Browsing by Subject "http://www.yso.fi/onto/yso/p22740"

Many young people in today's western society have considerable problems making sustainable decisions about their studies and career, which is clearly shown in statistics about interrupted studies, change of studies, double degrees and parallel education. There are many options and it seems difficult to form a conception of what different jobs withhold and the educational background needed for them. At the same time pressure to shorten the length of studies rises in order to get students faster into working life. The aim of this study is to survey factors which affect the secondary school graduate's decision about what to do after the upper secondary school. I want to find out if the graduates have a clear goal, and if they have a strategy to reach that goal. I also want to map out things that influence the goals and the graduate's confidence in their own decisions. At the same time this study aims to investigate if the graduates have the resources to reach their goals, and to examine how to possibly support the students with their decisions and help them find the right study orientation or career path after the upper secondary school. The data for the quantitative study was collected via an electronic questionnaire, which was sent by e-mail to the graduates in a total of nine upper secondary schools in the capital region of Finland. The data was then analysed with the statistics programme SPSS. The survey was executed in May 2014 and had a total of 81 respondents. The results of this study show that the decision is made much directed by interest in the field of studies. The majority of the respondents will apply for a place to study directly after upper secondary school, and most of them considered it unlikely that they drop the intention to study if they do not get a place at their first try. The result also shows that the more explicit the goal of the students is, the higher is their ambition and confidence in the decision, and the less effect did new information have. Internet, student counsellors and friends seemed to provide a great share of the amount of information about education options. Yet it is clear that there is a huge need for more information about studies and work. Most of the respondents were aware of the qualifications needed to succeed with their plans, and considered themselves to have the knowledge prerequisites required.