Practical Training – A Challenge for Higher Education. Analysis of Students’ Satisfaction with Traineeships
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Dec 28, 2017
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Abstract
Students` practical training is the key element that facilitates the transition to active life. Throughout traineeships, students gain important knowledge, skills and experiences that prove to be extremely useful when entering the labor market. If the content of practical training complies with the occupational requirements, the methodology and strategy used for organizing and implementing the traineeships prove to be successful. The present study aims to investigate the way of organizing and implementing practical activities within three Romanian universities: University of Oradea, University of Bucharest and “Aurel Vlaicu” University of Arad. Data were collected within the project “Traineeship Program for Students: Child Protection from theory to practice” (mentioned in the paper as PractiPASS), and represent the results of monitoring and assessment activities. Students included in the PractiPASS project participated in three academic traineeships and the evaluation of their activities was carried out at the end of each stage. The research was conducted on three waves: the first wave included 498 subjects, the second one 437 subjects, and the last wave 496 subjects. The analysis focuses on investigating students` satisfaction with their practical training. The main results show that the students` satisfaction follows an ascending trend on all three waves, with a higher increase between the first and the second stage of traineeships. At the same time, the levels of satisfaction differ according to universities and educational cycle.
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How to Cite
Săveanu, S., Bacter, C., & Buhaș, R. (2017). Practical Training – A Challenge for Higher Education. Analysis of Students’ Satisfaction with Traineeships. Sociologie Românească, 15(3-4), 81-97. Retrieved from https://revistasociologieromaneasca.ro/sr/article/view/2017_3_4_saveanu_bacter_buhas
References
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Butt, B. Z. and ur Rehman, K. (2010) A study examining the students satisfaction in higher education. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2, 5446-5450.
Chalmers, D. (2007) A review of Australian and international quality systems and indicators of learning and teaching. Australia: Carrick Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education Ltd.
Council of the European Union (2014) Council recommendation on a Quality Framework for Traineeships. Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs - Council meeting. Brussels: PRESS.
DeShields Jr., O. W., Kara, A. and Kaynak, E. (2005) Determinants of business student satisfaction and retention in higher education: applying Herzberg’s two factor theory. International Journal of Educational Management, 19, 2, 28-139.
EACEA – Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (2012) The European Higher Education Area in 2012: Bologna Process Implementation Report. Brussels: P9 Eurydice. Available at http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-statistical-books/-/EC-30-12-534. Accesed on February 7, 2018.
Elliott, K. M. and Shin, D. (2002) Student satisfaction: an alternative approach to assessing this important concept. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 24, 2, 197-209.
European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP) (2010) The skill matching challenge. Analysing skill mismatch and policy implications. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.
European Commission (2012) Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. Towards a job-rich recovery. COM173. Strasbourg. Available at https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM:2012:0173:FIN. Accesed on February 22, 2018.
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Gruber, T., Fuss, S., Voss, R. and Glaeser-Zikuda, M. (2010) Examining student satisfaction with higher education services: using a new measurement tool. International Journal of Public Sector Management, 23, 2, 105-123. Available at https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/dspace-jspui/bitstream/2134/11928/3/Examining%20Student%20Satisfaction%20with%20Higher%20Education%20Services_IJPSM.pdf. Accesed on March 27, 2018.
Hauschildt, K., Vögtle, E. M. and Gwosć, C. (2018) Social and Economic Conditions of Student Life in Europe. Eurostudent VI 2016-2018. Synopsis of Indicators. Germany: Bertelsmann Verlag Publishing House.
Horga, I. and Apostu, O. (2010) EUROSTUDENT IV. Condiții economice, sociale și mobilitatea internațională a studenților din România. București: Institutul de Stiințe ale Educației.
Isăilă, Ș., Miron, A. and Andrei, D. (2011) Relaţia dintre educaţie şi învăţare pe tot parcursul vieţii şi piaţa muncii în Regiunea de dezvoltare Nord-Vest. Cluj-Napoca: Institutul de Formare Economică şi Socială.
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Katajavuor, N., Lindblom-Ylanne, S. and Hirvonen, J. (2006) The significance of practical training in linking theoretical studies with practice. Higher Education, 51, 439-464.
