ORIENTATION PROGRAMS IN HIGHER EDUCATION: CIVIL DUTY AND A WAY TO IMPROVE EMPLOYABILITY?
Keywords:
Orientation Programs, Soft Skills, Higher Education, Employability,Abstract
The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of orientation programs on student soft skills at Engineering Faculty of Sibiu during a period of 8 years. A number of theoretical and conceptual framework are used in our study, as well as a mixed method research (quantitative and qualitative). Specifically, we sought to answer: What soft skills are most important for scientists and recruiters? Are those soft skills learnable? Will a special developed Orientation Program increase students’ chances to score higher in employability rankings? The most important findings from the qualitative investigation relate to 3 hypotheses. The survey covers 3 topics: involvement in student unions as a result of a special designed Orientation Program, the number of team building activities students take part in and awareness of their rights. These 3 topics are seen as an indicator of key skill sets employers will look for by 2020.References
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