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NOTES TO NEWS EDITORS

1. The figures in this publication are based on data collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency ( HESA) from higher education institutions ( HEIs), and the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council ( SFC) from further education colleges ( FECs).
2. This publication contains information on students, from both HEIs and FECs, who successfully completed a higher education course in Scotland in the years covered. Higher education courses are defined as non school qualifications at Level 7 or above of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework ( SCQF). All higher education graduates from Scottish Higher Education Institutions and Colleges (full-time and part-time, from within the EU and from outside the EU) are included in Tables 1-6. Information on the Open University in Scotland is not included in the tables of this Publication Notice (but see footnote to Table 1).
3. Over the years 2000-01 to 2003-04, SFC has made revisions and improvements to its collection of numbers of graduates. Figures between 2002-03 and 2004-05 have been produced here to a consistent method. In the years 2000-01 and 2001-02, changes were made which resulted in a reduction in the reported number of graduates from FECs and an increase in the number of continuing students. Tables of graduates from Higher Education Institutions are not affected. Also, the tables on first destinations are not affected by these changes.
4. Due to the significant changes in the collection of numbers of HE graduates from FECs, care should be taken when comparing total numbers of graduates across years.
5. The tables on first destinations ( Tables 7 to 14) report on the activities of full-time students from Scotland, the rest of the UK and the rest of the EU. First destination information is collected by the colleges and universities through a voluntary survey to individual students of all nationalities within the European Union who have successfully completed their course. Details are requested about the graduate's destination on 15 January ( HESA) or 31 December ( SFC) following the end of the academic session in which they qualified.
6. The collection of destinations for graduates from HEIs changed for the year 2002/03. Data are now collected for part-time as well as full-time students, but full-time students only are included here, as aggregation with SFC data is only possible for full-time students. Part time graduates and graduates from outwith the EU are however included in the graduate tables ( tables 1-6).
7. Response rates for 1999/00 to 2004/05 have been calculated as the percentage of all graduates in the target population who were sent a questionnaire and replied stating a known destination. Non-respondents and unknown responses have been excluded from tables 7-13. The overall response rate to the first destination surveys has stayed relatively constant at around 70% to 80% in each year since 1999/00. The response rates for each year are given in table 14.
8. This is a National Statistics publication. National Statistics are produced to high professional standards set out in the National Statistics Code of Practice. They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs. They are produced free from any political interference.

This news release, together with associated tables listed above, is published on the Scottish Executive website http://www.scotland.gov.uk/llstatistics those who do not have access to the Internet, please contact Gerhard Mors. See details below.

For media enquiries please contact:

Press ETLLD
Scottish Executive
Press Office
Tel. (0131) 244 2682

For further information, non-media enquiries and comments on this publication, please contact:

Tel. (0141) 242 5488
Fax. (0141) 242 5455
E-mail.fhestatistics@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

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