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Overview
The relationships between education and the world of work is one of current key issues of education policy and
practice. There is a widespread belief that expansion of student enrolment contributes to economic growth and
societal wellbeing. Yet, concerned are widespread that graduates might face problems of getting employed, of
finding appropriate employments and of taking over professional assignments for which their study turns out be
relevant. Terms such as “mismatch” and “over-education” express such concerns.
Studies on graduate employment and work, often called “tracer studies”, have spread worldwide in recent years in
order to collect in-depth information on the relationships between study at vocational and higher education
institutions and the professional situation of graduates. More and more schools, colleges and universities are
engaged in collecting systematically information about the employment situation, work assignments and career
paths of their former students in order to improve the study conditions and provisions. Many different approaches
developed during the last years.
With the conference an account of the approaches and the findings of tracer studies should help both understand
the potentials of these studies and analyse the worldwide state of knowledge how education can contribute more
successfully to the subsequent career of graduates.
The international conference EXLIMA 2015 aims at serving the exchange of information on tracer studies both
methodologically and content-wise:
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to deepen the understanding of the links between curricula, learning, competences and graduate
employment and work,
to discuss the use and misuse of tracer studies for quality assessment, accountability and ranking,
to discuss how tracer studies have to be designed and implemented in order to elicit the most valuable
results,
to bring the first time researchers from VET and HE together,
to start the development of international standards of tracer studies (objectives/questions and
methodology).
This international conference continues and deepens the work of the first international tracer study conference
which was held in Bali 2012 with more than 300 participants from Africa, America, Asia and Europe. The
conference (25-26 Nov.) will be accompanied by a meeting of the International Network of Tracer Studies
(INGRADNET) (23-24 Nov.), and INDOTRACE workshops (27-28 Nov.).
Technical information
Organisation committee: Sandra Fikawati and Ahmad Syafiq (Indonesia), Harald Schomburg and René Kooij (Germany), Keiichi
Yoshimoto (Japan), Eduarda Castel (European Training Foundation), Jose Gines Mora (Spain)
Date of meetings, workshops and the conference: Third week of November 2015 (23.-28. Nov.2015)
Supporting organisations: Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Technology Republic of Indonesia; Ministry of Manpower
Republic of Indonesia (tentative); Ministry of Industry Republic of Indonesia (tentative)
Conference venue: Sanur Paradise Plaza Convention Center is located in the coastal village of Sanur, Bali, thereby providing easy
access to the entire island, the thriving and colorful traditional community makes Sanur a refreshingly different destination for
EXLIMA International Conference. The convention centre is located just 25 minutes from the international airport.
Call for abstracts: The organizing committee of the EXLIMA International Conference invites you to submit abstracts for the
academic program. Please visit the conference website for more information.
Participants: We expect a total of about 500 participants, mainly from schools, colleges and universities.
Expected output: 200 papers and posters; selected contributions will be published.
Important Dates:
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Abstract submissions deadline
June 30, 2015
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Abstract acceptance notification
July 15, 2015
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Start of registration
July 1, 2015
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Deadline for early bird registration
August 31, 2015
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Paper submission deadline (PDF)
August 31, 2015
Conference office: Dr. Sandra Fikawati, University of Indonesia, Career Development Center (CDC-UI), Jakarta, Indonesia
Phone+ 62 (21) (98522845), + 62 (21) (98522842) Fax + 62 (21) (78881021) Email:tracerstudy.conference2@gmail.com
Web http://www.exlima.org
The programme of the conference will be developed according the submitted paper proposals in June 2015 (see
http://www.exlima.org). Expected are contributions to the following topics:
Sub theme A: Link and Match: The Relationships between Study and Graduate Employment and Work - Results
of Recent Tracer Studies
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The use and misuse of tracer studies results for ranking of institutions
Interpretation of results and recommendation for improvements of the curriculum
Approaches to measure field/subject specific competencies
NEETS, Freeters and Generation Precaire: Graduates’ under and unemployment-similarities and differences around
the world; who are they and how many?
Causes and consequences of overeducation and mismatch
The relationships between curricula, competences and work tasks
Professional success: What really matters? Study programs, motivations, mobility, personal characteristics?
