Employers' view on studies abroad - Svenskt NÃ¤ringsliv

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Results 25 Figure 25 – Do you agree with the following statement? – I can easily compare foreign university degrees with Swedish university degrees Companies 1% 4% 32% 55% 20% Authorities 4% 13% 32% 43% 3% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Agree totally Agree mostly Agree partly Do not agree Don’t know To simplify the comparison of degrees from different countries in Europe an appendix to the university degree has been developed by the European Commission, the Council of Europe and UNESCO – the so called Diploma supplement. Its purpose is to enhance international transparency regarding grades and degrees, but apparently this information has not yet reached Swedish employers, which the chart below shows: Figure 26 – Are you familiar with the appendix to the degree certificate, the so called “Diploma Supplement” (DS)? Companies 10% 90% Authorities 16% 84% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Yes No This type of clarifying documents can and should of course be an asset; students attain a clearer <strong>view</strong> of their results and employers have a simple way of comparing degrees from different countries. The document has no significance, however, if it is unheard of, which the chart above shows is largely the case. One should on the other hand remember that the Diploma supplement is a relatively newly created document which is not publicly known yet. When knowledge of it has spread more companies should probably have a more positive <strong>view</strong> of foreign degrees. Svenskt Näringsliv
Conclusions 26 5 Conclusions This report shows that international experience from studies or work practice plays an important role. It is considered to give the person skills that very well might be decisive when applying for a job. The survey shows that companies do not see international experience as necessary when recruiting, but it is generally appreciated and is seen as an advantage when two candidates with otherwise equal merits are compared. So called “international” skills, such as intercultural competence and language skills, are consistently ranked low among both companies and authorities as skills looked for in an employee. Employers instead look for motivated, responsible candidates with good communicative skills. These skills are also perceived by employers as being developed by students who study abroad to a large extent, which shows that studies and work practice abroad has substantial value in the labor market. In the introduction above it was mentioned that studies abroad are often considered valuable. The question was – in what way? Is it possible to prove that exchange studies abroad raises the quality of Swedish higher education? In the bill Fokus på kunskap – quality in higher education the Swedish government describes potential in the labor market after graduation as a factor that will be of importance in the future. This report has shown that employers, both in private and public sector, rather choose candidates with international experience than candidates without in a ceteris paribus-situation. Furthermore, we have tried to find out which skills/traits employers are looking for and correlate them with the skills/traits employers think students develop during studies abroad. The result shows a strong correlation – the skills/traits looked for in employees are very much the same ones that students are considered to develop during studies or work practice abroad. In summary, the results show that students who have studied or conducted work practice abroad increase their possibilities in the job market, as they are considered to develop valuable skills. Authorities, who often have some sort of international activity, also appreciate candidates with international experience to a high degree. The results from the survey regarding degrees show the importance of increased information and enhanced communication between businesses/organizations and academia. An observable gap of knowledge exists among employers about foreign degrees/diplomas, and this gap could be overcome through increased information from the realm of higher education. This is important, since would increase knowledge about the value of a foreign degree, both with employers and employees. Few respondents know of the new appendix to the certificate of degree, the Diploma supplement, and that has negative effects on both sides. A document such as the Diploma supplement loses its value if it is not used. It is therefore crucial to make more use of it and increase employers’ knowledge about the gains from utilizing it. The fact that companies prefer Swedish degrees is an obstacle to a large group of students, both Swedish and foreign, who instead of being attractive in the job market hardly get a chance to enter it. In comparison with the situation for students with international experience in Finland some differences show. The Finnish study shows, e.g., that the labor market in Finland is more inward bound, and employers prefer employees with work life/work practice experience from Finland rather than from abroad. The distribution of replies is inverse between the two countries, which indicates a major difference in attitude to international experience between them. Swedish employers believe to a low extent that students who have been abroad develop their knowledge of the relevant subject (a <strong>view</strong> consistent with similar studies conducted in other countries). Those skills considered to be developed most are “soft” skills such as social skills, communicative Svenskt Näringsliv
Page 1 and 2: Employers’ view
Page 3 and 4: Content 2 Content Summary .........
Page 5 and 6: Introduction/Background 4 The study
Page 7 and 8: Introduction/Background 6 In additi
Page 9 and 10: Method 8 3 Method The study has bee
Page 11 and 12: Results 10 Figure 2 - How many of y
Page 13 and 14: Results 12 Figure 4 English 73% 76%
Page 15 and 16: Results 14 Figure 8 - How important
Page 17 and 18: Results 16 Figure 11 - How importan
Page 19 and 20: Results 18 Figure 14 and 15 - To wh
Page 21 and 22: Results 20 The results show that th
Page 23 and 24: Results 22 Figure 20 - When recruit
Page 25: Results 24 Figure 23 - When recruit
Page 29 and 30: References 28 6 References Bengtsso

Employers' view on studies abroad - Svenskt NÃ¤ringsliv

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?