University studies as a side job: causes and consequences of massive student employment in Estonia |
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Authors: | Maarja Beerkens Eve M?gi and Liis Lill |
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Institution: | (1) CHEPS, University of Twente, PO Box 217, 7500AE Enschede, The Netherlands;(2) PRAXIS Center for Policy Studies, Estonia pst 5a, Tallinn, 10143, Estonia;(3) Department of Economics, University of Tartu, Narva mnt 4, A315, Tartu, 51009, Estonia |
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Abstract: | Student employment is increasingly common in many countries. Compared to earlier decades, not only more students work but
they also work longer hours. Among European countries Estonia is one of the clear “leaders” in student employment. This study
uses survey data from 2,496 students in Estonian public and private universities to examine the reasons for working on such
a massive scale and its consequences on academic success. The results show that, unlike in most other countries, Estonian
students from more privileged families are as likely to work as students from poorer families and they are even more likely
to have a full-time job. Furthermore, working seems to have only a marginal negative effect on academic progress. These results
seem to support the theory that in Eastern European countries student employment has become a signal of students’ capabilities
and ambition, and that relatively low academic standards contribute to the strength of the signaling mechanism. A long-term
solution to student employment would require changes in quality standards, student financing, alternative higher education
opportunities, and perceptions of students, employers, and academics. |
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Keywords: | |
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