BISM Study: What does the young generation want from university programs and how do they choose their college?
Graduates who want to attend university are looking for a well-paid job and a balance between academic quality, practical experience and professional opportunities, data from a study conducted by Bucharest International School of…
Graduates who want to attend university are looking for a well-paid job and a balance between academic quality, practical experience and professional opportunities, data from a study conducted by Bucharest International School of Management (BISM) in partnership with IZI Data shows.
"In an increasingly dynamic and competitive labor market, students want not only a solid education, but also practical skills and good job prospects. At BISM, we cater to students and graduates with four undergraduate programs that directly address both their training needs and the evolving market requirements. For example, we offer the only Business Management and Digital Marketing undergraduate program in Romania, a specialization increasingly sought after by companies. Admission is without exams, based on the British model, and students follow the best UK educational model in Europe, with courses taught by some of the country's leading experts. At the same time, students have access to internships and hands-on practical training programs facilitated by the school throughout the 3 years of study," said Radu Atanasiu, Associate Dean of BISM.
Among the top fields that students participating in the study want to pursue at university are Business Administration/ Business (47%), Marketing/ Digital Marketing (39%), Economics/ Finance/ Accounting (25%) and Cybernetics, Statistics, Informatics (23%).
According to the BISM study, young people consider that the most important aspect they want from a university during their studies is related to everyday life, especially networking (57%), followed by desires related to professional life, such as applicability of concepts (43%), current and relevant knowledge (38%), better job opportunities (35%) and specialization (less information, focused on the area of interest, 32%).
The data also show that the possibility of gaining practical experience by participating in internships during college is the main criterion for three quarters of high school students when choosing a college. This is followed by offering real job opportunities (62%), subjects and curriculum of interest (55%), professors working in the fields taught (42%) and the student community (40%).
In terms of what young people expect from their future careers, the most important are a well-paid job (58%), work-life balance (51%), being able to contribute to their career (49%), stability in the field (49%), and personal fulfillment in the field (49%).
*IZI Data targeted study, conducted online among students in grades 10-12 and high school graduates who want to go to college, on a sample of N=260 students or graduates. Data collection period: March 4 - March 28, 2024.
"Theoretical information is everywhere on the internet and young people know this, so universities need to reinvent themselves. The current needs of young people are migrating from the need to learn theory to the area of practical experience and offline interaction. Young people want to meet people offline who can open up professional opportunities and authentic relationships as well as practical learning experiences", explained
