ERIC Number: EJ1123326
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1363-9080
EISSN: N/A
The Role of Students' Employability Perceptions on Portuguese Higher Education Choices
Tavares, Orlanda
Journal of Education and Work, v30 n1 p106-121 2017
In a context where mass higher education has eroded the job security once guaranteed by higher qualifications, students are more likely to view higher education as an "investment" which should yield return in terms of their employability. The aim of this study is to understand whether Portuguese students consider employability as the main reason to choose to enrol in higher education, to choose a specific programme and to choose a specific higher education institution. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 60 first-year students, from universities and polytechnics, both public and private, and from three first-cycle study programmes (Arts, Pharmacy and Computer Engineering). The analysis is based on a qualitative study exploring Portuguese students' perceptions underlying their higher education choices. Findings suggest that the majority of the students interviewed considered employability as the major reason to enrol in higher education, although its importance was largely undervalued in the choice of study programme and of institution.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Undergraduate Students, Student Attitudes, Employment Potential, College Freshmen, College Choice, Decision Making, Higher Education, Labor Market, Education Work Relationship, Public Colleges, Proximity, Reputation, Semi Structured Interviews, Qualitative Research
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Portugal
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A