Changing job requirements and employer's expectations: Causes and developments
How to measure graduates professional success? Applications of success indicators
Transition to the labour market: individual, institutional or structural factors of success and failure (duration of job
search and search methods)
Gender inequalities in graduates' transitions to the labour market and professional success
Effects of student centered learning for learning outcomes/competencies and work
Effects of different modes of practice-oriented study programs for learning outcomes/competencies and work
The extent of practical training and the relevance for employability and professional work
The extent of temporary international mobility during study and the relevance for employability and professional
work
Equity regards the transition to employment and professional success - the relevance of gender, social class,
minorities, etc.
Other topics - open for additional contributions.
Sub theme B: Methodology of Tracer Studies
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Thematic complexity and formulation of questionnaires: What can be learned from varied approaches?
The timing of tracer studies: at what time after graduation should the survey be conducted?
Methods to enhance the quality of tracer studies: verification and updating of addresses, online surveys, response
rate and representation
Steps towards an international standardization of questions of tracer studies
Steps towards an international standardization of the design of tracer studies
Tracer studies and link and match: Potentials and limits of tracer studies as a feedback for institutions
Experiences with panel studies
Applications of structural equation modelling with tracer study data (and other advanced data analysis strategies).
Methodological challenges of comparative studies/comparability of tracer studies
Other methodological topics - open for additional contributions.
Sub theme C: Implementation and Utilization of Tracer Studies in Different Countries
Progress in implementing tracer studies and utilization of tracer study results at different levels were made in many countries
in Europe, Africa, the Americas, Asia and Australia. Presentations from the following countries will be invited:
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Argentina,
Armenia,
Australia,
Austria,
Belgium,
Bosnia
Herzegovina,
Canada,
Chile,
China,
Colombia,
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Czech
Republic,
Costa Rica,
El Salvador,
Ethiopia,
Finland,
France,
Germany,
Guatemala,
Honduras,
Hungary,
Indonesia,
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Iran,
Ireland,
Italy,
Japan,
Kenya,
Kyrgyzstan,
Lao PDR,
Macedonia,
Malaysia,
Mexico,
Montenegro,
Morocco,
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Namibia,
Netherlands,
Nicaragua,
Norway,
Oman,
Palestine,
Philippines,
Portugal
Romania,
Serbia,
Slovenia
Spain,
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South Africa,
Switzerland,
Taiwan,
Tunisia,
United
Kingdom,
USA,
Vietnam.
Conference office: Dr. Sandra Fikawati, University of Indonesia, Career Development Center (CDC-UI), Jakarta, Indonesia
Phone+ 62 (21) (98522845), + 62 (21) (98522842) Fax + 62 (21) (78881021) Email:tracerstudy.conference2@gmail.com
Web http://www.exlima.org
The programme of the conference will be developed according the submitted paper proposals in June
2015 (see http://www.exlima.org). Expected are contributions to the following topics:
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Sub theme A: Link and Match: The Relationships between Study and Graduate Employment and Work Results of Recent Tracer Studies
Sub theme B: Methodology of Tracer Studies
Sub theme C: Implementation and Utilization of Tracer Studies in Different Countries
Programme Frame of the International Conference (EXLIMA 2015)
25 - 26 November 2015
Location: Sanur Paradise Plaza Hotel, Bali/Indonesia
Wednesday, 25 November 2015
Morning
Registration and Poster Session
Welcome
Key note: New developments and old problems of tracer studies
Harald Schomburg
Key note: Methodological guides on anticipation and matching of skills supply and demand - a
CEDEFOP, ILO and ETF project
Eduarda Castel (European training Foundation)
Afternoon
Parallel sessions with the following tentative subjects
A. Experiences and results of the implementation of tracer studies in the VET sector of Indonesia,
Japan, Kyrgyzstan and Namibia
B. Experiences and results of the ALMA LAUREA international projects (Tunisia, Morocco, Armenia
and others)
C. How graduates are evaluating retrospectively their study conditions and provisions
D. The job search process: duration, methods and results
E. Employment and work, professional success - description and explanations of the relationship
between study and work
F. Competencies and work requirements - approaches and results
G. The development and use of online questionnaires with the open source software QTAFI
(demonstrations and workshop)
H. Interpretation and misinterpretation of the results of tracer studies
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Evening
Methodological experiences: what works and what not?
