{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,8]],"date-time":"2026-01-08T09:20:55Z","timestamp":1767864055452,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"Emerald","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2016,10,10]],"date-time":"2016-10-10T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1476057600000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/site-policies"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["ET"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2016,10,10]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Purpose<\/jats:title><jats:p>The paper presents and analyses quantitative data on student perceptions about the employability of the first degree, and their trajectory choices on graduation. The purpose of this paper is to assess the value of the first degree as a positional good in Portugal, further to the degree\u2019s reduced duration after the implementation of the Bologna Process.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Design\/methodology\/approach<\/jats:title><jats:p>In total, 828 students responded to an online survey administered between September 2013 and February 2014. Students came from 17 institutions, public and private, universities and polytechnics, across the country. Differences in student perceptions were analysed by higher education sector, study level and gender through descriptive statistics.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Findings<\/jats:title><jats:p>The majority of surveyed students, across sectors, study level and gender, assessed as negative the impact of the implementation of the Bologna reforms on the employability of the first degree. This had implications for students\u2019 intended choices on graduation, as the majority consider enroling in a master degree (except for polytechnic students). Additionally, a large proportion of students felt unprepared to enter the labour market after the first degree.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Research limitations\/implications<\/jats:title><jats:p>The size and distribution of the sample pose limitations for the generalisation of results to the student population.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Practical implications<\/jats:title><jats:p>The finding suggest that enrolments in master degrees are likely to keep rising, a valuable piece of information for institutions and policy-makers responsible for regulating higher education in Portugal.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Originality\/value<\/jats:title><jats:p>Opinions about the value of the first degree have generally been based on qualitative research or anecdotal evidence. This study brings a quantitative perspective on the first degree\u2019s value for different groups of students.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1108\/et-09-2015-0088","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2016,8,23]],"date-time":"2016-08-23T19:29:22Z","timestamp":1471980562000},"page":"966-983","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":8,"title":["Student perceptions of the employability of the first degree in Portugal"],"prefix":"10.1108","volume":"58","author":[{"given":"Cristina","family":"Sin","sequence":"first","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Orlanda","family":"Tavares","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Alberto","family":"Amaral","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]}],"member":"140","reference":[{"key":"key2020121123452955900_ref001","unstructured":"Almeida, A.N. and Vieira, M.M. (2012), \u201cFrom university to diversity: the making of Portuguese higher education\u201d, in Neave, G. and Amaral, A. (Eds), Higher Education in Portugal 1974-2009, Springer, Dordrecht, pp. 137-159."},{"issue":"2","key":"key2020121123452955900_ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"195","DOI":"10.2298\/PAN1102195A","article-title":"The fundamentals of the Portuguese crisis","volume":"58","year":"2011","journal-title":"Panoeconomicus"},{"issue":"3","key":"key2020121123452955900_ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"193","DOI":"10.1016\/0047-2727(73)90013-3","article-title":"Higher education as a filter","volume":"2","year":"1973","journal-title":"Journal of Public Economics"},{"key":"key2020121123452955900_ref004","volume-title":"Human Capital: Theoretical and Empirical Analysis with Special Reference to Education","year":"1993","edition":"3rd ed."},{"key":"key2020121123452955900_ref005","volume-title":"Education, Opportunity, and Social Inequality","year":"1973"},{"key":"key2020121123452955900_ref006","volume-title":"Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste","year":"1984"},{"key":"key2020121123452955900_ref007","article-title":"Angela Merkel: \u2018existem muitos licenciados em Portugal e Espanha\u2019","year":"2014","journal-title":"Jornal de Neg\u00f3cios"},{"key":"key2020121123452955900_ref008","volume-title":"Empregabilidade e Ensino Superior em Portugal","year":"2012"},{"key":"key2020121123452955900_ref009","unstructured":"Dire\u00e7\u00e3o-Geral de Estat\u00edsticas da Educa\u00e7\u00e3o e Ci\u00eancia (2013), \u201cDesemprego dos diplomados\u201d, Graduate Unemployment, Dire\u00e7\u00e3o-Geral de Estat\u00edsticas da Educa\u00e7\u00e3o e Ci\u00eancia, Lisboa, available at: www.dgeec.mec.pt\/np4\/92\/ (accessed 2 July 2015)."