Top 10% fresh graduates earn $8,254, but no median salary?

[Sammyboy RSS Feed]

An honorable member of the Coffee Shop Has Just Posted the Following:

Top 10% fresh graduates earn $8,254, but no median salary?


July 26th, 2013 | Author: Contributions




Mr Leong Sze Hian


7 out of 10 get jobs before graduation

I refer to the article “7 out of 10 students at NTU land jobs before graduation”
(Straits Times, Jul 26).

Top 10% in 1 faculty – $8,254 average salary

It states that “Among the Class of 2013, the double degree cohort in
Accountancy and Business from Nanyang Business School has done well again this
year, with almost 9 in 10 securing employment before graduation, and the top 10
per cent drawing an average salary of $8,254.”

No median salary?

When I read this, the obvious question that came to my mind was – what was
the median salary?

So, I went to NTU’s web site to read the press release. No luck there either – no mention of the median
salary.

Got top, but no middle?

What’s the point of issuing a press release that cites the average salary of
the top 10 per cent of just the double degree cohort in one faculty, without any
mention of what most people (including the graduates and alumni) may like to
know – the median salary.

5 years of no real salary growth?

This may be particularly pertinent in the light of a Minister’s recent
remarks that there was no real growth in the salaries of fresh graduates over
the last five years or so.

Breakdown of types of jobs?

As to “The employment outlook looks bright for NTU’s Class of 2013 despite
the uncertain global economic climate. A preliminary survey conducted by the
university at the end of last month found that almost 7 in 10 graduates from the
Class of 2013 have secured jobs before graduation, slightly higher than in
2012″, why not give a breakdown as to the types of jobs – full-time permanent,
contract, etc?

How many not on internships?

With regard to “About 3 in 10 graduates are offered jobs by their internship
and attachment companies annually”, what is the number and percentage of
graduates out of the total number of graduates (including those who could not
get an internship) who were offered jobs?

In this connection, the statement “Each year, NTU has close to 4,800
undergraduates that undergo internship or attachment training at about 1,500
companies, both at home and abroad”, may give an indication that quite a lot of
them may not have been able to get internships.

What percentage of the total number were not on internships? (Note: This
year, there were 6,593 Bachelor’s Degree graduates and 142 Bachelor’s graduates
receiving double degrees)

How many still giving back?

In respect of “The Class of 2013 is also a story of generosity, setting a new
record of 87.19 per cent in class giving, surpassing last year’s 82.08 per
cent”, what is the percentage of total alumni who participate in class
giving?

How do we compare with other universities in the world?

“A Showcase of Success by NTU’s Class of 2013″

The subject press release was very appropriately titled “A Showcase of
Success by NTU’s Class of 2013″.

PMET

With this type of standard, can you blame the media for saying that
Singaporean PMETs are “Pampered, Mediocre, Expensive, Timid” (Straits Times, Jul
13)?



Leong Sze Hian

Leong Sze Hian is the Past President of the Society of Financial Service
Professionals, an alumnus of Harvard University, Wharton Fellow, SEACeM Fellow
and an author of 4 books. He is frequently quoted in the media. He has also been
invited to speak more than 100 times in 25 countries on 5 continents. He has
served as Honorary Consul of Jamaica, Chairman of the Institute of
Administrative Management, and founding advisor to the Financial Planning
Associations of Brunei and Indonesia. He has 3 Masters, 2 Bachelors degrees and
13 professional qualifications. He blogs at http://www.leongszehian.com.


Click here to view the whole thread at www.sammyboy.com.