A New Research Concerning Some Influence
Factors in the Orientation of Highschool
Graduates Towards Higher Technical Education
Mircea E. Ardeleanu, Dan G. Stnescu
 Starting from the concrete situation which indicates, in
AbstractUniversity dropout phenomenon after the first year
of study is an alarming aspect for higher education in Romania.
It has been found that due to an inappropriate orientation
(choice) of profession, many young people drop higher education
after a year or two of study or they eventually consider
themselves professionally unfulfilled.
Counseling and orientating high school graduates towards
higher education and leading them to a professional career
adapted to their skills and abilities is a complex work but which,
apparently, does not strike the attention and importance
deserved.
This article presents a new research which was conducted in
February 2016, based on a questionnaire, on a representative
group of second year students from the Faculty of Electrical
Engineering of Craiova (FEE). It was mainly intended to find out
the sources of information and influence of high school graduates
about the FEE educational offer, their knowledge on the
profession of engineer in the electrical field, framed in a socio-
human context regarding information on the high school
graduated, place of residence, parents' educational status, etc.,
and some suggestions on improving counseling in choosing a
career in electrical engineering
Index Terms career, career guidance, career conseselling,
head teacher, information sources of high school graduates,
school dropout, technical higher education, young high school
graduates
I. INTRODUCTION
U NIVERSITY dropout phenomenon after the first year of
study is an alarming aspect for higher education in
Romania.
It has been found that due to an inappropriate orientation
(choice) of profession, many young people drop higher
education after a year or two of study or they eventually
consider themselves professionally unfulfilled.
Counseling and orientating high school students towards
higher education and leading them to a professional career
adapted to their skills and abilities is a complex work but
which, apparently, does not strike the attention and importance
deserved.
M.E. Ardeleanu, is now university lecturer in the Department of Electrical
Engineering , University of Craiova, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering (e-
mail: mircea_emilian@yahoo.com).
D.G. Stnescu, is now university lecturer in the Department of Electrical
Engineering , University of Craiova, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering (e-
mail: dstanescu@elth.ucv.ro
978-1-4673-9575-5/16/$31.00 2016 IEEE
recent years, in the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of
Craiova, a school dropout rate after the first year of
approximately 20-22%, a new study was conducted that
tracked orientation aspects of young people towards a career
in the technical field, specifically in electrical engineering,
considering that a poor knowledge of the domain in which a
young professional prepares himself can be a cause of
professional academic failure and university dropout.
This article presents a new and current research which was
conducted in February 2016, based on a questionnaire, on a
representative group of second year students from the Faculty
of Electrical Engineering of Craiova (FEE). It was mainly
intended to find out the sources of information and influence
of high school graduates about the FEE educational offer, their
knowledge on the profession of engineer in the electrical field,
framed in a socio-human context regarding information on the
high school graduated, place of residence, parents' educational
status, etc., and some suggestions on improving counseling in
choosing a career in electrical engineering.
II. SOME BASIC PROBLEMS REGARDING CAREER GUIDANCE
The guidance on career is nowadays a continuous process
(lifelong guidance) that accompanies the process of
continuous learning (lifelong learning). They are even more
necessary, because today's professional career is accompanied
(much more common than a few decades ago) by phenomena
such as outplacement, returns in the training system,
unemployment etc. [1].
The focus on choosing a successful career for any high
school graduate is a sustained activity, complex and important
both for him and for the factors or agents that advise and
channel him towards the desired job.
Career guidance = information activities + counselling +
career education [1].
Information activity
The way and the sources from which high school students
are informed and document from about their future profession,
about the educational offer proposed by higher education
institutions in Romania are very important.
The existence of multiple information sources, classic
(brochures, discussions with family, friends, study visits,
professional orientation films, etc.) and modern (Internet,
social networks, mobile telephony) creates a broad spectrum
of information points as well as analysis for young people
found at their turning point, when choosing a future career.
Counselling
Career counselling aims, in terms of the issues dealt with in
this paper, at activities to develop skills, guidance towards a
specific career, support in deciding on a career, constituting
psychological intervention actions.
Career education
Career education is a comprehensive educational process
both for choosing a career, for which young people believe
they have the necessary skills and vocation, activity performed
over the years of high school study and for the theoretical and
practical knowledge on the chosen specialization profile and
development of skills and abilities necessary for managing
their own careers, acquired in the educational process
conducted in higher education institutions [3].
in the electrical field and an analysis of methods of promoting
the image of the faculty and educational offer.
