Uppeldi og menntun - 01.01.2010, Qupperneq 177

Uppeldi og menntUn/icelandic JoUrnal of edUcation 19(1–2)/2010 177
i n g i rú n a r e ðva r ðS So n o g g U ð m U n d U r K r i S t Já n ÓS K a rS S o n
What affects the choice of study major
and university?
The view of the University of Akureyri’s graduates.
aBstraCt
This article presents the results of a research project on individual attitudes with regard
to the choice of academic fields of study and selection of a university. The research
comprises graduates from the University of Akureyri, and investigates whether
differences in choice occur on the basis of gender, age groups and local versus distance
mode of study. It was examined, furthermore, whether the same factors influenced the
decisions of nurses, teachers and business graduates with respect to chosen field of
study and selection of university.
It was decided to carry out the research by means of questionnaires. A questionnaire
was posted to 599 graduates from the University of Akureyri, 292 of whom had
been distance students and 307 in local study programmes. The research population
consisted of students who graduated during the period 2004–2007, a total of 1,247
individuals. Answers were received from 350 individuals, constituting a response rate
of 58.4%. The questionnaire contained 40 closed questions.
With regard to the chosen field of study, the main reasons indicated are as follows:
Interest in the academic subject in question; perceived professional opportunities;
practical subject-related experience; diversity of study; offer of distance mode in the
study programme and income potential. Just under 70% of local students stated that
their interest in the subject was the most significant reason for their chosen field of
study, while about 43% of distance students felt that subject interest carried the greatest
weight, whereas 35% based their choice on the offer of distance mode. Individuals
over 30 years of age are more likely than the younger group to base their choice on
income potential, familiarity with the subject and their peers’ chosen field of study.
Men give income a higher priority than is the case with women, who are more
likely to choose on the basis of subject interest, professional opportunities and
familiarity with the type of work involved. Nurses and teachers at primary and
preschool level are more likely than other groups to base their selection on subject
interest, professional opportunities, diversity of the field of study and familiarity with
aspects of subject-related work. Business graduates base their choice mostly on income
potential.
Furthermore, the results indicate that when it comes to selecting a university, the
following factors are of highest significance: The university offers interesting study
programmes; the quality of the study; the image/strategy of the university; distance
mode on offer and the fact that the university has been recommended. Domicile and
family support also came close in the ranking of priorities. Approx. 66% of local students
stated that interesting study programmes were the most significant factor with regard
to their choice of the University of Akureyri, while 52% of distance students indicated