Kinzie, J., McCormick, A. and Gonyea, R. (2016) Using Student Engagement Results to Oversee Educational Quality. Trusteeship Magazine. Washington D.C.: Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges. Available at https://www.agb.org/trusteeship/2016/januaryfebruary/using-student-engagement-results-to-oversee-educational-quality. Accesed on March, 27, 2018.
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Lowden, K., Hall, S., Elliot, D. and Lewin, J. (2011) Employers’ perceptions of the employability skills of new graduates. London: Edge Foundation.
Mai, L. (2005) A Comparative Study between UK and US: The Student Satisfaction in Higher Education and its Influential Factors. Journal of Marketing Management, 21, 859-878.
Mayo, D. T., Helms, M. M., and Codjoe, H. M. (2004) Reasons to remain in college: a comparison of high school and college students. The International Journal of Educational Management, 18, 6, 360-367.
Ministerul Educației Naționale (MEN) (2016) Raport privind starea învăţământului superior din România. Available at https://www.edu.ro/sites/default/files/_fi%C8%99iere/Minister/2017/transparenta/Stare_sup%20%202016.pdf. Accesed on May 8, 2018.
Navarro, M. M., Iglesias, P. M. and Torres, R. P. (2005) A New Management Element for Universities: Satisfaction with the offered courses. International Journal of Educational Management, 19, 6, 505-526.
O’Neill, N. (2010) Internships as a High-Impact Practice: Some Reflections on Quality. Peer Review, 12, 4, 4-8. Available at https://usm.maine.edu/sites/default/files/career-and-employment-hub/Internships%20as%20High%20Impact%20Practice.pdf. Accesed on March 27, 2018.
Palacio, A. B., Menesses, G. D., and Perez, P. J. (2002) The configuration of the university image and its relationship with the satisfaction of students. Journal of Educational Administration, 40, 5, 486-505.
Richardson, J. (2005) Instruments for obtaining student feedback: a review of the literature. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, 30, 4, 387-415. Available at https://www.jcu.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/104566/jcu_121465.pdf. Accesed on May 8, 2018.
Roberts, J. and Styron, R. (2010) Student satisfaction and persistence: factors vital to student retention. Research in Higher Education Journal, 6, 3, 1-18.
Roth, M., Ducu, V. and Rebeleanu, A. (2008) Practica studenților asistenți sociali, în M. Roth (ed.), Caiet de practică pentru studenţi asistenţi sociali. Modele şi recomandări pentru proiecte de intervenţie, Cluj-Napoca: Presa Universitară Clujeană, 7-22.
Quintini, G., Martin, J. and Martin, S. (2007) The Changing Nature of the School-to-Work Transition Process in OECD Countries. IZANDiscussion Paper No. 2582. Germany: Institute for the Study of Labor. Available at http://www.oecd.org/employment/emp/38187773.pdf. Accesed on January 23, 2018.
Stiwne, E. E. and Alves, M. G. (2010) Higher Education and Employability of Graduates: will Bologna make a difference? European Educational Research Journal, 9, 1, 32-44.
Temizer, L. and Turkyilmaz, A. (2012) Implementation of student satisfaction index model in higher education institutions. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 46, 3802-3806.
Trevithick, P. (2000) Social work skills. A practice handbook. Philadelphia: Open University Press Buckingham. Available at https://www.mheducation.co.uk/openup/chapters/0335206999.pdf. Accesed on February 13, 2018.
Trowler, V. (2010) Student engagement literature review. UK: The Higher Education Academy.
Voicu, B., Tufiș, C. and Voicu, M. (2010) Absolvenţii recenţi de învăţământ superior şi integrarea lor pe piaţa muncii. Raport UECNCFPA, București: DOCIS.
Zaharie, M. (2011) Ocuparea forței de muncă cu studii superioare și nevoile angajatorilor – componente ale managementului calității în învățământul superior. Teză de doctorat – rezumat. Universitatea Babeș-Bolyai Cluj-Napoca. Available at https://doctorat.ubbcluj.ro/sustinerea_publica/rezumate/2011/management/Zaharie_Monica_RO.pdf. Accesed on July 6, 2018.
Whitt, E. (2007) Student Success in College: Creating Conditions that Matter – Power Point presentation. The University of Iowa Student Success Team Project DEEP (Documenting Effective Educational Practice). Available at https://studentsuccess.uiowa.edu/assets/Student-Success-in-College.pdf. Accesed on February 15, 2018.
