90% UK women graduates earn above average salaries: Report

New Delhi, Sep 4 (IANS) As many as 90 per cent of women graduating from universities in the UK earn above average salaries, according to a recent report by the Universities UK International (UUKi), a collective representing over 130 universities from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The report said that 51 per cent of all Indians graduating from the UK say they earn above or well above average, and 90 per cent of women in this group say they earn average or above.

The UUKi report adds that 60 per cent of Indian respondents surveyed said they were in their current jobs because it was exactly the type of work they wanted to do, with 82 per cent saying they are satisfied, or very satisfied, with their careers.

The data was released in the Indian Graduate Outcomes 2019 study conducted by UUKi.

Close to 1,000 Indian students, of a total of 16,000 students from different nationalities who had completed their studies between January 2011 and July 2016, were surveyed to understand their experience of studying in the UK, their satisfaction with their education and their current jobs.

"The job satisfaction of UK graduates is higher, because chances of getting the job of one's choice markedly increases. I think this also leads to more effective work performance and logically, more recognition for one's work. The likelihood of UK graduates working in India in managerial roles was 23 per cent higher than the global average," said UUKi Director Vivienne Stern.

The number of Indian and international students heading to UK for an education is on the rise. In one year, there has been a 42 per cent increase in the number of Indian students going to the UK for studies, according to the latest immigration statistics released by the UK Home Office.

"As the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, the British Council encourages student mobility with close to 500 scholarships each year. In addition, we also facilitate and support research collaborations and partnerships between educational institutions in the two countries every year," said British Council Director (India) Barbara Wickham.

The responses provided by the survey show that a UK education also provides benefits beyond employment and career goals, providing possible greater thrust to the sustainability and economic goals of their work or home countries.

While 70 per cent of Indian respondents felt they were better equipped to address issues of equitable access to sustainable development, 65 per cent felt they were better equipped to address issues of human rights, good governance and societal justice, and 69 per cent felt they were better equipped to address issues of sustainable economy and society.

"Globally, 90 per cent of UK graduates are satisfied or very satisfied with all aspects of their lives, beyond just careers, with 82 per cent of respondents feeling that studying in the UK is worth the investment.

"Globally, 81 per cent of graduates felt they would not have been able to get their job without their UK degree, with 1 in 4 saying that a UK education was the most important thing to their employer," the report said.

Over time, the number of graduates that believe they earn a higher than average salary increases, indicating a faster than average salary progression for UK graduates in their home countries. Sixty nine per cent of respondents feel that having a UK degree meant they could progress more quickly than peers educated elsewhere.

"Students across the world increasingly want a holistic exposure to the real world of work and life. The UK has a diverse, world-leading higher education system which focusses on employability and equips students with real world skills," Stern said.

"UK universities are known for the culture of openness and innovation they foster. International students and particularly Indian students are made to feel at home in the cosmopolitan, warm atmosphere, both on and off campus, which contributes to a wonderful student experience," she added.