Regional Conference on Science, Technology and Social Sciences (RCSTSS 2014)

Abstract

The boost in the number of tertiary institutions and the number of graduates can be seen in the past few decades in most parts of the world. With an increase in the number of female applicants, the gender disparity among undergraduates is also widening. Despite domination of females in the enrollment at higher education institutions, statistics had shown that employment rates are lower among female graduates. Detailed reports had also revealed the differences in employment rate across field of study. As employability has been highlighted as the main factor motivating the youth and other non?traditional students to achieve higher education attainment, the situation raises a question. Did they further their study at tertiary education with different intentions? Analyses were conducted using primary data collected through a self?administrated survey. Quantitative analysis was done to investigate what is the reason for undergraduates to continue their study at a higher education institution. In specific, comparative Support studies are done by gender for various fields of study. The results indicate that dissimilarity exists across a field of study and within gender. Increased chances to be employed after graduating is not the only motivation to go for tertiary education. Hence, assessing the issue of unemployment among undergraduate should be done at the micro level.