Abstract:
Graduate tracer studies have come to represent one of the
key approaches for enhancing study programme effectiveness
in contemporary higher education. This has led to
a surge in graduate tracer studies by Ghanaian higher education
institutions. However, reflective practices on challenges
and lessons from these studies are lacking. Through focusgroup
discussions and individual interviews with members of
a research team that undertook a nation-wide data collection
in connection with a graduate tracer study, this article distils
challenges the research team struggled to surmount and
lessons learnt for the conduct of future graduate tracer studies
within the context of Ghana. Against the backdrop of the
insights generated and discussed, it is concluded that reflective
research exercises, such as the one reported in this
article, are a scholarly imperative for continuous improvement
in the conduct of graduate tracer studies, which is
rarely undertaken in the Ghanaian higher education context.