The effects of higher education programme characteristics on the allocation and performance of the graduates

Using a unique European data-set, we investigated the significance of five higher education programme characteristics for the labour market position of the graduates: the academic versus discipline-specific character of the competencies generated; the standardization of these competencies; the combination of working and learning; the internationalization; and the exclusive entrance to particular occupations. Our results reveal the importance of the competence orientation. Graduates are allocated in such a manner that the competence orientation of the programme is in congruence with the competence orientation of the occupation. We will also show that the standardization of the programme allows for higher earnings.