The document summarizes a study on self-perceived employability and information management skills of students from Brandenburg University of Technology, Cottbus, Germany (BTU students) and University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland (UWM students). The study found that BTU students had higher self-perceived employability than UWM students. Both groups were most confident in their ability to succeed in job interviews and their skills/competences, and least confident in opportunities in their local labor market. Environmental studies students had the highest employability perception, followed by culture/technology and economy students, with history and international relations students having the lowest. The study provides insights but has limitations in developing

1. Students in the light of studies
of self-perceived employability
and information management
skills
Marzena Świgoń
University of Warmia and
Mazury in Olsztyn,
POLAND
QQML 2020: The 12th
Qualitative and Quantitative
Methods in Libraries
International Conference
26 - 30 MAY 2020, CASA CONVALESCÈNCIA,
UNIVERSITAT AUTONΌMA DE BARCELONA, SPAIN
TURNED INTO VIRTUAL

2. Outline
INTRODUCTION STUDIES RESULTS CONCLUSION

3. Employability
and
information
management
skills
• Self-perceived employability - the ability to keep the
job one has or to get the job one desires
• Information management skills - information
retrieving, storing, sending, presenting, distributing,
securing, evaluating, organising etc.

4. Fig. Self-perceived employability of students
and information management skills
University
1. Engagement with the
studies and academic
performance
2. The university’s brand
3. The field of study at the
university
Self-belief
8. Confidence in the skills
and competences
9. Personal Knowledge
and Information
Management
skills
4. The status of the field
of study
Field of study
7. Opportunities in the
labor market
6. Perception of the state
of the labor market
5. The labor market’s
demand for professionals
of the field of study
State of the labor market

5. Studies
What was the level of self-perceived
employability of BTU students
(Brandenburg University of Technology,
Cottbus, Germany) and UWM students
(University of Warmia and Mazury in
Olsztyn, Poland); and what were the
main similarities and differences
between both groups, and between
various of majors of study.
The respondent group in Germany
consisted of 135 students of two study
programs: ‘culture and technology’ and
‘environmental studies’.
The respondents group in Poland were
257 students of three majors: ‘history’,
‘international relations’ and ‘economy’.
Years: 2013-2017

6. 1. Engagement with the studies
and academic performance
1a. I achieve high grades at my studies. BTU students
%
UWM students
%
1 – I strongly disagree 1.48 1.56
2 – I disagree 5.93 6.23
3 – I do not know 46.67 21.40
4 – I agree 40.00 50.97
5 – I absolutely agree 5.93 19.84
Altogether
Chi-square=32.43 p<0,001
100% 100%
1b. I regard my academic work as a top priority. BTU students
%
UWM students
%
1 – I strongly disagree 2.96 2.33
2 – I disagree 15.56 12.84
3 – I do not know 29.63 15.18
4 – I agree 44.44 50.97
5 – I absolutely agree 7.41 18.68
Altogether
Chi-square=18.15 p=0,001
100% 100%

7. 2. The university’s brand
2a. Employers are eager to employ graduates
from my university.
BTU students
%
UWM students
%
1 – I strongly disagree 2.22 9.34
2 – I disagree 4.44 26.46
3 – I do not know 79.26 58.75
4 – I agree 13.33 5.06
5 – I absolutely agree 0.74 0.39
Altogether
Chi-square=42.76 p<0,001
100% 100%
2b. The status of this university is a significant
asset to me in job seeking.
BTU students
%
UWM students
%
1 – I strongly disagree 2.96 11.28
2 – I disagree 6.67 38.91
3 – I do not know 54.81 36.96
4 – I agree 33.33 11.28
5 – I absolutely agree 2.22 1.56
Altogether
Chi-square=69.92 p<0,001
100% 100%

8. 3. The field of
study at the
university
3a. Employers specifically target this
university in order to recruit
individuals from my subject area(s).
BTU students
%
UWM students
%
1 – I strongly disagree 2.22 8.17
2 – I disagree 7.41 29.18
3 – I do not know 81.48 55.25
4 – I agree 8.89 6.23
5 – I absolutely agree 0 1.17
Altogether
Chi-square=21.48 p<0,001
100% 100%
3b. My university has an
outstanding reputation in my field(s)
of study.
BTU students
%
UWM students
%
1 – I strongly disagree 2.22 6.23
2 – I disagree 9.63 36.58
3 – I do not know 69.63 41.63
4 – I agree 14.81 14.79
5 – I absolutely agree 3.70 0.78
Altogether
Chi-square=44.24 p<0,001
100% 100%

9. 4. The status
of the field
of study
4a. There are more people
applying for my degree than the
places available.
BTU students
%
UWM students
%
1 – I strongly disagree 11.85% 29.96
2 – I disagree 42.96% 22.57
3 – I do not know 32.59% 24.51
4 – I agree 9.63% 19.07
5 – I absolutely agree 2.96% 3.89
Altogether
Chi-square=31.98 p<0,001
100% 100%
4b. My chosen subject(s) rank(s)
highly in terms of social status.
BTU students
%
UWM students
%
1 – I strongly disagree 13.33% 11.28
2 – I disagree 35.56% 23.35
3 – I do not know 38.52% 30.35
4 – I agree 10.37% 31.91
5 – I absolutely agree 2.22% 3.11
Altogether
Chi-square=23.89 p<0,001
100% 100%