},{"issue":"1","key":"key2020121123452955900_ref010","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"32","DOI":"10.2304\/eerj.2010.9.1.32","article-title":"Higher education and employability of graduates: will Bologna make a difference?","volume":"9","year":"2010","journal-title":"European Educational Research Journal"},{"key":"key2020121123452955900_ref011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5","DOI":"10.4000\/rccs.1139","article-title":"Dilemas e Desafios da Universidade: recomposi\u00e7\u00e3o social e expectativas dos estudantes na universidade de Coimbra","volume":"66","year":"2003","journal-title":"Revista Cr\u00edtica de Ci\u00eancias Sociais"},{"key":"key2020121123452955900_ref012","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Fitzsimons, P. (2015), \u201cHuman capital theory and education\u201d, in Peters, M. (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Educational Philosophy and Theory, Springer, Singapore, pp. 1-4.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-981-287-532-7_331-1"},{"key":"key2020121123452955900_ref013","unstructured":"Frank, R.H. (1999), \u201cHigher education: the ultimate winner-take-all market?\u201d, Working Paper No. 2, Cornell University, CHERI, New York, NY, available at: http:\/\/digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu\/cheri\/2 (accessed 15 July 2015)."},{"key":"key2020121123452955900_ref014","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Guggenberger, H., Keplinger, M. and Unger, M. (2011), \u201cMoving to the Bologna structure: facing challenges in the Austrian higher education system\u201d, in Schomburg, H. and Teichler, U. (Eds), Employability and Mobility of Bachelor Graduates in Europe, Sense Publishers, Rotterdam, pp. 43-67.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-94-6091-570-3_2"},{"key":"key2020121123452955900_ref015","volume-title":"Social Limits to Growth","year":"1976"},{"key":"key2020121123452955900_ref016","unstructured":"Instituto Nacional de Estat\u00edstica (2010), \u201cA Pen\u00ednsula Ib\u00e9rica em N\u00fameros \u2013 edi\u00e7\u00e3o 2009\u201d, Destaque. Informa\u00e7\u00e3o \u00e0 comunica\u00e7\u00e3o social, Instituto Nacional de Estat\u00edstica, Lisboa."},{"issue":"1","key":"key2020121123452955900_ref017","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"103","DOI":"10.1111\/1467-6419.00048","article-title":"Segmented labour markets: theory and evidence","volume":"12","year":"1998","journal-title":"Journal of Economic Surveys"},{"key":"key2020121123452955900_ref018","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"45","DOI":"10.4000\/rccs.1140","article-title":"Classes Sociais e Estudantes Universit\u00e1rios: Origens, Oportunidades e Orienta\u00e7\u00f5es","volume":"66","year":"2003","journal-title":"Revista Cr\u00edtica de Ci\u00eancias Sociais"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2020121123452955900_ref019","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"35","DOI":"10.1080\/13583880802700040","article-title":"Equity, access and institutional competition","volume":"15","year":"2009","journal-title":"Tertiary Education and Management"},{"key":"key2020121123452955900_ref020","unstructured":"Marginson, S. (1998), \u201cCompetition and diversity in the reformed australian higher education system\u201d, in Meek, L.V.e. and Wood, F.Q. (Eds), Managing Higher Education Diversity in a Climate of Public Sector Reform, Department of Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs, Canberra, pp. 81-96."},{"issue":"1","key":"key2020121123452955900_ref021","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1007\/s10734-004-7649-x","article-title":"Dynamics of national and global competition in higher education","volume":"52","year":"2006","journal-title":"Higher Education"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2020121123452955900_ref022","first-page":"11","article-title":"On wolves and crises: review of new trends in higher education in Europe","volume":"13","year":"1978","journal-title":"Paedagogica Europaea"},{"issue":"2","key":"key2020121123452955900_ref023","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"181","DOI":"10.1016\/0165-1765(79)90232-5","article-title":"On the weak versus the strong version of the screening hypothesis","volume":"4","year":"1979","journal-title":"Economics Letters"},{"key":"key2020121123452955900_ref024","unstructured":"Queir\u00f3s, M. (2012), \u201cApostar no mestrado compensa?\u201d, Di\u00e1rio Econ\u00f3mico, 5 August, available at: http:\/\/economico.sapo.pt\/noticias\/apostar-no-mestrado-compensa_147970.html (accessed 22 September 2015)."},{"issue":"4","key":"key2020121123452955900_ref025","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1373","DOI":"10.2307\/2937969","article-title":"A model of dual labor markets when product demand is uncertain","volume":"106","year":"1991","journal-title":"The Quarterly Journal of Economics"},{"key":"key2020121123452955900_ref026","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Schomburg, H. (2011), \u201cBachelor graduates in Germany: internationally mobile, smooth transition and professional success\u201d, in Schomburg, H. and Teichler, U. (Eds), Employability and Mobility of BachelorGraduates in Europe, Sense Publishers, Rotterdam, pp. 89-110.