IV. STUDY OF DETERMINING FACTORS FOR THE ORIENTATION
TOWORD A CAREER IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
The research which was conducted in February 2016, based
on a questionnaire made on a representative group of 67
students of which 58 boys (86.6%) and a total of 9 girls
(13.4%) in the second year in the Faculty of Electrical
Engineering of Craiova, Fig 1.
Of the study participants a total of 23 (34.4%) have
graduated a theoretical high school, 33 (49.3%) have
graduated a technical high school and 11 (16.4%) have
graduated vocational high schools (economic, educational,
sportive, etc.) (Fig. 2).

III. SCHOOL DROPOUT SITUATION IN THE FACULTY OF

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING OF CRAIOVA
In recent years, the school situation after the first year of
study in FEE Craiova has shown a university dropout rate in
proportion of 20 - 23%.
This aspect is alarming both for higher technical education
in Craiova and national higher education, where only the
dropout intent was 20% in 2011[2].
Statistically, the situation of school dropout after the first
year of study in FEE is as follows:
- in academic year 2011-2012, the graduation rate after the Fig.1. The percentage composition in terms of the sex of the respondents.
first year of study was 80%, therefore a dropout rate of 20%.
The dropout rate among students was 20% for boys and 15%
for girls.
- in academic year 2012-2013, the graduation rate after the
first year of study was 79% therefore a dropout rate of 21%.
Analyzing the percentage among students, the dropout rate
was 23% for boys and only 8 % for girls;
- in academic year 2013-2014, the graduation rate after the
first year of study was 71.5% therefore a dropout rate of 28,5
%, one of the highest in the analyzed years. Analyzing the
percentage among students, the dropout rate was
approximately 29% for boys and 26% for girls.
From previous studies some causes have emerged, which
are reasons for dropout after the first year of study in FEE Fig. 2. The percentage composition in terms of the type of high school
Craiova [3]: graduate: 1) theoretical highschool; 2) technical highschool; 3) vocational
highschools.
- the large number of failed exams;
- trgeting the wrong career choice;
- subjects considered difficult and demanding teachers;
- lack of motivation;
- financial and family problems.
After analyzing these cases, we can see that a wrong career
orientation, not knowing the theoretical and technical aspects
related engineering activity in the technical field, is one of the
causes underlying university dropout after the first year.
Further on, we will present the results of a recent study
conducted among students in FEE Craiova on aspects of their
career orientation towards electrical engineering aiming to
identify and highlight the factors of information, influence,
Fig. 3. The percentage composition in terms of the origin (urban or rural
knowledge they had on the professional profile of an engineer areas):1) urban areas (small, medium and large urban); 2) rural areas.
 Of the respondents, 50 (74.6%) come from urban areas
(small, medium and large urban) and 17 (25.4%) from rural
areas (Fig. 3).
Respondents who participated in this study had to answer
various questions.
Firstly, we aimed to determine the sources of information
about FFE and its educational offer. Respondents could
indicate one or more sources such as:
- The Internet, social websites;
- Visits made by academics in your high school (leaflets
presenting the educational opportunities and future
engineering career development, distributed on this occasion);
- Information visits made by students in colleges during
the action entitled "Open Doors Days;
- Discussions with the head teacher and other teachers;
- TV Shows presented at local TV stations;
- Advertisements / articles in local newspapers;
- Other sources of information (family, friends, neighbors).
The study results indicated that the main sources of
information worth mentioning: the Internet was indicated by
56.7%; 38.8% indicated family, friends, as source from which
they learned about FEE; in an equal proportion of 13.4%
specified visits by academics of FEE in high schools and
discussions with the head teacher and other teachers in high
school and only 9% information visits made by students in
colleges during the action entitled "Open Doors Days, Fig.
4.
Fig. 4. The percentage results on the information sources of high school
graduates: 1) Internet; 2) family, friends;3) visits by academics of FEE in high
schools 4) discussions with the head teacher and other teachers; 5) visits made
during the action entitled "Open Doors Days.
Fig. 5. The percentage results on the information sources of high school
graduates in urban area: 1) Internet; 2) family, friends; 3) visits made by
academics in high schools; 4) discussions with the head teacher; 5) action
entitled "Open Doors Days.
