What happens to iSchool graduates? Using career data to support iSchool engagement initiatives

Abstract

iSchool collaboration with local, national or global constituencies can be promoted through curricular programs, community outreach, and partnerships with other nonprofit and for-profit institutions and organizations on research and projects. iSchool faculty, students, and supporters, including alumni, all play a role in planning, promoting, implementing, and sustaining these engagement efforts. Research institutions that are committed to community engagement will need data from a variety of sources to make these initiatives successful. Career tracking of graduates can provide iSchools with useful data for strategic planning of programs and engagement activities. For some programs, alumni may be an untapped resource, and regular communication with those who are interested opens up potential partnerships with them, their associates, and their employers. Retrospective surveys allow an iSchool to reconnect with alumni who may welcome the opportunity to re-engage with the program and faculty, conduct research or provide support, or offer internships, learning opportunities, or future jobs for students. Career surveys can be used to assess this interest and solicit ideas for collaborative ventures. Analysis of career data can also help iSchool educators find out what types of jobs their graduates are taking and the variety of organizations that employ them, as well as the graduates’ perceptions of how well the program prepared them for their professions. This type of information informs curriculum design, pedagogical strategies, internship placement, research project planning, and the establishment of community partnerships.