This project is supported by a grant of the Romanian National Authority for Scientific Research and Innovation, CNCS – UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P4-PCE-2021-0366. Contract number: 27/05/20022.
Period: 2022-2024
In the current knowledge economy, the career paths of graduates from Social Sciences and Humanities (non-STEM) are insufficiently understood. In recent decades, Romania became a popular nearshoring location, due to its large youth population, low labour costs, language capabilities and digital skills. However, at different moments in time, companies conceptualize ‘career development’ differently, have different career paths accessible to the new entrants and promote different narratives of success. The project is informed by Ken Roberts’ opportunity structure theory. Based on a mixed method design, the research maps retrospectively, the ‘opportunity structures’ enabling career advancement and the meanings attached to it by different actors from the business service sector. The goal is to refine our understanding of processes shaping the ‘employability’ of graduates in Romania.
Objectives:
- To map the structures of opportunity and constrain shaping non-STEM graduates’ opportunities of career development since the 90s.
- To explore the meaning(s) of career development (re)produced among multiple stakeholders, including graduates, recruitment personnel, business leaders and policy makers.
Prof. MARIA-CARMEN PANTEA -project director
Maria-Carmen Pantea is Professor at the Social Work Department, BBU. Her research interests are in the area of Youth Studies, in particular young people’s relationship with work in its various forms: university-to-work transitions, vocational education and training, overqualification, entrepreneurship, volunteering. She is member of the Advisory Group of the Pool of European Youth Researchers of the EU-Council of Europe Youth Partnership. Maria-Carmen is member of the European Commission expert group on quality investment in education and training and an editorial board member of Journal of Youth Studies. In 2020-2021 she was one of two researchers contracted to support the EU Youth Dialogue as part of the German and the Portuguese EU Council Presidencies. She is the author of ‘Precarity and Vocational Education and Training. Craftsmanship and Employability in Romania. London’, Palgrave (2019). PhD in Sociology (BBU), MA with Merit in Gender Studies (Central European University) and MSc in Evidence-Based Social Interventions (Oxford).
Prof. DAN CRISTIAN DABIJA – senior researcher
Dan Cristian Dabija is a Full Professor at the Department of Marketing and PhD Supervisor in Marketing at the PhD School in Business and Economics of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Babeș-Bolyai University, Romania. He completed his PhD Studies at the Bucharest University of Economic Studies and has been awarded several doctoral and postdoctoral research scholarships at Romanian, German, Hungarian, Polish, British and Finish universities. Dr. Dabija led two research projects funded by UEFISCDI. He published more than 100 papers in areas related to business and economics. Dr. Dabija serves as an associate or guest editor for important journals, as well as for Romanian and European research projects. He is specialised in quantitative data analysis, sales and marketing. Dr. Dabija is the co-author of To conceive, to write and to publish a scientific article in business and economics (in Romanian) which was awarded the first book prize of the Romanian Association of Economic Faculties and the “Victor Slăvescu“ Prize of the Romanian Academy of Science.
KEN ROBERTS, Emeritus Professor at the University of Liverpool- in an advisory role
Ken Roberts is Emeritus Professor of Sociology and Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Liverpool. He has a long track record in youth research. From 1989 until 2010 he coordinated a series of projects among youth in transforming post-communist countries. His subsequent research was as member of a European Union Consortium investigating the roles of youth during and since the Arab Spring of 2011. His most recent publications have been on how the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns have affected young people’s education to work transitions in the UK. In all these projects he has employed the concept of opportunity structures that he coined in the 1960s. His books include Surviving Post-Communism: Young People in the Former Soviet Union (2000), Youth in
Transition: Eastern Europe and in the West (2009), Class in Contemporary Britain (2011), Sociology: An Introduction (2012), The Business of Leisure (2016), and Social Theory, Sport, Leisure (2016).
DENISA-IOANA DOBAI, PhD candidate – Sociologist
Denisa-Ioana Dobai is a second-year PhD student in Sociology at the University of Oradea. Her research explores the phenomenon of rurbanization and its influence on human resources in rural areas. Denisa also holds a Master’s and a Bachelor’s in Sociology (Human Resources field) at the Faculty of Social Humanistic Science at the University of Oradea. She published the article ‚The Impact of Technology on Human Resources’ (2022).
ISTVÁN PÉTER, PhD candidate – Sociologist
István Péter is a young and enthusiastic PhD student in Sociology. After a BA at Corvinus University of Budapest, he decided to move back home and to continue his education in the field of Human Resources Management, at Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca. Now he is working on his PhD research in Sociology, with a thesis on students’ relationship with the labour market. Apart from studies, István has been involved in non-formal education projects with young people.