Analyzing this issue based on the residence of respondents,
we obtained the following results:
- in the urban area: 54% indicated the Internet; 32%
indicated family, friends; 18% visits made by academics in
high schools; 14% discussions with the head teacher and
specialist teachers and 10% information visits made by
students in colleges during the action entitled "Open Doors
Days (Fig. 5).
- in the rural area, the situation is as follows: 64.7%
indicated the Internet; 58.9% indicated family, friends and
only 3% discussions with the head teacher and specialist
teachers (Fig. 6).
To find out how much students were informed about the
engineering profession in the electric field when they enrolled
in college, they had to answer the question: What did you
know about the profession of engineer in electrical domain
when you enrolled?
Of the study participants, 23 (34.3%) said they knew
nothing or next to nothing about this profession.
It should be noted that of the respondents who gave this
answer, 63.6% had both parents with high school education,
13% had both parents with vocational school, 13% had one
parent with high school or post-secondary education and
around 13% had one parents with vocational school.
Fig. 6. The percentage results on the information sources of high school
graduates in rural area: 1) Internet;2) family, friends; 3) discussions with the
head teacher and specialist teachers.
A total of 8 (12%) said that they had little information in
this regard and 36 (53.7%) indicated some aspects that they
knew about this profession.
Among the answers given we can mention:
- it is a hard job, with responsibility and perspective;
- it is a well-paid job, for the future, interesting;
- it designs and makes electrical facilities, etc.
Of these respondents 27% had both parents with high
school or post-secondary education, 9% had both parents with
vocational education and very few (2.2%) had both parents
with secondary, primary or university education. Also, it is
noted that 47.7% of these students had one parent with high
school education, 29.5% had one parent with university or
postgraduate education, 11.36% had at least one parent with
vocational school and 9% had one parent with secondary
education.
 Another important information desired was an indication of
the person who influenced the student in choosing the
profession of engineer in electrical profile.
Respondents indicated in a rate of 47.8% family (18.75%
mother, 37.5% father, 12.5% brother/sister and 31.25% both
parents); 25.4% indicated that they were not influenced by a
particular person, 8.9% said they were influenced by
discussions with friends, 4.5% were oriented towards this
profession by the head teacher, 7.5% were influenced by work
colleagues and a rate of 5.9% did not answer the question (Fig.
7).
Fig. 7. The percentage results on the person who influenced the student in
choosing the profession of engineer in electrical profile:1)influenced by
family; 2) not influenced by a particular person; 3) influenced by discussions
with friends; 4) influenced by the head teache; 5) influenced by work
colleagues; 6) not answer the question.
Fig. 8. The percentage results on the family person who influenced the student
in choosing the profession of engineer in electrical profile.
Generally, in the orientation towards a professional career
adapted to the socio-psychological profile and theoretical and
technical-cognitive skills of high school graduates, have an
important role is played by school. To find out how much
school is involved in the career orientation of students, study
participants had to answer the question: "Do you believe that
in your high school there is an appropriate activity for the
orientation towards a proper career (according to skills)?
YES/NO
From the respondents, 40.3% showed dissatisfaction
towards the work done in their high school regarding the
career orientation of young people saying:
- in high school, no one offers information on professions,
- it was observed a lack of interest from the school towards
the career orientation of pupils;
- it was stated that pupils manifest a lack of interest about
their career choice;
- it was observed that, in some schools, there is a lack of
interest for the professional future of graduates.
To this question, 46.3% said they were satisfied with the
work done in high school regarding students orientation for a
professional career adapted to their skills. They highlighted
the following issues:
- the interest shown by school officials against visits made
by academics for presenting the educational and professional
offer of their faculty;
- technical specialist teachers were involved in guiding
students towards their specialty;
- in predominantly theoretical high schools the vocational
orientation work was done towards theoretical faculties.
A percentage of 13.4% of respondents did not answer this
question.
This research was aimed at finding the reasons that have
led students to choose to study at this university. Of the
responses received, we could note a few things that were
repeated in many of the answers, which indicated seriousness
in choosing the faculty:
- ensure graduates a better future;
- the educational offer (existing specializations) provides a
good specialized training, a professional future;
- were guided by family (mother, father, brother), friends,
high school teachers;
- the need for future engineers in electrical profile;
- continuing the technical training acquired in school;
- prestige enjoyed by this faculty.
