Hi all,
I don't know if this is the correct forum to promote my PhD, please feel free to let me know if it is not. I am in the first year of my PhD, the subject is graduate employability and higher education. I am interested in finding out what happens to people in North Wales once they graduate from university and FE colleges: how well do they do in the graduate labour market or in gaining post grad scholarships. I have set up a Facebook group "You've graduated, now what? Research Project on North Wales graduates" If you would like to follow my project, or even take part in the research, please feel free to join the group, or email me for further details sopc2c@bangor.ac.uk. Thanks Teresa

A copy of the abstract from a recent conference presentation I gave on the research is available from http://bangor.academia.edu/TeresaCrew/Talks#d32973. Thanks Teresa

I went to uni in Bangor and have a lot of friends there still. I moved away for my PhD as one thing I came across with some aspects is I don't speak welsh. This may not be a problem in your area but for me it would have been very restrictive and hindered my progress due to being able work in the community, although most speak English if their first language is welsh this is how the language work needs to be conducted in. It may be something to consider and try to find out how important it is in your area if you don't speak welsh, the uni is expanding greatly so for what I know those who stayed there is opportunity.

Hi AMC, my computer is having an off day as I thought I had already replied to your msg - apologies if you get two replies to this. Yes, I agree, Welsh language skill are needed in Wales, but especially in North West Wales (Gwynedd and IO Anglesey), Whereas it most probably a different story in North east Wales. There is already research by Baker (2009 I think), for example that highlights these diffs. I am currently at the lit review stage but am already thinking ahead to data collection. I expect to do this via semi structured interviews in person or via email. If you would like to know more about the research feel free to pm me, or take look on my FB group that has an overview of the project. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Youve-graduated-now-what-Research-Project-on-North-Wales-graduates/170854742941486. What stage are you at in your PhD? Regards Teresa