ALEXANDRA IOANA MALINA BOCA, MA
Alexandra Ioana Malina Boca graduated Social Work at ‘Babes Bolyai’ University (2011). She holds an MA in Social Gerontology (2015). Alexandra has experience in several data processing roles related to labour market recruitment and education. As a person with disabilities, Alexandra is close to several non-governmental organisations from this field.
Edited book:
Pantea, M.C.; Roberts, K. and Dabija, C. (in print) Higher Education and Work in the Knowledge Economy. Palgrave.
Publications:
Articles:
Pantea, M. C. (2024). Crafting professional identities at the bottom of the knowledge economy a critical analysis of managerial discourses. Globalizations, 21(5), 912–930. https://doi.org/10.1080/14747731.2023.2297460 (ISI)
Pantea, M. C. (2024). Precarity and the social mobility nexus for young Roma in vocational education and training. Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education, 54(3), 536–554. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057925.2022.2149239 (ISI)
Pantea, M. C. (forthcoming). ‘Making Sense of Industrial Relations at the Base of Romania’s Business Service Sector’ in East European Politics & Societies and Cultures. (ISI)
Stanciu, R.M., Stratone, M.E., Dabija, D.C. and Mititean, P. 2024. Leveraging Neuroleadership and Adopting AI to Improve Human Capital Development in IT&C Business Organisations. Amfiteatru Economic, 26(67), pp. 721-740. (ISI)
Vătămănescu, Elena-Mădălina; Dinu, Elena ; Gazzola, Patrizia & Dabija, Dan-Cristian (2024). ‚Framing consumer empowerment in the digital economy: From networks and engagement toward sustainable purchase’. Business Ethics, the Environment and Responsibility. 2024;00:1–22.(ISI)
Dabija, Dan-Cristian & Brătianu, Constantin & Dominici, Gandolfo & Vătămănescu, Elena-Mădălina, (2024). “Unveiling e-learning and knowledge sharing during the pandemic: From expert skills perception to student satisfaction,” Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 77(C). (ISI)
Csorba, L. M., & Dabija, D.-C. (2024). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students’ future online education behaviour. Heliyon, Elsevier. 20, e39560. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e39560 (ISI)
Cegarra-Navarro, J.G., Vatamanescu, E.M., Dabija, D.C., Nicolescu, L. (2023). ‘The role of knowledge and interpersonal competences in the development of civic and public engagement and entrepreneurial intention’. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-023-00910-0 (ISI)
Dabija DC, Campian, V. Stanca, L. si Tiron-Tudor, A. (2023), “Generating students’ loyalty towards the sustainable university during the later COVID-19 pandemic”, International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-11-2022-0372. (ISI)
Dabija DC, Câmpian V, Tiron-Tudor A, Stanca L. (2023) The path of universities to sustainability: Students perspectives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Heliyon. 9(4):14813. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon. (ISI)
Dinu, V., Câmpian, V., Vasiliu, C., Tăchiciu, L., Dabija, D.C. 2022. Ethics and Integrity in the Context of Economic Research Within Doctoral Schools. Amfiteatru Economic. (ISI)
Book chapters:
Pantea, MC. (in print) ‘Higher Education and Work in the Knowledge Economy: Tensions and Transformations’ in Pantea, M.C.; Roberts, K. and Dabija, C. (in print) Higher Education and Work in the Knowledge Economy. Palgrave.
Dobai, Denisa; Roberts, Ken si Dabija, Cristian (in print) ‘Imagining the future of work at the bottom of the knowledge economy. Graduates in Romania’s business service sector’ in Pantea, M.C.; Roberts, K. and Dabija, C. (in print) Higher Education and Work in the Knowledge Economy. Palgrave.
Pantea, M.C. (2024) ‚European youth policy – Progress on the reinforced Youth Guarantee’ in Eurofound (2024) Becoming adults: Young people in a post-pandemic world, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg. pp. 53-63.
Pantea, M.C. (2023) ‚Navigating transitions in post-pandemic Europe: key messages from the Youth Partnership Symposium’ in E.Krzaklewska, H.Williamson, A. Stapleton, F. Tillmann and Tanya Basarab (Eds.) Transitions on hold?: How the Covid-19 pandemic affected young people’s transitions to authonomy. Strasbourg: Council of Europe Publishing.
Pantea, M.C. (2022) ‘Elevating the Standing of Vocational Education and Training in Romania’ in S. Billett et al., (Eds) The standing of vocational education and the occupations it serves: Current concerns and strategies for enhancing that standing. NY: Springer. (capitol A1).
