Employers’ Perceptions of Online University Degrees and Their Relationship with the Recruitment and Selection Practices: The Case of Chile

Bobek Vito (), Zych Filip (), Janković Božidarka () and Horvat Tatjana ()
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Bobek Vito: University of Maribor, Faculty of Economics and Business, Razlagova 14-20, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
Zych Filip: McKinsey & Company, Wrocław, Poland
Janković Božidarka: University Educons Belgrade, Faculty of Project Management and Innovation, Belgrade, Serbia
Horvat Tatjana: University of Primorska, Faculty of Management, Koper, Slovenia

Naše gospodarstvo/Our economy, 2022, vol. 68, issue 3, 28-49

Abstract: The emergence of online university degree programs is an opportunity for Chile, struggling with low tertiary education attainment rates and a skills gap in the labor market. However, little attention has been dedicated to whether the employers in Chile perceive online and on-campus university education as equivalent. This study investigated the perceptions of a convenient sample of 38 employers from different industries, using Likert scale questions and a hypothetical hiring scenario. The survey results were then consulted with three experts who provided their interpretations. The findings indicated that the investigated sample generally does not perceive online and on-campus university education as equivalent but would not discard an online degree graduate only due to their academic background. However, when given a choice between a 100% online, 100% on-campus, and a hybrid degree holder, none of them would choose a 100% online degree graduate. Instead, 57% would hire a hybrid degree graduate and 43% a 100% on-campus graduate. There is a significant, positive correlation between the perceived equivalence in rigor, learning experience, and learning content and the willingness to hire an online degree graduate. The university’s reputation is a crucial factor influencing hiring decisions in Chile. The degree’s relevance may be insignificant compared to other factors considered by the hiring managers.

Keywords: Higher Education; Online University Degrees; Recruitment; Chile (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J24 M51 O33 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:vrs:ngooec:v:68:y:2022:i:3:p:28-49:n:6

DOI: 10.2478/ngoe-2022-0016

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