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-94-6091-570-3_4"},{"key":"key2020121123452955900_ref027","volume-title":"Investment in Human Capital","year":"1961"},{"key":"key2020121123452955900_ref028","article-title":"Mestrados j\u00e1 s\u00e3o condi\u00e7\u00e3o para entrar mais r\u00e1pido no mercado de trabalho","year":"2015"},{"key":"key2020121123452955900_ref029","article-title":"N\u00famero de inscritos em mestrados aumentou quase dez vezes na \u00faltima d\u00e9cada","year":"2015"},{"issue":"2-3","key":"key2020121123452955900_ref030","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"174","DOI":"10.1080\/21568235.2012.702437","article-title":"The Bologna master degree in search of an identity","volume":"2","year":"2012","journal-title":"European Journal of Higher Education"},{"key":"key2020121123452955900_ref031","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sin, C. and Amaral, A. (2016), \u201cAcademics\u2019 and employers\u2019 perceptions about responsibilities for employability and their initiatives towards its development\u201d, Higher Education, doi: 10.1007\/s10734-016-0007-y.","DOI":"10.1007\/s10734-016-0007-y"},{"key":"key2020121123452955900_ref032","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sin, C., Tavares, O. and Amaral, A. (2016a), \u201cThe impact of programme accreditation on Portuguese higher education provision\u201d, Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, doi: 10.1080\/02602938.2016.1203860.","DOI":"10.1080\/02602938.2016.1203860"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2020121123452955900_ref033","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"65","DOI":"10.1080\/13583883.2015.1134634","article-title":"Who\u2019s responsible for employability? Student perceptions and practices","volume":"22","year":"2016","journal-title":"Tertiary Education and Management"},{"issue":"3","key":"key2020121123452955900_ref034","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"355","DOI":"10.2307\/1882010","article-title":"Job market signalling","volume":"87","year":"1973","journal-title":"Quarterly Journal of Economics"},{"issue":"3","key":"key2020121123452955900_ref035","first-page":"283","article-title":"The theory of \u2018screening\u2019, education, and the distribution of income","volume":"65","year":"1975","journal-title":"American Economic Review"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2020121123452955900_ref036","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"99","DOI":"10.1080\/00131881.2013.767028","article-title":"Routes towards Portuguese higher education: students\u2019 preferred or feasible choices?","volume":"55","year":"2013","journal-title":"Educational Research"},{"key":"key2020121123452955900_ref037","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1080\/13639080.2015.1122180","article-title":"The role of students\u2019 employability perceptions on Portuguese higher education choices","year":"2016","journal-title":"Journal of Education and Work"},{"key":"key2020121123452955900_ref038","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1080\/02602938.2015.1064515","article-title":"Internal quality assurance systems in Portugal: what their strengths and weaknesses reveal","year":"2015","journal-title":"Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education"},{"key":"key2020121123452955900_ref039","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Teichler, U. (2011), \u201cBologna-motor or stumbling block for the mobility and employability of Graduates?\u201d, in Schomburg, H. and Teichler, U. (Eds), Employability and Mobility of Bachelor Graduates in Europe, Sense Publishers, Rotterdam, pp. 3-41.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-94-6091-570-3_1"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2020121123452955900_ref040","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"49","DOI":"10.1080\/01425690701737457","article-title":"\u2018The degree is not enough\u2019: students\u2019 perceptions of the role of higher education credentials for graduate work and employability","volume":"29","year":"2008","journal-title":"British Journal of Sociology of Education"},{"key":"key2020121123452955900_ref041","unstructured":"Vieira, D.A. and Marques, A.P. (2014), \u201cPreparados para trabalhar? Prepared for work?\u201d, in Empregabilidade, C.M. (Ed.), Cons\u00f3rcio Maior Empregabilidade, Forum Estudante, Porto."},{"key":"key2020121123452955900_ref042","article-title":"Yerevan Communiqu\u00e9","volume-title":"EHEA Ministerial Conference, Yerevan","author":"Yerevan Communiqu\u00e9","year":"2015"},{"key":"key2020121123452955900_ref043","volume-title":"O ensino superior pela m\u00e3o da economia","year":"2002"}],"container-title":["Education + Training"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"http:\/\/www.emeraldinsight.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1108\/ET-09-2015-0088","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/ET-09-2015-0088\/full\/xml","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/ET-09-2015-0088\/full\/html","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,25]],"date-time":"2025-07-25T01:05:47Z","timestamp":1753405547000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"http:\/\/www.emerald.com\/et\/article\/58\/9\/966-983\/197931"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2016,10,10]]},"references-count":43,"journal-issue":{"issue":"9","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2016,10,10]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1108\/ET-09-2015-0088"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1108\/et-09-2015-0088","relation":{},"ISSN":["0040-0912"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0040-0912","type":"print"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2016,10,10]]}}}