Bachelor of Commerce (Digital Marketing) - Postsecondary ...

B. Overall Summary of Research Findings
High Level of Interest in Pursuing a Business Degree
Overall, the findings from the three surveys conducted by Academica Group among Current Students,
Prospective Students and Fanshawe Business Alumni indicate that there is a very high level of interest
among a fairly large proportion of students in obtaining a higher degree credential in business studies.
Prior research has shown that college students are most likely to make a decision about continuing on to
further education before they are enrolled in their program or while they are enrolled in it (noted above
in Background and Context section). This is certainly evidenced by Academica Group’s research findings.
Current Students who are either enrolled at Fanshawe College or another college express the greatest
interest in further studies among all the considered groups. Of the 322 Current LKSB Students surveyed,
80% say they have considered applying for a degree either at a college or a university in the past year.
The percentage is higher among final year advanced diploma students (91%) compared to diploma
students (78%). Note that Current Students in this group who are enrolled in the Business diploma
program are less likely than students in the Accounting, Human Resources Management and Marketing
programs to be interested in pursuing a degree credential.
That current students express the highest level of interest in pursuing a degree is corroborated by
findings from the Prospect Survey (total interest is 71%), in which 93% of those who are currently
enrolled in a competitor college`s business program report interest in applying for a degree.
Those who are currently High School Students also express a high level of interest, as do International
Students/Immigrants. Of these two Prospective Survey sub‐groups, 79% of High School Students and
81% of International Students say they are considering applying for a business degree in the next three
years.
As expected, levels of interest among those who are currently employed or not in school are lower. Only
57% of Fanshawe Business Alumni, many of whom are currently employed, and 54% of those Employed
from the Prospect Survey indicate a level of interest in continuing their education by applying for a
business degree in the next three years.
Table 1. Interest in Applying for a Degree by Student Groups
LKSB Degree Program Feasibility Study • 2011
11