Employers' view on studies abroad - Svenskt Näringsliv

Conclusions 27
skills and language skills. What this study shows, which has not been apparent in earlier studies, is
that many of the skills that employers consider students to develop during studies/work practice
abroad are the same skills that employers look for in possible employees.
Efforts should be put into increasing work practice programs. Businesses as well as authorities consider
work life experience as highly valuable when recruiting, and as a student the easiest way to
attain it is through work practice. Employers also choose candidates with work experience before
others when there are multiple candidates for a job, which strengthens the case that more Swedish
students should conduct work practice abroad. The share of Swedish students abroad conducting
work practice is quite low; only 10 % of Erasmus students, i.e. Universities and relevant authorities
(IPK) should set up as a goal to increase the number of Swedish students conducting work
practice abroad. Such an effort would be positive for both employers and students, as it would lead
to students becoming more attractive in the job market, and universities better meeting the high
demand for students with work life experience.
5.1 Suggestions on following up
This survey has been conducted with a quantitative method. It would be fruitful to do a more
qualitatively focused study of the survey material. There are good possibilities for this since about
30 of the respondents have stated that they are available for follow-ups of the survey.
It would also be interesting to conduct the survey internationally. Many of the responding companies
conduct business internationally, but only their home offices in Sweden have replied. It would
be interesting to see the results of the survey if it was directed towards the companies’ operations
abroad. Students with international experience might also be going abroad to work to a higher
degree.
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