Recovery and Resilience Plan | National Graduate Tracking Mechanism and Design and Implementation of an Employers’ Skills Survey

The Department of Higher Education, in the context of the project "Addressing skills mismatch between education and the labour market", which is included in the Cyprus Recovery and Resilience Plan, is implementing the project entitled “Development of a National Graduate Tracking Mechanism and Design and Implementation of an Employers’ Skills Survey” (Component 5.1: Modernisation of the education system – skills enhancement and upgrading). The project aims to:

Create a National Graduate Tracking Mechanism (CYGraduates)
Design and implement a National Employers’ Skills Survey (CYEmployers)
Fund Cyprus' participation in two cycles of the European Graduate Survey “EUROGRADUATE”
Develop the necessary infrastructure within the Department of Higher Education for the long-term implementation of all surveys

The project addresses the challenge of skill and qualification mismatches between Cyprus’ Higher Education system and the labour market. The three surveys will provide longitudinal data to relevant Ministries, Institutions, and stakeholders (e.g. Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy; Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance, Human Resource Development Authority, Higher Education Institutions; employers). This data will facilitate evidence-based policymaking, supporting efforts to strengthen the alignment of Higher Education with labour market needs at a national level. Furthermore, the findings will be disseminated to both Higher Education and Secondary Education students, enabling them to make informed career decisions based on reliable labour market intelligence.

The project is implemented by PwC Cyprus, following an open tender via the national eProcurement platform, under the supervision of the Department of Higher Education.

More information regarding the project is available at the following link: https://skilltracking.highereducation.ac.cy/

1. National Graduate Tracking Mechanism (CYGraduates)

The National Graduate Tracking Mechanism (CYGraduates) aims to collect high-quality data from graduates of all Cyprus’ Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) regarding their professional path and social outcomes after completing their studies. The project includes five data collection cycles between 2022 and 2026. Each cycle targets two groups of graduates:

T+1: Graduates one year after graduation
T+5: Graduates five years after graduation

Data is collected via an online questionnaire covering the following themes: a) Experience from Higher Education, b) Transition to the labour market, c) Experience from the labour market, d) Match between job and studies, e) Mobile graduates, f) Participation in upskilling and reskilling activities during employment and g) Personal and social background

Data Collection Cycles of CYGraduates

First Cycle:

The first cycle of the National Graduate Tracking Survey (CYGraduates) involved the collection of data from graduates of the academic years 2020/2021 (T+1) and 2016/2017 (T+5) and was conducted during February–March 2023. Participants in the first data collection cycle included graduates from Programs of Study at Level 5 (Certificates, Diplomas, Higher Diplomas), Level 6 (Bachelor’s Degrees), and Level 7 (Master’s Degrees) of the National Qualifications Framework.

Subject	File	Date
Preliminary results of the first cycle of Cyprus' National Graduate Tracking Survey (CYGraduates)		06/10/2023

Second Cycle:

The second cycle of the National Graduate Tracking Survey (CYGraduates) involved the collection of data from graduates of the academic years 2021/22 (T+1) and 2017/18 (T+5) and was conducted during January-April 2024. Participants in the second data collection cycle included graduates from Programs of Study at Level 5 (Certificates, Diplomas, Higher Diplomas), Level 6 (Bachelor’s Degrees), and Level 7 (Master’s Degrees) of the National Qualifications Framework

Subject	File	Date
Main results of the second cycle of Cyprus' National Graduate Tracking Survey (CYGraduates)		08/07/2025
Executive summary		08/07/2025

Third Cycle:

The third cycle of the National Graduate Tracking Survey (CYGraduates) involved the collection of data from graduates of the academic years 2022/23 (T+1) and 2018/19 (T+5), and was conducted during January-June 2025. Participants in the third data collection cycle included graduates from Programs of Study at Level 5 (Certificates, Diplomas, Higher Diplomas), Level 6 (Bachelor’s Degrees), Level 7 (Master’s Degrees) and for the first time Level 8 (Doctoral) of the National Qualifications Framework.

2. National Employers’ Skills Survey (CYEmployers)

The CYEmployers survey aims to collect data regarding current and future labour market needs, skill gaps, and training provisions from private-sector employers and senior public-sector managers across all sectors of the Cyprus economy. The project entitled “Development of a National Graduate Tracking Mechanism and Design and Implementation of an Employers’ Skills Survey” includes two data collection cycles (one conducted in 2024 and one planned for 2026). Data is collected through the completion of an online questionnaire. The questionnaire covers the following thematic areas: Current and future needs in terms of skills and qualifications, skill gaps in the workforce, training provided by employers, training provided by employers to their staff, availability of apprenticeship placements and enterprise characteristics, among others.

Data Collection Cycles of CYEmployers

First Cycle

The first data collection cycle was conducted during the period May–December 2024. Approximately 13,000 private sector enterprises were invited to participate, selected through random stratified sampling from the Business Register of the Cyprus Statistical Service. In addition, all managerial staff from the public and broader public sector were invited to take part.

The report of main findings is expected to be published within 2025.

3. European Graduate Survey “EUROGRADUATE”

The European Survey "EUROGRADUATE" is a European graduate tracking survey in Higher Education. In its first cycle, the survey included 17 European countries, with the goal of reaching 80% participation across European countries by 2030. EUROGRADUATE aims to collect comparable data across countries regarding graduates’ experiences during their Higher Education studies, and how these experiences influence their professional lives and their lives as European citizens. Data collected through the EUROGRADUATE survey will contribute to the comparative analysis of Higher Education systems across Europe and support the identification of ways to improve these systems so they can better prepare young people for the world of work and their roles in society. It is noted that during periods when both the EUROGRADUATE and National Graduate Tracking Surveys are conducted concurrently, a common questionnaire will be used.

More information about the EUROGRADUATE Survey is available at the following link: https://www.eurograduate.eu/

Data Collection Cycles of EUROGRADUATE

First Cycle:

The first cycle of the European Survey “EUROGRADUATE” has been completed, with the participation of graduates from Higher Education Institutions in Cyprus from the academic years 2020/2021 (T+1) and 2016/2017 (T+5). The report of comparative results is expected to be finalised within 2025.

Second cycle

The second cycle of the EUROGRADUATE survey is scheduled to take place in 2026.