Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.1080/1331677X.2019.1697330
Linking development of skills and perceptions of employability: the case of Erasmus students
Maria Eduarda Soares
Pilar Mosquera
Abstract
There is evidence that perceptions of employability lead to positive
results for organizations and individuals alike. The relationship
between perceptions of employability and development of skills
is, although relevant, an understudied area of research. This study
analyses this relationship in a sample of 196 students who participated
in the Erasmus program between 2013 and 2017. Using
fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), we analyse
how configurations of five types of skills (Career-orientation skills,
Adaptability skills, Managerial skills, Personal skills and Teamwork
skills) combine to produce perceptions of employability. Results
show that, although Erasmus students perceive a positive development
in all groups of skills, students perceive a higher development
on Adaptability skills. Results also show that there is no
single type of skills that can be developed to promote perceptions
of employability but, instead, there are two distinct configurational
groupings of skills that lead to perceptions of
employability: one configuration has two core conditions—
Adaptability skills and Teamwork skills—and the other configuration
includes three core conditions—Career-orientation skills,
Managerial skills and Personal skills. These configurations match
the two main motivations for choosing an international exchange
as a strategy to enhance employability: pursuing an international
career and pursuing distinction from peers
Keywords
Employability; development of skills; student mobility; Erasmus program
Hrčak ID:
254662
URI
Publication date:
9.2.2021.
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