LINKING LABOR MARKET ASPIRATIONS WITH CONTENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

YOUTH PERSPECTIVE IN ROMANIA

September, 2012

Employment rate in Romania

In 2011:- The employment rate for working age population(15-64 years): 58,5%- The employment rate for population aged 20-64 years was 62,8%- The employment rate for youth (15-24 years) was 23,8%

Employment rate in Romania

According to Eurostat, the EU-27 employment rate for persons aged 15 to 64 years is 64,2%

Education level:

82,1% - employment rate for graduates of higher education

62,3% - employment rate of people with medium level of education

40,5% - employment rate of people with low level of education

Youth employability

Actual status of Bachelor degree graduates in the last five years

Youth employability

Number of necessary months in finding a job in the studied area after graduation

Youth employability

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Not important at all A little bit important Neither important, nor unimportant Important Very important

The importance given by the employers on different skills

The impression made during the interview

Personality

Study domain

Specialization

Recommendations

Computer skills

Knowing a foreign language

Work experience during studies

Results at Bachelor exam

Practice experience

Work experience before studies

University reputation

Study experience abroad

Youth employability The importance given by the employers on soft skills and hard skills depending on the Study domain

SOFT SKILLS HARD SKILLS

Veterinary

Architecture

Economics

Natural sciences

Technologies

Exact sciences

Law

Social and political sciences

Humanities

Health

Agriculture

Arts

Sports

Youth employability Graduates opinion regarding the usefulness of studies at their actual jobs

DOMAINI obtained the necessary skills for my job

Practice was useful for my job

I`d rather say that I obtain the necessary

skills directly at the job Exact sciences 52% 52% 80%

Natural sciences 53% 51% 82%

Humanities 51% 48% 88%

Law 64% 51% 87%

Social and political sciences 56% 51% 84%

Economics 49% 44% 90%

Arts 71% 69% 73%

Architecture 76% 63% 61%

Sports 47% 45% 76%

Agriculture 65% 56% 82%

Technologies 55% 52% 86%

Veterinary 61% 63% 86%

Health 81% 91% 86%

TOTAL 55% 51% 86%

Youth employability Graduates opinion on what they gained after graduating the studies

DOMAIN Theoretical knowledge Practical skills

Exact sciences 66% 34%

Natural sciences 62% 38%

Humanities 70% 30%

Law 75% 25%

Social and political sciences 68% 32%

Economics 72% 28%

Arts 46% 54%

Architecture 59% 41%

Sports 58% 42%

Agriculture 59% 41%

Technologies 69% 31%

Veterinary 68% 32%

Health 60% 40%

TOTAL 69% 31%

Youth employability Methods used by employers for recruiting the graduates

PercentageThey applied for a vacant announced job 71%

We utilized personal contacts (family, friends, employers) 25%

We approached the National Agency for Workforce 22%

They contacted us without knowing that we have a vacant job position 13%

We contacted a human resources agency 9%

We hired students during their studies 8%

The graduates sent public announcements where stating their will to work 3%

We were helped by the university/ faculty career centers 3%

We were helped by a teacher from an university/a faculty 2%

We approached each one of them in the faculty or in other places 1%

Other methods 8%

TOTAL 167%

Involvement of labor market in universities

Feedback on the curriculaIn 85% of the universities the labor market doesn`t give its feedback

on the curricula at the beginning of an academic year.

In 9% of the universities, the students consider the labor market has a medium involvement in developing the curricula.

Only in 6% of the universities, the students consider the labor market has an important role in developing the curricula and give its feedback on it.

Involvement of labor market in universities

Donations and sponsorships47% of the students consider the labor market is not active in this

respect in their universities.

32% consider the labor market has a medium involvement in donations and sponsorships in their universities.

21% consider the labor market has a significant involvement in this respect in their universities.

Involvement of labor market in universities

Private scholarships for students77% of the students consider the labor market is completely inactive

in this respect in their universities.

15% consider the labor market has a medium involvement in offering private scholarships for students in their universities.

8% consider the labor market has a significant involvement in this respect in their universities.

Involvement of labor market in universities

Practice and internships for students47% of the students consider the labor market does not have a

significant contribution in offering practice programs and internships for students during their studies.

44% consider the labor market has a medium involvement in offering practice programs and internships for students during their studies.

9% consider the labor market has a significant involvement in this respect in their universities.

Involvement of labor market in universities

How students see involvement of labor market in decision-making structures should look like

Recommendations

For the Ministry of Education- To develop national studies about private scholarships and to lobby

to labor market to increase its investment in Education- To create a national department responsible with attracting and

collecting private funds for education from the labor market- To create a national structure who will collaborate with the labor

market, bringing together representatives of the academic stuff, employers and students

- To make pressures so that the new National Education Law is respected (for example the article saying universities should ensure at least 30% of the student practices)

Recommendations

For Universities- To organize at least one meeting for every year where brining

together representatives of labor market with the academic staff and students

- To realize annual researches about labor market’s feedback on the curricula using

- To stimulate and to facilitate the access to labor market to provide optional courses in universities

- To develop an annual strategy on private found raising, which will increase the number of private scholarships, donations and sponsorships

- To respect the new National Education Law with all its aspects- To create a department at university level who will be responsible

to find practice places for students and to monitor their quality

Recommendations

For Universities- To create practice places and internships inside the university- To create a consultative structure at university level where

representatives of labor market will be full members- To monitor and evaluate the evolution of its graduates and their

integration on labor market

What students can do - Good practices -

Academic vs. Private1. Opinion polling trough the application of questionnaires to a sample

of 8000 students on determining the current level of connectivity between the university and labor market

2. Making contact with the private sector – at least 7 representatives, academics – at least 5 representatives and public authorities – at least 4 representatives in each of the 8 centers

3. Printing of information materials – 4000 posters, 16.000 stickers, 16.000 brochures, 32.000 flyers and 600 maps to inform students, media and stakeholders about the purpose and the objectives of the project

4. Creating a site dedicated to this project including information about the current level of absorption of students/graduates in the labor market and a special forum for discussions

What students can do - Good practices -

Academic vs. Private- opinion polling trough the application of questionnaires to a sample

of 8000 students, members of leading bodies from universities and public institutions

- information and awareness campaign among students and members of leading bodies from universities using various promotional materials (posters, leaflets, brochures, stickers, flyers) and media (radio spots, website)

- 8 debates at national and local level, with the participation of students, members of the academic community, representatives of private companies, public institutions, NGOs

- publication of a material which contains the conclusions of the debates, examples of good and bad practices and recommendations

What students can do - Good practices -

Junior Summer University- A two week simulation for high school students on what means to

be a student at the faculty they want to go to

Questions?

Paldies!

Thank you!