A national survey report has shown that University of Technology, Sydney graduates rank the highest overall for finding full-time jobs compared with all major universities in Australia.

The Graduate Destination Survey for 2000 was conducted by the Graduate Careers Council of Australia in association with individual universities.

The survey has shown that 73 percent of UTS first-degree graduates found full-time work compared to an Australian average of 57 percent.

UTS postgraduates also exceeded the national average of 70 percent, with a score of 77 percent finding full-time work.

For overall employment of university graduates, UTS ranked at 74 percent compared with a national average of 61 percent.

The survey results also show that the average starting salary of first-degree UTS graduates who were in full-time employment was $39,227 compared with the national average of $36,444.

UTS Vice-Chancellor Professor Tony Blake said the results were a welcome endorsement of UTS' focus on practice-based higher education.

"UTS has worked hard to forge valuable links with business, industry and the broader community to ensure that the courses offered to students prepare them to make a high-quality and professional contribution to their workplace," Professor Blake said.

"With Universities being forced to achieve more with less in an increasingly uncertain higher education sector in Australia, we are particularly pleased that our students are able to achieve their goals."

Survey results show that across all faculties at UTS, the percentage of graduates finding full-time employment was high but particularly so for Nursing, Midwifery and Health.

Of UTS nursing graduates in Australia seeking full-time work, 96 percent of undergraduates and 98 percent of postgraduates were successful.

An easy-to-read summary of survey results as they relate to UTS will be available in booklet format from UTS from 25 August 2001.