Employers' view on studies abroad - 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
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