Aldemir, C. and Gulcan, Y. (2004) Students Satisfaction in Higher Education: A Turkish Case. Higher Education Management and Policy, 16, 2, 109-122.
Butt, B. Z. and ur Rehman, K. (2010) A study examining the students satisfaction in higher education. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2, 5446-5450.
Chalmers, D. (2007) A review of Australian and international quality systems and indicators of learning and teaching. Australia: Carrick Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education Ltd.
Council of the European Union (2014) Council recommendation on a Quality Framework for Traineeships. Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs - Council meeting. Brussels: PRESS.
DeShields Jr., O. W., Kara, A. and Kaynak, E. (2005) Determinants of business student satisfaction and retention in higher education: applying Herzberg’s two factor theory. International Journal of Educational Management, 19, 2, 28-139.
EACEA – Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (2012) The European Higher Education Area in 2012: Bologna Process Implementation Report. Brussels: P9 Eurydice. Available at http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-statistical-books/-/EC-30-12-534. Accesed on February 7, 2018.
Elliott, K. M. and Shin, D. (2002) Student satisfaction: an alternative approach to assessing this important concept. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 24, 2, 197-209.
European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP) (2010) The skill matching challenge. Analysing skill mismatch and policy implications. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.
European Commission (2012) Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. Towards a job-rich recovery. COM173. Strasbourg. Available at https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM:2012:0173:FIN. Accesed on February 22, 2018.
European Commission (2013a) Flash Eurobarometer 378. The experience of traineeships in the EU. Report. Available at http://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion/flash/fl_378_en.pdf. Accesed on January, 17, 2018.
European Commission (2013b) Apprenticeship and Traineeship Schemes in EU27: Key Success Factors. A Guidebook for Policy Planners and Practitioners. Available at https://www.bibb.de/dokumente/pdf/Guidebook_Apprenticeship_Schemes_EU27.pdf. Accesed on January, 17, 2018.
Eurostat. Statistics Explained (2017) Early leavers from education and training, 2017. Available at http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Early_leavers_from_education_and_training. Accesed on January 17, 2018.
Gruber, T., Fuss, S., Voss, R. and Glaeser-Zikuda, M. (2010) Examining student satisfaction with higher education services: using a new measurement tool. International Journal of Public Sector Management, 23, 2, 105-123. Available at https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/dspace-jspui/bitstream/2134/11928/3/Examining%20Student%20Satisfaction%20with%20Higher%20Education%20Services_IJPSM.pdf. Accesed on March 27, 2018.
Hauschildt, K., Vögtle, E. M. and Gwosć, C. (2018) Social and Economic Conditions of Student Life in Europe. Eurostudent VI 2016-2018. Synopsis of Indicators. Germany: Bertelsmann Verlag Publishing House.
Horga, I. and Apostu, O. (2010) EUROSTUDENT IV. Condiții economice, sociale și mobilitatea internațională a studenților din România. București: Institutul de Stiințe ale Educației.
Isăilă, Ș., Miron, A. and Andrei, D. (2011) Relaţia dintre educaţie şi învăţare pe tot parcursul vieţii şi piaţa muncii în Regiunea de dezvoltare Nord-Vest. Cluj-Napoca: Institutul de Formare Economică şi Socială.
James, R. (2007) Social equity in a mass, globalised higher education environment: the unresolved issue of widening access to university. Faculty of Education Dean’s Lecture Series. Centre for the Study of Higher Education. University of Melbourne Victoria, Australia. Available at http://web.education.unimelb.edu.au/news/lectures/pdf/richardjamestranscript.pdf. Accesed on January 25, 2018.
Katajavuor, N., Lindblom-Ylanne, S. and Hirvonen, J. (2006) The significance of practical training in linking theoretical studies with practice. Higher Education, 51, 439-464.
Kinzie, J., McCormick, A. and Gonyea, R. (2016) Using Student Engagement Results to Oversee Educational Quality. Trusteeship Magazine. Washington D.C.: Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges. Available at https://www.agb.org/trusteeship/2016/januaryfebruary/using-student-engagement-results-to-oversee-educational-quality. Accesed on March, 27, 2018.
