FACTORS DETERMINING SATISFACTION WITH THE STUDIES OF THE STUDENTS OF SCHOOLS OF HIGHER EDUCATION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17770/sie2020vol1.4881Keywords:
career, satisfaction with studies, students of schools of higher education, study programsAbstract
In the modern world conditioned by scientific–technical progress and globalisation it is becoming tricky for schools of higher education to respond to continuously changing needs of the labour market, to secure the expectations of the students towards the selected sought education and its realisation in certain situations of activities. Satisfaction of students with the studies and employment of graduates becomes one of the key criteria of the quality of studies which influences the academic activity of universities. The study introduces the factors which determine the satisfaction of the final years students with their studies. Quantitative research was selected – a representative survey was performed. The study population consisted of the students of the Lithuanian higher schools (universities and colleges) (n=459). It has been established that the key factors in the selection of study programs (demand of the study program on the labour market, the self–set career goals, clear potentials for professional career and links between the personal needs and the program) demonstrates the ability of students to plan and make decisions regarding their careers. When selecting a study program, the factors orientated towards assessment of personal achievements and own attitudes towards the profession (the selected graduation exams and their results, the prestige of the profession and the leisure time likings) are not less important. The key factors of satisfaction with the selected study program relate to the fact that the study program contributes to personal development, to better employment and career prospective. Students are satisfied with the selected study program because of favourable educational study environment, of a possibility to gain practical skills and of the applicable system of assessment.
References
Bitinas, B. (2006). Edukologinis tyrimas: sistema ir procesas. Vilnius: Kronta.
Bulotaitė, L., Pociūtė, B., Bliumas, R., & Dovydaitienė, M. (2012). Socialinių mokslų studentų psichologinės gerovės, patiriamo streso ir subjektyvaus sveikatos vertinimo sąsajos. Visuomenės sveikata, 3(58), 85 –92.
Diamantis, G.V., & Benos, V.K. (2007). Measuring student satisfaction with their studies in an International and European Studies department. Operational Research. An International Journal, 7(1), 47–59.
Duffy, R. D, Allan, B. A., & Bott, E. M. (2012). Calling and Life Satisfaction Among Undergraduate Students: Investigating Mediators and Moderators. Journal of Happiness Studies, 13(3), 469–47. DOI 10.1007/s10902-011-9274-6
Dukhan, Sh., Cameron, A., & Brenner, E.A (2012). The Influence of Differences in Social and Cultural Capital on Students’ Expectations of Achievement, on their Performance, and on their Learning Practices in the First Year at University. The International Journal of Learning. 18(7), 337–351. DOI: 10.18848/1447-9494/CGP/v18i07/47692
Gaižauskaitė, I., & Mikėnė, S. (2014). Socialinių tyrimų metodai: apklausa. Vilnius: Mykolo Romerio universitetas.
Haman, J., Donald, & J. Birt, J. (2010). Expectations and Perceptions of Overseas Students in a Post–graduate Corporate Accounting Subject: A Research Note. Accounting Education, 19(6), 619 – 631. DOI:10.1080/09639284.2010.502329
Kell, J.H, & Motowidlo, S.J (2012). Deconstructing Organizational Commitment: Associations Among Its Affective and Cognitive Components, Personality Antecedents, and Behavioral Outcomes. Journal of Applied Social Psichology, 42(1), 213–251. DOI:10.1111/j.1559-1816.2011.00874.x
Pukelis, K. (2009). Gebėjimas, kompetencija, mokymosi/studijų rezultatas, kvalifikacija ir kompetentingumas: teorinė dimensija. Aukštojo mokslo kokybė/The Quality of Higher Education, 6(12), 12–35.
Pukelyte, R. (2010). Universitetinių studijų kaip paslaugos kokybės vertinimas: dimensijos ir kriterijai. Aukštojo mokslo kokybė / The Quality of Higher Education, 7(14), 155–175.
Reavill, L. R.P. (1998). Quality assessment, total quality management and the stakeholders in the UK higher education system". Managing Service Quality: An International Journal, 8(1), 55–63. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/09604529810199395
Vaitkevičius, R., & Saudargienė, A. (2006). Statistika su SPSS psichologiniuose tyrimuose. Kaunas: VDU leidykla.
Valuckienė, J. (2012). Studijų, grindžiamų skirtingomis edukacinėmis paradigmomis, kokybės vertinimo parametrai. Studijos šiuolaikinėje visuomenėje/ Studies in Modern Society, 3(1), 275–286.
Wach, F.S., Karbach, J., Ruffing, St., Brünken, R., & Spinath, F. M. (2016). University Students' Satisfaction with their Academic Studies: Personality and Motivation Matter. Frontiers in Psychology, 16. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00055
Wiers–Jenssen, J., Stensaker, B., & Grogaard, J.B. (2002). Student Satisfaction: towards an empirical deconstruction of the concept. Quality in Higher Education, 8(2), 183–195. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/1353832022000004377
Žekevičienė, A (2009). Aukštojo mokslo institucijų paslaugų kokybės tyrimai servqual metodu. Ekonomika ir vadyba/Economics & Management, 14, 1107–1113.