10. 5. The labor
market’s
demand for
professionals
of the field
of study
5b. My degree is seen as leading to a
specific career that is generally
perceived as highly desirable.
BTU students
%
UWM students
%
1 – I strongly disagree 5.93 12.45
2 – I disagree 20.74 31.91
3 – I do not know 55.56 32.30
4 – I agree 14.81 21.01
5 – I absolutely agree 2.96 2.33
Altogether
Chi-square=23.89 p<0,001
100% 100%
5a. People in the career I am aiming
for are in high demand in the external
labour market.
BTU students
%
UWM students
%
1 – I strongly disagree 5.19 16.34
2 – I disagree 22.96 36.58
3 – I do not know 49.63 26.46
4 – I agree 18.52 19.07
5 – I absolutely agree 3.70 1.56
Altogether
Chi-square=23.89 p<0,001
100% 100%

11. 6. Perception of the state of the labor market
6a. There is generally a strong demand for graduates
at present.
BTU students
%
UWM students
%
1 – I strongly disagree 1.48 18.68
2 – I disagree 11.11 41.25
3 – I do not know 25.19 17.51
4 – I agree 45.19 17.90
5 – I absolutely agree 17.04 4.67
Altogether
Chi-square=88.44 p<0,001
100% 100%
6b. There are plenty of job vacancies in the
geographical area in which I am looking for a job.
BTU students
%
UWM students
%
1 – I strongly disagree 7.41 25.68
2 – I disagree 27.41 39.69
3 – I do not know 45.19 16.34
4 – I agree 19.26 15.95
5 – I absolutely agree 0.74 2.33
Altogether
Chi-square=48.85 p<0,001
100% 100%

12. 7.
Opportunities
in the labor
market (1/2)
7a. I can easily find out about job
opportunities in my chosen field.
BTU students
%
UWM students
%
1 – I strongly disagree 8.89 24.51
2 – I disagree 25.93 39.69
3 – I do not know 45.93 21.01
4 – I agree 17.04 13.62
5 – I absolutely agree 2.22 1.17
Altogether
Chi-square=35.99 p<0,001
100% 100%
7b. The skills and abilities that I
possess are what employers are
looking for.
BTU students
%
UWM students
%
1 – I strongly disagree 2.22 5.08
2 – I disagree 3.70 19.53
3 – I do not know 54.81 38.28
4 – I agree 33.33 31.25
5 – I absolutely agree 5.93 5.86
Altogether
Chi-square=23.11 p<0,001
100% 100%

13. 7. Opportunities
in the labor
market (2/2)
10. I think that I have a good chance of
finding employment abroad which
matches my qualifications and
expectations.
BTU students
%
UWM students
%
1 – I strongly disagree 0.74 9.34
2 – I disagree 14.07 19.07
3 – I do not know 40.74 40.47
4 – I agree 35.56 24.12
5 – I absolutely agree 8.89 7.00
Altogether
Chi-square=16.06 p=0.002
100% 100%

14. 8. Confidence
in the skills
and
competences
8a. I am generally confident of
success in job interviews and
selection events.
BTU students
%
UWM students
%
1 – I strongly disagree 2.22 3.89
2 – I disagree 5.93 17.12
3 – I do not know 44.44 38.13
4 – I agree 37.04 33.85
5 – I absolutely agree 10.37 7.00
Altogether
Chi-kwadr.=11.46 p=0.021
100% 100%
8b. I feel I could get any job so long as
my skills and experience are
reasonably relevant.
BTU students
%
UWM students
%
1 – I strongly disagree 0.74 2.72
2 – I disagree 12.59 18.68
3 – I do not know 27.41 23.35
4 – I agree 45.93 45.14
5 – I absolutely agree 13.33 10.12
Altogether
Chi-kwadr.=5.09 p=0,277
100% 100%

15. 9. Personal
Knowledge
and
Information
Management
(PKIM skills)
9a. I think that appropriate
management of personal
knowledge by students
(information and ideas searching,
evaluating, creating, presenting,
etc.) makes looking for work and
employment easier.
BTU students
%
UWM students
%
1 – I strongly disagree 2.96 1.56
2 – I disagree 7.41 8.95
3 – I do not know 28.15 21.40
4 – I agree 45.93 50.19
5 – I absolutely agree 15.56 17.90
Altogether
Chi-square=3.42 p=0.489
100% 100%
9b. At my studies I am well
prepared to manage information
and knowledge (searching,
evaluating, presenting etc.).
BTU students
%
UWM students
%
1 – I strongly disagree 2.22 5.06
2 – I disagree 9.63 17.90
3 – I do not know 25.93 29.57
4 – I agree 53.33 40.86
5 – I absolutely agree 8.89 6.61
Altogether
Chi-square=9.85 p=0.043
100% 100%

16. Conclusion
• The general employability self-assessment of BTU and UWM students was moderate (3.16, 2.91);
• The environmental studies students presented the highest level of self-perceived employability
(3.27), followed by culture and technology (3.13), economy (3.09), history (2.78), and international
relations students (2.77);
• The strongest point in the opinion of all respondents was self-confidence regarding success in job
interviews as well as skills and competences possessed by students, among other connected with
skills of personal knowledge and information management.
• Despite some limitations, such studies have the potential to develop research on employability and
information management skills of students.

17. Thank you
marzena.swigon@uwm.edu.pl
QQML 2020: The 12th Qualitative and Quantitative
Methods in Libraries International Conference
26 - 30 MAY 2020, CASA CONVALESCÈNCIA, UNIVERSITAT AUTONΌMA DE BARCELONA, SPAIN
TURNED INTO VIRTUAL