The second peer learning activity (PLA), organised as part of the European Network of Graduate Tracking, was held in Madrid, Spain, on 7-8 November 2023. The PLA focused on examining the different uses of graduate tracking data and intelligence at the EU, national, regional, and institutional level; and was hosted by the Spanish Ministry of Universities, the Ministry of Education and VET and the National Institute of Statistics.

The PLA was attended by 14 EU Member States and EEA countries, namely Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Spain. Representatives from the European Commission (DG EAC) and the OECD were also present.

At the PLA participants discussed how graduate tracking data can be used to inform policy developments connecting education and training with the labour market, as well as to inform prospective students/career counsellors/etc and to improve quality assurance at the provider level. As inputs for the thematic discussions, the PLA also included presentations from Spain, Slovakia and the OECD.

The main conclusions of the PLA were as follows:     

• Widespread evidence that a great deal of imagination and development had already been put into the design of graduate tracking systems and the presentation and use of the tracking data. There were many examples of effective data visualisation techniques, policy changes and engagement with the various users of tracking data.
• A recognition that there is substantial value of strengthening communication and collaboration between the ‘data producers’ and the various users of data.
• The importance of establishing how each piece of graduate tracking data will be used before it is collected.
• Awareness of the benefits for sharing graduate tracking data with teachers and others who can have an influence of young people’s choice of what and where to study or train.
• Recognition of the need to support data users to ensure they are able to make best use of the existing data. The flash report and summary report of the PLA have been shared with the Network on the collaborative platform. The summary report can also be accessed using the link below.