Conferences, workshops and webinars:
Maria-Carmen Pantea coordinated the session ‘Youth Views, Attitudes, and Perspectives’ at the European Sociological Association (ESA) Conference and presented ‘Narratives of Growth at the Bottom of the Knowledge Economy’ (August 26-30, Porto).
Maria-Carmen Pantea coordinated, together with Jason Heyes, Mark Tomlinson, Bert Van Landeghem, Stefanie Williamson, Peter Wright, and Edward Yates, a Special Stream at the 42nd International Labour Process Conference 2024 titled ‘Coercion, Consent and Conflict in the Labour Process and Beyond.’ The title of the stream was: Workers’ Transitions Throughout the Life Course. She also coordinated the session ‘Identity and Transitions’ and made the presentation ‘The Best Time to Be Young? A Retrospective Study of Graduates’ Transitions to Employment in Romania’s Business Service Sector.’ (3-5.04.2024 Göttingen).
Maria-Carmen Pantea presented ‘Smart Cities and Internal Peripheries: Geographies of Employability in the Knowledge Economy’ in the theme track: G: Labor Markets, Education, and Human Resources at the annual conference of the Society for the Advancement of Socio-Economics (27-29.07. 2024, Limerick).
Maria-Carmen Pantea presented the project during the workshop ‘Occupational Change, De-professionalisation, and Labour Markets,’ organized by Edward Yates at Sheffield University Management School (Online, March 4, 2024).
Denisa Dobai contributed to organizing the International Conference ‘Current Challenges in Social Work and Opportunities for Development,’ organized by the Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Sociology and Social Work, and the Doctoral School of Sociology in partnership with Partium Christian University, Emanuel University of Oradea, and the National College of Social Workers in Romania (Oradea, November 14-15, 2024).
Denisa Dobai presented ‘Automation and Graduates in Romania’s Business Services’ at the International Conference for Students and PhD Candidates in Social Sciences at the University of Oradea (May 30-31, 2024).
Dan-Cristian Dabija delivered a lecture based on the project results at the University of Debrecen, Faculty of Economics and Business (Debrecen, May 15, 2024).
Maria-Carmen Pantea made the presentation ‘Crafting Professional Identities in Call Centers. A Critical Theory Perspective’ at the XX ISA World Congress of Sociology. Melbourne Convention Centre. (25.06-01.07.2023)
Ken Roberts made the presentation ‘Education-to-Work Transitions in Post-2004 European Union Member States after 30-PLUS YEARS of Transformation’ at the XX ISA World Congress of Sociology. Melbourne Convention Centre. (25.06-01.07.2023).
Maria-Carmen Pantea made the presentation ‘On meaning, values and emptiness. A qualitative inquiry on young people doing call center work’ at the 41st International Labour Process Conference ‘Fair and decent work in a Global Economy?’ University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK. (14-16.04.2023)
Maria-Carmen Pantea made the presentation ‘Policy measures addressing decent work for young people: Reinforced Youth Guarantee. A preliminary review’ la International Social Policy Conference ‘Social policy responses: from old issues to new challenges’, Vilnius University. Online. (10.11.2023).
Dan Cristian Dabija made a presentation at the International Conference “Communication in Action: From Theory to Practice and Back”, ‘Al. Ioan Cuza’ University, Iasi. (9-11.11.2023).
Dan Cristian Dabija participated as a member of the scientific committee to the preparation of the conference ‘Competitiveness and Stability in the Knowledge-Based Economy’, Craiova University. (27-28.10.2023). He also moderated a session, together with Dr. Dora V. Szakacs (Popovici) and Dr. Gabriela Dogaru.
Denisa Ioana Dobai moderated a session at the International Students Conference – Current Issues in Students Research” – “Family-friendly workplace culture”. Oradea. (25-26.05.2023).
Denisa Ioana Dobai made a presentation and participated in the organization of the Research Circle for students of the Faculty of the Socio-Human Sciences of the University of Oradea, Department of Sociology and Social Work (February-March 2023).
Peter Istvan took part at ‘Connecting the DOTS’, an academic event organized by the Association of Hungarian Doctoral Students and Young Researchers in Romania (RODOSZ), Cluj-Napoca. (10-12.11. 2023).
Maria-Carmen Pantea and Dan Cristian Dabija presented “A critical theory perspective of the business service sector” at the European Sociological Association, Research Network 19: Sociology of Professions, Interim Meeting “Dynamics of Professions and Professionalism: Work, Quality, and Expertise,” Utrecht University (Utrecht 29-31. 08. 2022).
Ken Roberts presented “EUROPE 2022: Living amid two merging transformations” at the Midterm Conference of ESA RN36: “Sociological Knowledge and Social Transformations in Global Crises,” Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague (Prague 2-3.09. 2022).
