To have a work/life balance has become an important career goal to both the business and the engineering/natural sciences students in Russia. However, big differences can be found between men an women. While the women value balance between work and private life to a very high extent, it is not at all of the same importance to men.

To the Russian business students it is also important to be autonomous or independent and they would like to become leaders or managers of people. The engineering students prefer to be a technical or functional expert and have security and stability in their jobs. It is not very important to the students in Russia to be dedicated to a cause or to feel that they are serving a greater good.

Similar to the business students in Europe where marketing/advertising is the overall most popular industry, it is the most preferred industry for Russian business students. Commercial banking and financial services are also, just like last year, very popular amongst business students. The top three most popular industries amongst engineering students are also the same as last year with academic research and engineering/manufacturing followed by energy/power.     

Financial strength is of great importance to both business and engineering students in Russia and has become more important to the students over past three years, possibly of the insecure economic times we have experienced.

“Engineering students have a more long term approach while the business students are more down to earth, i.e. they want the money, right now, and short term focused,”  Florence Jonasson, research department project manager at Universum offered.  

by Johanna Wahlström and Jens Trulsson, Universum Quarterly 3/2010