SUTD grads hold their own against other universities

JOB PROSPECTS

The Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), which aims to nurture "technically grounded leaders and innovators for society", is hitting its target.

Results of the first graduate employment survey released by the university yesterday showed that its pioneer cohort of engineering graduates had job prospects comparable to those of other university graduates here.

The median gross salary of graduates from SUTD's three engineering courses is $3,600.

This compares with the median gross salaries of mechanical engineering, industrial systems engineering and computer engineering graduates from the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University last year, which range from $3,200 to $3,700.

In particular, the median gross salary for graduates from SUTD's information systems technology and design course is $3,950.

Information systems graduates from the Singapore Management University had a median gross salary of between $3,500 and $3,800.

Some 85 per cent of SUTD's 187 graduates in the labour force were employed within six months of completing their final examinations last year.

This trails slightly behind the 90 per cent employment rate for graduates from the other universities, which released their yearly survey results earlier this month.

SUTD provost Chong Tow Chong attributed this to the trend of some graduates who are working on start-up or entrepreneurship initiatives, as well as some who have chosen to take a gap year after graduation.

As of March 15, more than 90 per cent of SUTD graduates have found full-time employment.

The survey was conducted with 298 fresh graduates, with a participation rate of 86 per cent.

SUTD offers a total of four courses: engineering product development, engineering systems and design, information systems technology and design, and architecture and sustainable design.

Data from the architecture course will be released in 2020 after graduates go through their practical training.

yuensin@sph.com.sg

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