Working college students’ profile Case Study: Faculty of Engineering Sibiu, Romania

Abstract Faculty of Engineering in Sibiu is facing an increasing demand from industrial companies to employ students not only by the time of graduation but even during university studies. The scope of the study was to provide an insight on working students’ profile and the problems they are confronting with. Forty working students from the third year of Faculty of Engineering Sibiu were interviewed with regard of the research topic. Results of the study reflect the fact that a majority of working students face difficulties in school, having low grades or failed exams. The exam session seems to be a hard period for working students, and many of them find difficulties in attending all lectures or finding time to learn. Having a job while studying impacts personal activities, as well. Stress symptoms like: loss of appetite or overeating, difficulties in focusing, difficulties in taking decisions or feelings of restless are mentioned by the majority of working students. The results of the study are useful for the management of the faculty to come up with some measures to increase working students’ lectures attendance. Student support programs for reducing the stress among the group of working students must be developed as well.