According to Russians, the most important thing to do for a student is to become a professional.
MOSCOW, January 25, 2019. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data of a study devoted to what Russians consider important for a student and why young people strive to get higher education.
The mission of any student, according to Russians, is to study well and become a professional (62%); the share of the 18-24-year-olds who think so is 70%. The percentage of those who think that searching for a job and establishing contact with potential employers during studies are essential has increased from 35% in 2013 to 42% in 2019. The next important thing for any student is to acquire skills of behaving like adults (29%). The least important things are participation in different student activities and self-actualization (14%), search for friends and potential spouse (11%), and nice pastime (4%).
Opinions of holders of higher education diplomas and those who did not go to university do not always coincide. Individuals with a degree in higher education are more likely to consider good studies as the key mission of any student (67% vs 37% among those with incomplete secondary education). The higher the Russians’ education level is, the more important it is for them to start searching for a job during studies (28% of those with lower levels of education vs 44% of those with higher education diplomas) and to be independent (20% vs 33, respectively).
Over a decade, the share of those who think it is quite hard for a university graduate to find a job has increased by 5 p.p. (from 50% in 2009 to 55% in 2019). Every fifth respondent (20%) believes it is hardly possible for a fresh diploma graduate to find a job. A further 18% think that it is possible but it takes great efforts. Only 3% are confident that a university graduate can find a job easily.
Russians aged 60 and over are more likely to consider that finding a job after university is almost impossible (24%). Russians with a vocational college diploma often say that finding a job after college is possible but it takes efforts (61%). Students themselves are confident that job search after their studies will not take great efforts (36%).
Russians with low financial self-assessment are more pessimistic about employment opportunities after university. Respondents with low and average financial self-assessments more often say that university graduates can find a job with great effort (57%, for each, vs 42% of those who have high financial self-assessment). The higher the Russians’ financial self-assessment is, the more confident they are that graduates can relatively easily find a job after university (from 8% of those with “bad” and “very bad” self-assessments to 33% of those with “good” and “very good” financial self-assessments). On the contrary, the lower the level of the financial self-assessment is, the more the respondents are confident that it is almost impossible for a graduate to find a job (15% of Russians with high financial self-assessments vs 30% of those with low self-assessments).
VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on January 21, 2019. The survey involved 1,600 Russians aged 18 and over. The survey was telephone-based and was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.2%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
The 2009-2013 findings are based on household surveys.
In your opinion, what is the most important thing to do while studying at the university? (closed-ended question, up to 2 answers, % of total respondents) | |||
| 2010 | 2013 | 2019 |
To study as good as possible, to become a professional in your area | 59 | 61 | 62 |
To find your future job, to establish contact with potential employers | 34 | 35 | 42 |
To learn to be independent, to acquire skills of behaving like adult, to learn to be responsible for yourself | 25 | 25 | 29 |
To be active, to take part in student activities, to strive for self-actualization | 16 | 17 | 14 |
To socialize with peers, to find a potential spouse, to start a family | 9 | 12 | 11 |
To be engaged in various leisure activities to have something to remember after university | 6 | 6 | 4 |
Other | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Don’t know | 4 | 5 | 3 |
In your opinion, how hard is it for the graduates to find a job after university? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||
| 2009 | 2019 |
It is quite easy | 2 | 3 |
It takes some efforts to find a job | 12 | 18 |
It takes great efforts to find a job | 50 | 55 |
It is almost impossible to find a job | 24 | 20 |
Don’t know | 12 | 4 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!