Dan Cristian Dabija moderated three sessions at the International Conference “Marketing – from information to decision,” UBB FSEGA Cluj-Napoca (November 18, 2022).
Trainings attended/ organised:
Dan-Cristian Dabija participated in the training ‘Impact, quality and reporting in the new KA220-HED projects’ organized by SALTO Education and Training and the National Agency for Community Programs in the Field of Education and Vocational Training (Bucharest, June 20-21, 2024).
Dan-Cristian Dabija participated in the Erasmus Staff Training at Parthenope University, Naples, Italy (Naples, September 6-13, 2024).
Denisa Dobai conducted the training ‘Introduction to NVivo for Qualitative Data Analysis’ during the International Conference for Students and Doctoral Students in Social Sciences at the University of Oradea (Oradea, May 31, 2024).
Denisa Dobai participated in the course ‘Digital Tools for Visual Analysis’ organized by the University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK (online, March 22, 2024).
Dan-Cristian Dabija participated in the following Erasmus Staff Trainings:
- University of Miskolc, Hungary, August 22-27, 2022.
- University of Gödöllö, Hungary, September 13-18, 2022.
- University of Zilina, Slovakia, May 6-14, 2023.
- Parthenope University Napoli, Italy, September 6-13, 2024.
Policy-related contributions:
Maria-Carmen Pantea participated in the annual meeting of the Pool of European Youth Researchers, where she gave a presentation on how youth research contributes to informing public policies. Brussels. (May 28-29, 2024).
Maria-Carmen Pantea participated in the meeting of the European Knowledge Center on Youth Policy and the Pool of European Youth Researchers with representatives of partner institutions: the Council of Europe and the European Commission. Online. (March 12, 2024).
Maria-Carmen Pantea was invited as a Keynote speaker at Shaping youth policy in practice. A capacity-building project for strengthening youth policy. The event was organized by the EU-Council of Europe Youth Partnership in Chisinau. Title of the presentation: ‘Current social-political context and its influence on shaping (youth) policies’. Online. (15.05.2023).
Dan-Cristian Dabija took part as an expert in the Delphi survey ‚The future of European universities on the path to sustainable development’ within the project ‚Challenges in sustainable development. Theory and practice’, coordinated by the Polish Research Agency.
Maria-Carmen Pantea took part at the annual meeting of the members of the European Knowledge Center for Youth Policy and of the Pool of European Youth Researcher at the IPDJ Lisbon Youth Centre. Lisbon. (26.04-28.04 2023).
Maria-Carmen Pantea participated in and wrote the report for the EU-Council of Europe Youth Partnership Symposium “Navigating Transitions: adapting policy to young people’s changing realities,” under the frame of the European Year of Youth. Tirana, Albania (June 21-23, 2022).
Engagement with other professional communities:
Dan-Cristian Dabija presented preliminary results at the roundtable ‘Today’s Priorities in Business and Economics Research’ organized by the University of Almeria, Spain (Almeria, June 5, 2024).
Denisa Dobai organized the workshop ‘The Recruitment Process in Simple and Efficient Steps’ led by Oana Dobay-Dobrița, Human Resources Specialist at FinProm, during the Career Days May 29-30, 2024, where she presented preliminary results of the project (Oradea, May 29-30, 2024).
Maria-Carmen Pantea was invited as a speaker at the event ‘Making Cluj Thrive Together’, organised by Peace Action Training and Research Institute. Cluj Napoca (15.05.2023)
Maria-Carmen Pantea was invited as a Guest Speaker at the roundtable ‘Proficient Eyes’, Public employment services. Track-in effectiveness in supporting rural NEETs’, within a series of webinars organized by ISCTE Lisabona. Online. (23.11.2023).
Maria-Carmen Pantea participated in a roundtable organized by The Centre for Education and Youth and The Centre for Youth Impact for the Gatsby Foundation, aimed at exploring the role of youth organizations in supporting the career development of young people (June 1, 2022).
A Research Brief was sent to the Association of Business Service Leaders and to other research participants.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the young and mature graduates, Human Resource personnel, managers and experts who shared their views during interviews.
We thank Alexandra-Mădălina Boca, subcontracted for the verbatim transcription of the interviews, which amounted to nearly 2000 pages. We appreciate her meticulous work, aware of the complexity and volume involved.
We are proud to congratulate our colleague, Dan-Cristian Dabija for entering the list of World’s Top 2% Scientists by Stanford University (2023, 2024).
A complete list of the activities is available in annual reports, available here.
Maria-Carmen Pantea, project director: maria.pantea@ubbcluj.ro
