The University of Hong Kong

Where did the 1996 B.Eng.-Computer Engineering 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 Computer Engineering graduates : -

II. Employment Situation in 1996

Out of 67 Computer Engineering graduates, 46 responded to our survey, representing a response rate of 69%. Of these, 98% were in full-time employment within six months of graduation. 2.2% (or 1 graduate) went on for further studies. Nil unemployment was recorded. (Table 1)

>
B.Eng. - ComputerHKU Overall *
TotalMaleFemale
‘96‘95 ‘96‘95 ‘96‘95 ‘96‘95
No.% No.% No.% No.% No.% No.% No.% No.%
No. of respondents 4610050100 4310045100 31005100 21391002068100
F/T employed 4597.83978 431003577.8 266.7480 1743 81.5172683.5
P/T employed seeking F/T job 0000 0000 0000 341.6180.9
Unemployed seeking F/T job 0012 0000 00120 341.6361.7
Further studies 12.21020 001022.2 133.300 31414.728113.6
Emigration/home country 0000 0000 0000 60.2810.1
Not seeking F/T job 0000 0000 0000 80.460.3
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

The percentage of Computer Engineering graduates going on for further studies decreased from 20% in 1995 to 2.2% in 1996. The only gradaute who took up further studies was enrolled on a diploma programme in the U.S.A.

Field of StudyAcademic programme
Adv. Diploma/Diploma
Electrical & Electronic Engineering1
Table 2. Academic programmes

Source of FinanceNo. of Graduates
Scholarship + Teaching Assistantship/Studentship1
Table 3. Source of finance for further studies

IV. Time Taken to Secure Employment

Among those graduates who were in full-time employment, 98% secured their first job offer before the end of September. By November, the figure reached 100%. Compared with their predecessors in the previous year, the 1996 Computer Engineering graduates took less time in securing employment. (Figure 1)

Figure 1. Time taken to secure employment

V. Employment Sectors

91% of the graduates were employed in commerce and industry, followed by 4.4% each in civil service and the community, social and personal services sector. (Figures 2 & 3.)

Figure 2. Employment sectors

Figure 3. Employment sectors by sex

VI. Basic Salary and Gross Income

In general , the average income of 1996 Computer Engineering graduates was higher than that of their pedecessors in the previous year. (Table 4)

Basic SalaryGross Income
B.Eng. - ComputerHKU Average * B.Eng. - ComputerHKU Average *
‘96‘95‘96‘95 ‘96‘95‘96‘95
Mean $13,128$12,741$14,457$14,204 $14,547$14,074$15,902$15,662
Median $13,500$12,900$12,000$12,000 $15,050$14,083$13,542$13,230
Minimum $7,000$6,500$3,000$2,000 $10,000$7,583$5,500$3,792
Maximum $27,000$20,985$55,000$60,000 $27,000$20,985$60,000$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

64% of the graduates in full-time employment had more than one job offer. 36% in fact reported having received three or more offers. (Figure 4). On average, each graduate received 2.4 job offers, compared with 2.3 last year.

Figure 4. No. of full-time job offers

VIII. Names of employers and job titles

Of the 45 Computer Engineering graduates in full-time employment, 76% were employed as system analysts/ computer programmers, and 9% worked as engineers. Their job titles and the names of their employers are listed below.

Employers :Job Titles :
CIVIL SERVICE -
· Information Technology Services Department· Analyst Programmer II
· The Customs & Excise Department· Probation Inspector
COMMUNITY, SOCIAL & PERSONAL SERVICES -
· HK Jockey Club · Software Engineer
· Matilda & War Memorial Hospital· Programmer
COMMERCE & INDUSTRY -
· Andersen Consulting · Analyst
· Andersen Consulting · Analyst
· Andersen Consulting · Analyst
· Bioshop Co Ltd · Programmer
· Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd · Analyst Programmer
· Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd · Analyst Programmer
· Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd · Analyst
· Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd · Network Officer
· Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd · Lab Work Officer
· Combined Yield Ltd· Sales Representative
· Coopers & Lybrand · Tax Associate
· Coopers & Lybrand · Technical Support
· CTI· Account Manager
· EDS Electronic Data Systems (HK) Ltd · System Administrator
· Fei Lik Air Transport· EDP Assistant
· Hang Seng Bank Ltd · Information Technology Officer
· HongkongBank · System Analyst/Programmer
· HongkongBank · System Analyst/Programmer
· HongkongBank · System Analyst/Programmer
· HongkongBank · System Analyst/Programmer
· HongkongBank · System Analyst/Programmer
· HongkongBank · System Analyst/Programmer
· HongkongBank · System Analyst/Programmer
· HongkongBank · System Analyst/Programmer
· HongkongBank · System Analyst/Programmer
· HongkongBank · Programmer
· HongkongBank · IT Auditor
· Hong Kong Telecommunications Ltd · Graduate Programmer
· Hong Kong Telecommunications Ltd · Programmer
· Intergraph· Software Engineer
· J P Morgan · Management Trainee
· Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation · Analyst Programmer
· KPMG Peat Marwick · Assistant Accountant
· Laws Group · Computer Programmer
· Mass Transit Railway Corporation · Graduate Engineer
· Open Treasure Electronic Ltd · Sales Executive
· Quadbase System Inc · Software Engineer
· Star Industrial Co Ltd · Programmer
· Worldwide Telecommunications Co Ltd · Account Executive
· Organisation’s name not reported · Programmer

No Response = 1

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

August, 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