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'You Can Be Taken More Seriously': Finnish Business Graduates' Perceptions of the Employability and Social Prestige of Their Degrees

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Title: 'You Can Be Taken More Seriously': Finnish Business Graduates' Perceptions of the Employability and Social Prestige of Their Degrees
Language: English
Authors: Isopahkala-Bouret, Ulpukka (ORCID 0000-0002-8535-8874), Ojala, Kristiina (ORCID 0000-0003-1145-1942)
Source: Journal of Further and Higher Education. 2023 47(3):351-363.
Availability: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 13
Publication Date: 2023
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, College Graduates, Business Education, Attitudes, Employment Potential, Bachelors Degrees, Reputation, Social Attitudes, Graduate Study, Career Readiness, Equal Opportunities (Jobs), Educational Attainment
Geographic Terms: Finland
DOI: 10.1080/0309877X.2022.2130196
ISSN: 0309-877X
1469-9486
Abstract: This article focuses on the university graduates' perceptions of their employability, and particularly how the social prestige of degrees relates to such perceptions. It defines employability in terms of positional conflict and makes an argument that perceptions of the employability and prestige are socially mediated and require social recognition; therefore, this study is drawing on current theories on social valuing and the social construction of prestige, which is a novel approach in the field of employability research. Based on 48 graduate interviews, this study aims to investigate how recent graduates themselves interpret rank differences and the social standing of their own degrees. The focus is on business degrees from Finnish universities and universities of applied sciences. Our findings demonstrate how graduates mobilise various valuation criteria, such as (1) the formal "level" of a degree (bachelor's or master's level), (2) "selectivity" of degree programmes, (3) "orientation" of studies, and (4) "work-readiness." Moreover, graduates assign commonly shared values and beliefs within these criteria. The results contribute to a growing scholarly interest not only in studying established rank orders but also in focussing on the social aspects of valuation which create stratification. Overall, the theory and findings of this study suggest a need to focus on the meaning patterns and social valuation in the future research on employability. It is important for universities, employers and policymakers to understand how the processes of prestige accumulation enhance graduate employability and (re)produce societal and occupational inequalities.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2023
Accession Number: EJ1385954
Database: ERIC
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  Data: 'You Can Be Taken More Seriously': Finnish Business Graduates' Perceptions of the Employability and Social Prestige of Their Degrees
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Isopahkala-Bouret%2C+Ulpukka%22">Isopahkala-Bouret, Ulpukka</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8535-8874">0000-0002-8535-8874</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ojala%2C+Kristiina%22">Ojala, Kristiina</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1145-1942">0000-0003-1145-1942</externalLink>)
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  Data: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Graduates%22">College Graduates</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Business+Education%22">Business Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Attitudes%22">Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Employment+Potential%22">Employment Potential</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Bachelors+Degrees%22">Bachelors Degrees</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Reputation%22">Reputation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Attitudes%22">Social Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Graduate+Study%22">Graduate Study</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Career+Readiness%22">Career Readiness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Equal+Opportunities+%28Jobs%29%22">Equal Opportunities (Jobs)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Attainment%22">Educational Attainment</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1080/0309877X.2022.2130196
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  Data: This article focuses on the university graduates' perceptions of their employability, and particularly how the social prestige of degrees relates to such perceptions. It defines employability in terms of positional conflict and makes an argument that perceptions of the employability and prestige are socially mediated and require social recognition; therefore, this study is drawing on current theories on social valuing and the social construction of prestige, which is a novel approach in the field of employability research. Based on 48 graduate interviews, this study aims to investigate how recent graduates themselves interpret rank differences and the social standing of their own degrees. The focus is on business degrees from Finnish universities and universities of applied sciences. Our findings demonstrate how graduates mobilise various valuation criteria, such as (1) the formal "level" of a degree (bachelor's or master's level), (2) "selectivity" of degree programmes, (3) "orientation" of studies, and (4) "work-readiness." Moreover, graduates assign commonly shared values and beliefs within these criteria. The results contribute to a growing scholarly interest not only in studying established rank orders but also in focussing on the social aspects of valuation which create stratification. Overall, the theory and findings of this study suggest a need to focus on the meaning patterns and social valuation in the future research on employability. It is important for universities, employers and policymakers to understand how the processes of prestige accumulation enhance graduate employability and (re)produce societal and occupational inequalities.
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        Value: 10.1080/0309877X.2022.2130196
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 13
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    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Graduates
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Business Education
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      – SubjectFull: Attitudes
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      – SubjectFull: Employment Potential
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      – SubjectFull: Bachelors Degrees
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Reputation
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      – SubjectFull: Social Attitudes
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      – SubjectFull: Graduate Study
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      – SubjectFull: Career Readiness
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      – SubjectFull: Equal Opportunities (Jobs)
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      – SubjectFull: Finland
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      – TitleFull: 'You Can Be Taken More Seriously': Finnish Business Graduates' Perceptions of the Employability and Social Prestige of Their Degrees
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