Diner with cultural programme
Thursday, 26 November
Morning
Parallel sessions continued
Afternoon
Key note: Approaches and Results of Tracer Studies in Indonesia
Sandra Fikawati and Ahmad Syafiq
Round table discussion: The Relevance and Challenges of Tracer Studies Worldwide
Participants from World Bank, ILO, ETF, GIZ, INGRADNET, INDOTRACE (tbc)
Closing
Conference office: Dr. Sandra Fikawati, University of Indonesia, Career Development Center (CDC-UI), Jakarta, Indonesia
Phone+ 62 (21) (98522845), + 62 (21) (98522842) Fax + 62 (21) (78881021) Email:tracerstudy.conference2@gmail.com
Web http://www.exlima.org
Additional Meetings and Workshops
The EXLIMA conference will be accompanied by a meeting of the members of the International Network
of Graduate Surveys (INGRADNET), which takes place on Monday, 23rd November and Tuesday 24.
November just before the conference starts. In this meeting steps towards a standardization of
approaches, topics and questions of graduate surveys will be undertaken. The meeting is open for
interested participants of the conference. More information about INGRADNET:
http://www.ingradnet.org.
Meeting of the International Network of Graduate Surveys (INGRADNET)
23 - 24 November 2015
Location: Sanur Paradise Plaza Hotel, Bali/Indonesia
Monday, 23 November 2015
Morning and
Welcome and introduction
Decision about the agenda
Election of rapporteurs for the working groups
Harald Schomburg (Coordinator of INGRADNET)
Four parallel working groups to develop standards for graduate surveys
A. Study conditions and provisions - the learning environment
Moderator: Bhina Patria, Indonesia
B. Competencies and work requirements
Moderator: Keiichi Yoshimoto, Japan
C. Employment and work
Moderator: Harald Schomburg, Germany
D. Methodology of tracer studies
Moderator: René Kooij, Germany
Afternoon
Group work continued
Tuesday, 24 November 2015
Morning
Presentation of the group work and discussion (one hour each topic)
A. Study conditions and provisions - the learning environment
B. Competencies and work requirements
C. Employment and work
D. Methodology of tracer studies
Afternoon
Proposals of key indicators/questions and methodology of tracer studies - final discussion
Moderator: Harald Schomburg, Germany
Election of a new INGRADNET coordinator and of new regional coordinators
Establishment of permanent INGRADNET working groups
Future activities and other topics
Conference office: Dr. Sandra Fikawati, University of Indonesia, Career Development Center (CDC-UI), Jakarta, Indonesia
Phone+ 62 (21) (98522845), + 62 (21) (98522842) Fax + 62 (21) (78881021) Email:tracerstudy.conference2@gmail.com
Web http://www.exlima.org
Additional Meetings and Workshops
The EXLIMA conference will be accompanied by a workshop of the Indonesian Tracer Study Network
(INDOTRACE) to foster the further development of Tracer Studies in Indonesia. This workshop is open
for participants of the EXLIMA conference.
Workshop of the Indonesian Network of Tracer Studies (INDOTRACE)
27 - 28 November 2015
Location: Sanur Paradise Plaza Hotel, Bali/Indonesia
Friday, 27 November 2015
Morning
Welcome and introduction
Ministry of Education and UI
Experiences with the implementation of tracer studies at Indonesia Universities
Sandra Fikawati and Ahmad Syafiq
Comparison of results of tracer studies from different universities
Ied Sitepu and Bhina Patria
Results of VET tracer studies in Indonesia
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Afternoon
Presentation of Indonesia Tracer Study Grantees (25 Universities)
Parallel QTAFI workshop for selected participants: The development and use of online questionnaires
with the open source software QTAFI version 3
Saturday, 28 November
Morning
Presentations of Indonesia Tracer Study Grantees (25 Universities) continued
Parallel QTAFI workshop for selected participants: The development and use of online questionnaires
with the open source software QTAFI version 3
Afternoon
Round table discussion: Cohort of graduates or cohorts of beginners - discussion of the pros and cons
of two approaches with participants from the University of Technology Bandung, the University of
Indonesia and INGRADNET
Moderator: Ied Sitepu
Conditions and procedures to achieve a high response rate - best practice
Ahmad Syafiq
Quality criteria of graduate tracer studies - a proposal for self-assessments
Harald Schomburg and René Kooij
Future developments of the Tracer Studies in Indonesia
Ahmad Syafiq
Evening
Meeting of INDOTRACE Committee: Evaluation of INDOTRACE Questionnaire
Moderator: Sandra Fikawati
Conference office: Dr. Sandra Fikawati, University of Indonesia, Career Development Center (CDC-UI), Jakarta, Indonesia
Phone+ 62 (21) (98522845), + 62 (21) (98522842) Fax + 62 (21) (78881021) Email:tracerstudy.conference2@gmail.com
Web http://www.exlima.org