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STUDENT PERSONALITY TYPES –HOPES, DREAMS AND MOTIVATIONS

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Generation Y – who are they what are their defining features?

Mega trends influencing this generation

What motivates them? And what do they dream of?

Different student personality types

Good to know – but if and how to implement this in your work?

OVERVIEW

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GENERATION Y – WHO ARE THEY?

All generations influenced by the times they grow up in

Babyboomers: growth, development and flower power

Generation X: crisis, anxieties and competition

Generation Y: relatively small generationGrowth, consumption, media, lots of possibilitiesand great expectations!

Creative, teamplayers, flexible, open minded, goodnetworkers and social media experts

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EXCITING GLOBAL WORLD

The world is my playground

Mediascapes and dream scapes

Used to high level of excitement

They don’t want the dry facts, they want anEXPERIENCE (that will look good on FB)

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WHAT CAN I BECOME?

The individual is set free

No obligations, roles or traditions are in the way

Does this make sense to me right now?

Do I feel like doing this?

Responsibility for own development

Future shock!

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A DELUDED GENERATION?

They have always been told they are special and destined for something better

They expect to have fulfilling careers, money and good work-life balance

The gap between dreams and reality has never been greater…

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SOCIETAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CHALLENGES

Identity? Who am I? Who do I want to be? Who/what can I become?

Hard to deal with fleetingness and changes of scene

Lack of skills in reflecting on one’s abilities and potentials

The introverted – do not master the art of self promotion

More self assured but also more depressed

Under a lot of pressure!

Plus – they are being taunted by images and stories onFB and other social media

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GENERATION Y AND MOBILITY

Study by Mette Ernlund from 2014 (PhD thesis)

Qualitative interviews with students from different European countries on exchange

Identification of factors influencing the mobility of students

4 ideal types of students who go abroad

Their motivations and their typical development during their mobility

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FACTORS INFLUENCING MOBILITY

Societal influences Mobility capital

- family background- earlier experience with mobility- experience with adapting- personality

Personal and academic development

National culture

These factors both push and pull students abroad

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WHAT MOTIVATES GENERATION Y?

4 IDEAL TYPES

The adventurous type: in search of the exotic, social networks, freedomand responsibility

The academic type: in search of career options, cultural and linguisticknowledge

The reluctant type: in search of identity, a new beginning

The runaway type: in search of a better understanding of profession, intercultural understanding

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IT HAS TO MAKE SENSE!

Meaning and the creation of meaning are sources of motivation, interest and action

So how do we make mobility seem meaningful?

No one size fits all

The 4 ideal types have different profiles and are looking for different things

They have different needs and criteria for success

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HOW TO GUIDE GENERATION Y?

They don’t read what’s online – it is much easier to ask somebody!

Primadonna guidance – grown ups as service providers

Do we crush their dreams or help them reflect?

The international coordinator as coach rather than authority?

No one size fits all – one size fits me

Quick replies expected – they are used to 24/7 digital living

Facebook – they are there anyway

Adjust expectations or risk cannibalisation

Sensitive young people

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