Intergrating studies and employment - Student employment during studies in higher education
Keywords:
universities of applied sciences, studies in higher education, student employment, workplace learningAbstract
Refereed article
Student employment during higher education studies is common in Finland and also internationally. The phenomenon has been studied from the perspectives of study time and success. The background assumption has been, that employment prolongs study time and undermines academic success. The interest has been paid to competencies gained at work. This article focuses at higher education students’ experiences about integrating part- or fulltime employment and studies. The study is part of a longitudinal research conducted by the Student and Education Research foundation, Otus ry. The results are based on the data gathered from second year students in Universities of Applied Sciences during spring 2014. Altogether 928 students replied the online-questionnaire. The data was analysed by SPSS. Descriptive statistical analysis was used. The results showed that 43 % of second year students were working part-time. Those students studied approximately 37 hours and worked 14 hours per week. Employment did not preclude proceeding in studies, neither were the studies slowed down or left because of work. Over 50 % of employed students noted that they had not received feedback or recognition of competencies based on their work experience. The results necessitate knowledge and tools for recognition of competencies, as well as developing the procedures of formalizing informal learning at work into degree studies.