Kuh, G.D. (2007) How to Help Students Achieve. Chronicle of Higher Education, 53, 41, B12–13. Available at http://nsse.indiana.edu/pdf/2007_%20How%20to%20Help%20Students%20Achieve.pdf. Accesed on March, 27, 2018.
Lowden, K., Hall, S., Elliot, D. and Lewin, J. (2011) Employers’ perceptions of the employability skills of new graduates. London: Edge Foundation.
Mai, L. (2005) A Comparative Study between UK and US: The Student Satisfaction in Higher Education and its Influential Factors. Journal of Marketing Management, 21, 859-878.
Mayo, D. T., Helms, M. M., and Codjoe, H. M. (2004) Reasons to remain in college: a comparison of high school and college students. The International Journal of Educational Management, 18, 6, 360-367.
Ministerul Educației Naționale (MEN) (2016) Raport privind starea învăţământului superior din România. Available at https://www.edu.ro/sites/default/files/_fi%C8%99iere/Minister/2017/transparenta/Stare_sup%20%202016.pdf. Accesed on May 8, 2018.
Navarro, M. M., Iglesias, P. M. and Torres, R. P. (2005) A New Management Element for Universities: Satisfaction with the offered courses. International Journal of Educational Management, 19, 6, 505-526.
O’Neill, N. (2010) Internships as a High-Impact Practice: Some Reflections on Quality. Peer Review, 12, 4, 4-8. Available at https://usm.maine.edu/sites/default/files/career-and-employment-hub/Internships%20as%20High%20Impact%20Practice.pdf. Accesed on March 27, 2018.
Palacio, A. B., Menesses, G. D., and Perez, P. J. (2002) The configuration of the university image and its relationship with the satisfaction of students. Journal of Educational Administration, 40, 5, 486-505.
Richardson, J. (2005) Instruments for obtaining student feedback: a review of the literature. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, 30, 4, 387-415. Available at https://www.jcu.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/104566/jcu_121465.pdf. Accesed on May 8, 2018.
Roberts, J. and Styron, R. (2010) Student satisfaction and persistence: factors vital to student retention. Research in Higher Education Journal, 6, 3, 1-18.
Roth, M., Ducu, V. and Rebeleanu, A. (2008) Practica studenților asistenți sociali, în M. Roth (ed.), Caiet de practică pentru studenţi asistenţi sociali. Modele şi recomandări pentru proiecte de intervenţie, Cluj-Napoca: Presa Universitară Clujeană, 7-22.
Quintini, G., Martin, J. and Martin, S. (2007) The Changing Nature of the School-to-Work Transition Process in OECD Countries. IZANDiscussion Paper No. 2582. Germany: Institute for the Study of Labor. Available at http://www.oecd.org/employment/emp/38187773.pdf. Accesed on January 23, 2018.
Stiwne, E. E. and Alves, M. G. (2010) Higher Education and Employability of Graduates: will Bologna make a difference? European Educational Research Journal, 9, 1, 32-44.
Temizer, L. and Turkyilmaz, A. (2012) Implementation of student satisfaction index model in higher education institutions. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 46, 3802-3806.
Trevithick, P. (2000) Social work skills. A practice handbook. Philadelphia: Open University Press Buckingham. Available at https://www.mheducation.co.uk/openup/chapters/0335206999.pdf. Accesed on February 13, 2018.
Trowler, V. (2010) Student engagement literature review. UK: The Higher Education Academy.
Voicu, B., Tufiș, C. and Voicu, M. (2010) Absolvenţii recenţi de învăţământ superior şi integrarea lor pe piaţa muncii. Raport UECNCFPA, București: DOCIS.
Zaharie, M. (2011) Ocuparea forței de muncă cu studii superioare și nevoile angajatorilor – componente ale managementului calității în învățământul superior. Teză de doctorat – rezumat. Universitatea Babeș-Bolyai Cluj-Napoca. Available at https://doctorat.ubbcluj.ro/sustinerea_publica/rezumate/2011/management/Zaharie_Monica_RO.pdf. Accesed on July 6, 2018.
Whitt, E. (2007) Student Success in College: Creating Conditions that Matter – Power Point presentation. The University of Iowa Student Success Team Project DEEP (Documenting Effective Educational Practice). Available at https://studentsuccess.uiowa.edu/assets/Student-Success-in-College.pdf. Accesed on February 15, 2018.