Building stories using a bottom-up approach in reading administrative data

Abstract

This contribution shows the methodological approach - and its related reflections – used in the research project named UNI.CO. focussing on the transitions to work of foreign graduates in Sapienza. This aims to illustrate the reconstruction process of the university - to - work transition paths of 101 foreign graduates, based on data from two administrative databases: Infostud Sapienza and Obligatory Communications of the Ministry of Labour. An in-depth study of this phenomenon requires a twofold perspective, both synchronic and diachronic as well. We reflected on converting synthetic data into life stories by starting from the real meaning of "data". The purpose is identifying factors and aspects related with the career development, in order to obtain useful elements for the interpretation of personal life stories.