RESPONSIBLE ENTREPRENEURSHIP VISION DEVELOPMENT AND ETHICS

Mobility and youth employment in the EU. Addressing Romanian students’ perspectives… 421
person’s life. Put differently, the foreign study is broadly conceived by the participants in the
present research as an important channel to later migration in the search of a job.
Yet, there are some students for whom the foreign study experience is rather determinant
for the decision to practice their profession in the native country: “I’d like to come back to
Romania and practice there. Despite the many opportunities that I found here, UK is a pretty
cold and tough country, you need a strong character to handle it” (Bianca, UK). Usually,
this is a common desire among the students who seem to have become more connected to
their homeland and people as a consequence of their exchange sojourn. Apparently, the study
abroad program has played, in some students’ case, a major role in increasing their fondness
towards their own country and co-nationals, which has influenced, to a certain point, their
further career options: “I am aware of the political and social problems at home, but I somehow
appreciate more the people and my friends in Romania right now. […] If I got a super
job there, I would definitely consider coming back home” (Corina, Scotland). Additionally,
there are students who have never envisaged the idea of working in a foreign setting after
graduating abroad. For them, the international study experience is about personal and academic
evolution in a challenging environment, in order to return home, build a career and a
better future based on what they have learned overseas: “I will definitely come back and work
in Romania. […] I will use all the background I achieved abroad and all that I’ve learned
and understood by living and studying in an international environment” (Nichita, Denmark);
“I have an incredibly beautiful country, and I think those who leave it are cowards. Are you
afraid you won’t get to do what you want here? Work for it! […] The young, skilled people
may succeed here as well!” (Maria, Belgium).
However, beyond the national or international profile of a future job, there are other main
criteria that students tend to consider in relation to their career choices after graduation, such
as: doing something one really enjoys doing; working in an important company that provides
fair working conditions; being able to learn and develop oneself; working in a pleasant environment
and being surrounded by nice people; having the opportunity to be promoted, etc.
Interestingly, the “good wage” was rarely among the factors that topped students’ lists regarding
the aspects they mostly focus on when prospecting a (first) job: “The salary would be
amongst my last concerns. I would never choose to work in a place if I didn’t like my job
activities or I couldn’t get along well with my colleagues. The good pay wouldn’t compensate
for that” (Alina, Spain). Yet, when motivating why they would rather prefer to practice
abroad than at home, most of the opinions converged towards the superior conditions and
opportunities (including a very competitive salary) provided by an international work environment
as compared to the autochthonous labor market. In short, this could mean that if they
decide for a job in Romania, the remuneration is not a main focus for the students (at least
at the beginning, when they lack a certain experience in the domain); but if it is for them to
work abroad, then the retribution must be quite rewarding and compensating for the other
shortcomings inherent to living in a foreign country (i.e. loneliness, missing family and friends,
adaptive challenges, etc.).
In brief, students’ responses offer a nuanced understanding of the perceived impacts of
their study abroad experience on subsequent career options, preferences and paths. Although
all seem to agree that academic mobility will fundamentally impact their choices and decisions
regarding a future career, further research is needed in order to explore whether there
might be revealed some definitive connections between the study sojourn and current participants’
absorption on the (international) labor market.