1. Introduction
The University of the Bahamas Graduate Report provides a critical breakdown of the institution’s academic output and strategic direction. By analyzing the 524 graduates from the 2022-2023 dataset, this report outlines the distribution of degrees across various divisions and meta-fields. This analysis serves to illuminate the university’s academic priorities, its alignment with labour market demands, and the profile of the skilled workforce it contributes to the national and regional economy.
2. Key Findings
2.1 | Table 1: Graduate Degree Percentage Breakdown by Division
2.1 Overview. The analysis of the University of the Bahamas Graduate Report dataset reveals distinct patterns amongst graduates. Organizing the results by division and division field, provides a clearer understanding of where the education system is performing effectively and where targeted interventions are most urgently required.
Division | Percentage |
Business & Hospitality Management | 24.43% |
Chemistry, Environment & Life Sciences | 11.83% |
Communications & Creative Arts | 2.86% |
Culinary Arts & Tourism Studies | 15.65% |
Education | 1.00% |
English Studies | 4.96% |
Math, Physics & Technology | 19.47% |
Nursing & Allied Health Professions | 15.46% |
Social Sciences | 4.39% |
2.1 | Table 2: Graduate Degree Percentage Breakdown by Division Field
Division Field | Percentage |
S.T.E.M | 46.76% |
Humanities/Arts | 28.82% |
Vocational/Professional | 24.43% |
Note: The Division Fields are the following: S.T.E.M.: Chemistry, Environment & Life Sciences, Math, Physics & Technology, and Nursing & Allied Health Professions. Humanities/Arts: Social Sciences, English Studies, Education, Communications & Creative Arts, and Culinary Arts & Tourism Studies. Vocational/Professional: Business & Hospitality Management.
3. Analysis
The 2022–2023 graduate data reflect a year of significant and notable shifts in the university’s academic output, marked by the dramatic emergence of STEM fields as the dominant field and substantial changes in several key divisions:
- (1) The most striking change is the dramatic increase in Math, Physics & Technology (19.47%), which has grown to become the second-largest division, indicating a strong institutional push or market demand towards technology and hard sciences. Simultaneously, Education (1.00%) has seen a precipitous decline from its previous position as a core pillar, suggesting a major shift in enrollment, program offerings, or completion cycles that requires investigation. Culinary Arts & Tourism Studies (15.65%) has also grown significantly into a major division.
- (2) The traditional leader, Business & Hospitality Management (24.43%), remains the single largest division. However, the top of the distribution now includes Nursing & Allied Health Professions (15.46%), Culinary Arts & Tourism Studies (15.65%), and the rapidly expanded Math, Physics & Technology (19.47%). This represents a more diversified set of high-output fields compared to previous years.
- (3) These shifts fundamentally alter the meta-field landscape. The S.T.E.M. field (46.76%) is now the clear leader, driven by the surge in Math, Physics & Technology, strong Nursing numbers, and solid output from Chemistry, Environment & Life Sciences (11.83%). The Humanities/Arts field (28.82%) has contracted significantly, influenced heavily by the drastic reduction in Education graduates. The Vocational/Professional field (24.43%) continues to be defined by Business & Hospitality Management.
The institution demonstrates a year of notable transition and realignment. The graduate output suggests a strategic or responsive pivot towards technology, hard sciences, and specific vocational areas (culinary/tourism), while moving away from traditional strengths in education.
4. Conclusion
The 2022–2023 graduate profile indicates a potentially transformative period for the University of The Bahamas, with a decisive pivot towards STEM and technical fields. The surge in Math, Physics & Technology and Culinary Arts graduates, coupled with the maintained strength in Business and Health, points to an institution actively aligning its output with evolving economic diversification goals and labour market signals, particularly in technology and tourism.
The extreme contraction in Education graduates raises important strategic questions and warrants immediate review to understand whether this reflects a temporary anomaly, a structural change in programming, or a shift in student demand. Moving forward, the university should seek to understand the drivers behind these significant fluctuations to ensure that such sharp realignments are deliberate and sustainable. This year’s data underscores the dynamic nature of academic planning and the need for continuous monitoring to balance responsive programming with stable, long-term development of the nation’s core professional sectors.
5. Citation
- Department of Statistics. Labour Market Information Newsletter, Volume 36, No. 47. Ministry of Finance, The Bahamas, June 2023.