Young people in higher education mainly choose based on their interests. A better link with labour market opportunities is needed.

Young people in higher education (middelbaar beroepsonderwijs, MBO) mainly base their choice of study on personal interests and their perception of their own talents. Employment prospects and the social relevance of courses play a less significant role. This emerges from the new report “Kansrijk kiezen in het MBO: Overwegingen van jongeren bij hun studiekeuze” by the Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market (ROA) at Maastricht University, made possible by Instituut Gak.

According to the researchers, it is crucial – both for young people and for society – that study choices not only match what students enjoy, but also lead to professions with good job prospects and social value, such as in healthcare, education, and technology. The research shows that MBO programmes with better employment prospects and higher earnings attract more students, although this often happens unconsciously or implicitly.

The study also reveals that young people’s expectations beforehand do not always match their eventual experience of the course. This highlights the importance of providing young people with a realistic and accessible understanding of their options. According to Didier Fouarge, who was involved in the research: “Open days, websites, and conversations with parents and mentors turn out to have a major influence, while social media play only a limited role in the decision-making process. The latter is perhaps somewhat reassuring.”

The researchers argue for better integration of labour market perspectives into career orientation and guidance (loopbaanoriëntatie en -begeleiding, LOB) in schools. Labour market information should be presented more clearly and accessibly, and ideally linked to the personal preferences and talents of young people. “When this connection is made, young people can make choices that not only enhance their own future prospects, but also contribute to society’s broader need for well-trained staff in sectors facing the greatest shortages,” Fouarge explains.

Read the full report: “Kansrijk kiezen in het MBO: Overwegingen van jongeren bij hun studiekeuze”.
 

Research method

The study combines several research methods to map the decision-making process behind study choices. In addition to an extensive literature review, quantitative analyses of administrative education data and labour market outcomes were carried out, supplemented by qualitative field research in MBO colleges. A large-scale survey was also conducted among recent MBO graduates, incorporating experimental elements to investigate how they actually weigh employment prospects and personal preferences.

 

Learn more about the Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market (ROA) in the video below: