Education | 80pct of MUST graduates choose employment over further education

EIGHTY percent of the graduating students from the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) choose employment instead of pursuing further education degrees, MUST’s president Liu Liang revealed during this week’s MUST Career Day.

Ninety-nine percent of the MUST local graduates stayed in Macau for work. Approximately 37 percent of the local graduates were given a starting salary of MOP17,000, while 45 percent were offered a job paying between MOP11,000 and MOP17,000.

“The employment situation of MUST graduates is ideal,” said Liu, adding that most of the graduates are employed in the sectors of “trade, retail, tourism, catering, hospitality, gaming, banking, finance, insurance, public administration, medical services, and social services.”

According to MUST’s longitudinal survey, 50 percent of MUST’s non-local students pursued further studies, and 43 percent of non-local students who decided to venture into the job market chose to work in the Greater Bay Area.

“This [the Greater Bay Area] represents an excellent career development opportunity,” said Liu, adding “I believe it will grow very fast [the number of MUST graduates working in the Greater Bay Area].”

The MUST president further believes that the Greater Bay Area development plan is a state level plan that will involve the whole world, and not just the Greater Bay Area itself.

“The prospects of employment and entrepreneurship endeavors in the Greater Bay Area are very optimistic,” said Liu.

Jin Ge, an MUST student from mainland China, says that the MUST Career Day is providing her with “quite a lot” of opportunities. She intends to get a job in the education sector. Jin expressed no specific desire to work in Macau, and she has not yet thought about the salaries.

Joyce Jiang, a Masters student majoring in accounting, said “I wish to get a job related to my major. However, right now I feel that there are rather few vacancies available.”

“Definitely, my first choice goes to big companies but, since this is just the beginning, I will try all kinds of companies,” said Jiang, adding “I have not decided yet [about exactly where she wants to work].”

In total, 165 companies are attending the two days of the MUST Career Day, offering over 4,000 job vacancies.

A new record has been set in terms of numbers of companies from overseas, Hong Kong and mainland China.