechnical Engineer
· Ove Arup & Partners (HK) Ltd · Engineering Geologist Graduate
· Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick (HK) Ltd · Assistant Engineering Geologist
· Organisation’s name not reported · Assistant Geologist

No Response = 2

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

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

September, 1997

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