Bulgarian university students had a low level of basic computer skills, a nation-wide survey on student's professional orientation and motivations showed, with both employers and students agreeing that computer literacy of graduate students was not at a satisfactory level.

The survey, conducted last November among 12 477 students in 37 universities or about 10 per cent of all students in the country, showed how students saw themselves as successful job candidates.

Forty-three per cent of the students in Sofia said they had a high level of English literacy, while the average for the entire country was 28 per cent. Fifty-seven per cent of the students have never been part of internship programmes while studying because “no one asked them to” and “they lacked information how to find one”.

Only 15 per cent have been part of work and travel programmes abroad, mainly in the US and just 18 per cent had a job while studying. At the same time 85 per cent of all interviews claimed they were well prepared to face an interview with employer.

Next to that 86 per cent of the students said they were satisfied with the level of education with students in banking, insurance and finance showing the highest appreciation.  Students in Sofia had greater expectations for starting salary than students in other parts of the country.

Forty-eight per cent of the students in Sofia said they would want a starting salary between 300 and 500 leva which was close to what students from other parts of the country said.
Students in engineering, pharmacy and biotechnologies had the greatest expectations.
The most sought after jobs were in marketing, engineering, tourism, state administration, IT and finance. Fully half of the respondents said they would gladly work abroad after graduation, mainly in western Europe.

The survey, presented on February 14 in Sofia University Kliment Ohridski, was conducted by Hewitt Associates and their partner for Bulgaria, Monday Insight, as well as with the assistance of United States Agency for International Development, Bulgarian American Credit Bank and AES Maritza Iztok 1. Organisers said they wanted to make the survey, the first of its kind in Bulgaria, into an annual event.