To improve the activity of the correct orientation of young
graduates for a career in electrical engineering and make a
choice with full knowledge, study participants were asked:
What do you think should be done for graduates to be better
informed by the occupational offer and career evolution of an
engineer in electrical profile?
Among the recorded responses, we have emerged some
ideas and suggestions that are worth mentioning:
- the direct information and documentation by high school
students through discussions with academics;
- increasing information in schools and its efficiency
regarding the engineering profession in electrical profile;
- companies and employers should present, to high school
students, their employment opportunities and professional
development in electrical engineering;
- academics should present, to high school students, the
educational offer (specializations) of the faculty, development
and future career possibilities;
- student participation in promoting the faculty, sharing
their experience and presenting student employment
opportunities after graduation;
- using the Internet, social networks, mass-media to actively
promote the faculty, employment opportunities in this
profession;
 - developing the activity to inform pupils on the educational
and occupational offer of higher education institutions since
the Xth or XIth grade;
- organizing informative visits in the faculty for pupils.
Please note, however, the relatively high proportion, 38.8%
of students who have not responded to this question.
V. CONCLUSION
This paper was based on a original questionnaire, conceived
and designed by the authors to find answers to questions
regarding certain aspects of orientation for high school
graduates in higher technical education in electric profile.
The results of these research are presented and analyzed
statistically by objective proposed.
This study was achieved in February 2016 on a
representative group of 67 second year students from FEE
Craiova (of which 58 boys (86.6%) and a total of 9 girls (13.4
%)) on aspects relating to factors that influenced their choice
for electrical engineering.
The research results indicated as the main sources of
information in choosing a profession and a higher education
institution: the Internet (56.7%); family and social
environment (38.8%); discussions with the head teacher and
high school teachers (13.4%); faculty presentation visits
conducted by academics in high schools (13.4%) and visits
made by pupils in the faculty during the event Open Doors
Days (9%).
Also, we noted in this regard, that factors such as: mass-
media, radio or TV commercials, ads in newspapers did not
have any influence on the orientation of high school graduates
from Oltenia towards a profession in the electrical engineering
field and not even on choosing FEE Craiova.
Following this study, in which only 4.5% of respondents
indicated that they were oriented towards this profession by
head teachers or high school teachers and 40.3% said they
were dissatisfied with the activities organized in their schools
for the career orientation of pupils, the authors underline
the idea that a more active and strong involvement of
educational factors in high schools must be made (school
officials, head teachers, teachers, psychologists) on guiding
the pupils towards a professional career, from the early years
of high school, according to their individual skills and
abilities, their qualities and intellectual, physical and mental
performances, etc.
The authors consider important for school officials to be
more involved for organizing meetings and debates among
pupils and professionals in various technical fields, with
companies and employers in the area who should talk to pupils
in class about their aspirations and desire for career
affirmation.
Given that 47.8% of respondents indicated that the person
who guided and influenced them towards this profession and
higher education institution in one of their family members
(mother, father, brother/sister), however, school together with
parents must be more aware and more involved in guiding
young people in the career that suits them.
In same line of thought, it should be noted that respondents:
38.8% had both parents with high school education, 10.4%
had both parents graduated vocational school, 35.8% had one
parent graduated high school, 12% had one parent graduated
vocational school and a small number said that their parents
had primary, secondary or university education. An important
conclusion can be drawn on aspiration of young people to
overcome the training and status of their parents and become
skilled specialists with higher education.
Given that both in urban and rural areas Internet and social
networks were indicated in the highest percentage as a source
of information (54% in urban areas and 64.7% in rural areas),
the faculty website must be more attractive and offer accurate,
current and correct information.
In promoting the faculty in the best possible and accurate
way (educational and occupational offer) we must increase the
presentation visits made by academics in high schools, and
discussions with pupils and attracting them in this action.
At the end of the study, the authors believe that to
streamline the work of a correct orientation of young people
towards a career that suits their qualities and skills, hence,
towards a career in electrical engineering, we must increase
the activity of all educational factors (school officials,
teachers, head teachers, school psychologists, academics), of
parents and employers in organizing various activities for the
presentation and promotion of this profession, employment
opportunities, professional development and educational offer
of FEE Craiova.
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