17 Higher education and the transition to work

Abstract

Within the conceptual framework of the German National Educational Panel Study, the substudy “Higher Education and the Transition to Work” traces about 16,500 students in higher education on their pathway from enrolment to the labor market. This article gives insights into the main research issues, the study design, and first experiences while focusing on the following stage-specific characteristics: the measurement of subject-specific competencies by competence tests and self-report measures; the assessment of learning environments in a way that allows for a multilayer perspective; the measurement of crucial career decisions including concepts of social and academic integration; a particular emphasis on subgroups of special research interest, such as students in private higher education, teacher training students, and nontraditional students without a school leaving certificate qualifying for higher education; and, finally, the use of online surveys that are particularly adequate for higher education students because of this group’s extensive Internet access and high mobility.