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Workplace selection preferences of electrical engineering students at Hungarian universities

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posted on 2023-08-30, 20:34 authored by Szabolcs Kiss
The purpose of this research is to explore the workplace selection and career decision making process of electrical engineering (EE) students at Hungarian universities by examining contributory factors, such as employer preferences, the impact of social networks, and the migration potential of EE students. This research provides an enhanced understanding of how technologically advanced engineering employers might attract more EE talent to foster economic growth fuelled by high-tech foreign direct investments. This research contributes to theoretical knowledge by developing a conceptual framework that allows academics and practitioners to explore workplace selection preferences in the context of career decision making, employer attractiveness, social networks, and migration. The model is supported both by academic theories and empirical evidence. This study uses a multiphase, mixed methods research design, and collected quantitative data from EE students through an online survey, qualitative data from experts in engineering careers and EE students by employing semi-structured, face-to-face interviews. This research contributes to empirical knowledge by informing engineering employers on the value of creating planned happenstances and building relationships with EE students during the early years of university studies to access reactive and passive EE students, thereby benefiting from the long-term, rational, exploratory career decisions typically made by EE students. It raises awareness that EE students consider salary as the most important factor influencing both employer attractiveness and migration decisions. It provides data for the engineering community on the influence of social network ties on workplace selection. Finally, it provides data for policy makers about the strength of the ‘general soft’ migration potential of EE students and predicts a potential wave of outmigration of EE talent. The potential outmigration wave may increase the already serious EE talent shortage, thereby causing irreversible economic and social consequences on Hungary by limiting the supply of critically skilled workers in high demand.

History

Institution

Anglia Ruskin University

File version

  • Accepted version

Language

  • eng

Thesis name

  • PhD

Thesis type

  • Doctoral

Legacy posted date

2023-05-09

Legacy creation date

2023-05-09

Legacy Faculty/School/Department

Theses from Anglia Ruskin University/Faculty of Business and Law

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