Employment and employability profiles of psychology graduates from the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s professional psychology master’s programmes: a graduate tracer study.

Abstract

This dissertation reports on a graduate tracer study of professional psychology master’s programme graduates from one South African university (i.e., the University of KwaZulu-Natal). Since its inception in 2004, the University of KwaZulu-Natal has offered professional psychology training in clinical, counselling, educational, industrial, and research psychology. This tracer study aimed to identify these graduates’ employment patterns and employability and to provide a retrospective evaluation of the professional training programmes that the graduates underwent. The study is also linked to current debates of relevance around South African psychology and higher education, and whether South African psychologists are appropriately trained to meet the demands of the specific South African labour market and the complex mental health needs of the population. Between 2005 and 2020, the University of KwaZulu-Natal produced close to 500 professional psychology graduates. Drawing on this sampling frame, this tracer study managed to survey 112 of these graduates (i.e., 25.28% response rate) via an online questionnaire designed specifically for the purposes of the study. The findings indicate that the University of KwaZulu-Natal professional psychology graduates who participated in the study are employed in a variety of fields, but most predominantly in private practice (36,6%) and public higher education (21,8%). Moreover, graduates possess a wide variety of skills that can be applied to the working environment, implying good employability skills. Qualitative findings show an overall positive view towards the institution and the training received. The study importantly indicates the University of KwaZulu-Natal is training students who are able to secure employment and contribute towards the profession of psychology within the South African context.