Analyzing Career Counseling and Guidance Services Among Romanian Universities: A Quantitative Approach to Students’ Perception

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The topic chosen by the authors has gained increasing importance, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. In the case of Romania, the issue under study is even more relevant, as there is a significant body of research on this subject.

The use of a quantitative analysis methodology is appropriate given the student sample analyzed, which initially grants a sufficient degree of validity to the results obtained.

However, in my opinion, access to the survey questions administered to students should be provided. Additionally, it would be important to determine whether similar studies in other countries have used the same or comparable questions. This would help avoid the potential bias that the responses collected may only be applicable to the Romanian context. The study could be strengthened by a more in-depth examination of research conducted in other countries, allowing for cross-national comparisons to identify which measures have been most effective and which have not.

Neither the theoretical framework nor the results section explicitly discuss possible improvements to the situation analyzed, such as through enhanced government policies. Furthermore, no comparisons are made with other countries, leaving room for multiple conjectures that may not be well-founded.

Regarding the theoretical framework, there is a lack of a clear connection between the arguments presented in the article and the existing academic literature on the topic. Strengthening this aspect would undoubtedly improve the academic rigor of the article, which is otherwise well-structured and thoroughly analyzed in the discussion section.

A review of the references is also necessary. Some authors, such as E., Anastasiadou, S., Papademetriou, C., & Masouras, A. (2024), are listed in the bibliography but do not appear in the main text, raising concerns about their inclusion and relevance.

Overall, this is a rigorous piece of research that could be further reinforced by addressing these suggestions.

Author Response

For research article:

Analyzing Career Counseling and Guidance Services Among Romanian Universities: A Quantitative Approach to Students’ Perception

Response to Reviewer 1 Comments

 

Thank you very much for taking the time to review our manuscript. Please find the detailed responses below and the corresponding revisions/corrections highlighted/in track changes in the re-submitted files.

 

Response to Reviewer 1 comments

Reviewer 1 point 1

``However, in my opinion, access to the survey questions administered to students should be provided.``

Response 1:

Thank you for this suggestion. For a better clarification and understanding of the research, we have included the research questions that were the basis of the analysis and the indicators in the methodology part in the section "2.2. Research Questions", where we also presented the way to measure the answers. See line 219-230.

„To investigate these aspects, our study relied on a set of research questions designed to understand the degree of utilization and satisfaction with career counseling services. The research questions used in the questionnaire are as follows:

• What is your level of study? (Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD)
• What year of study are you in?
• To what extent are you familiar with the services offered by the CCOC and the specialized staff? (Measurement scale)
• How do you evaluate the services provided by the CCOC? (Measurement scale)
• Do you know your tutors and the tutoring programs within your educational institution? (Binary response)”

 

Reviewer 1 point 2

„Additionally, it would be important to determine whether similar studies in other countries have used the same or comparable questions. This would help avoid the potential bias that the responses collected may only be applicable to the Romanian context.”

Response 2:

We are very grateful to the reviewer for the useful suggestion. We mention the fact that a series of specialized papers have been added to reconfirm the legitimacy of the research questions. Studies from China, Ghana, Pakistan, Vietnam, and other countries were found, which had similar methodologies and research questions. Thus, we consider that our study is part of an international direction regarding the analysis of career guidance services. See lines 231-243.

 

„A study similar to ours was conducted in universities in Pakistan, where factors such as students' lack of interest, gaps in communication regarding career counseling services, and insufficient resources from institutional management were identified as significant findings (Keshf & Khanum, 2022). Although a different research instrument (semi-structured interviews) was used, career management and institutional support were also referenced in studies on students in China (Wang et al., 2024) and South Africa (Motsepe et al., 2024). Regarding student satisfaction with career counseling services, a cross-sectional study conducted on a sample of 200 respondents in Ghanaian universities explored this topic (Amedome, 2023). Using the same theoretical model, Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT), an online survey was administered to Vietnamese students (Pham et al., 2024). Thus, the present study aligns with an international research trend in career counseling services across various educational institutions, highlighting their potential to significantly influence students' future development.”

Reviewer 1 point 3

„The study could be strengthened by a more in-depth examination of research conducted in other countries, allowing for cross-national comparisons to identify which measures have been most effective and which have not.”

Response 3:

You are right. This has been reviewed and we can communicate the following:

-       The entire introduction was revised and new works were discussed, as well as the restructuring of the text.

-       Moreover, in terms of discussions, for each hypothesis confirmed, there were references to international studies that had results similar to ours.

 

Reviewer 1 point 4

„Neither the theoretical framework nor the results section explicitly discuss possible improvements to the situation analyzed, such as through enhanced government policies.”

Response 4:

We totally agree with what you have suggested. Thus, important elements were added to the chapter of discussions to refer to possible governmental measures that could be implemented as a result of the results found in the analysis. See lines 538-551.

„The study results highlight the need for institutional interventions to improve accessibility and utilization of career counseling services, as the lack of information and engagement negatively impacts students' transition to the labor market (ANOSR, n.d.). An effective strategy involves integrating career counseling into the academic curriculum, ensuring each student has access to personalized guidance and aligning their skills with economic demands. Simultaneously, promotional campaigns through digital platforms and academic events can enhance the visibility of these services.

At the governmental level, a key solution is the allocation of funds for the development of counseling infrastructure, the training of specialists, and the digitalization of the process (Romanian Government, 2019). An important aspect is the legal regulation of the process to ensure at least one counselor per 800 students, similar to the pre-university education system (Ministry of Education, 2023). Given that universities have institutional autonomy, this can also be achieved by creating new positions and engaging career guidance experts.”

Reviewer 1 point 5

„Furthermore, no comparisons are made with other countries, leaving room for multiple conjectures that may not be well-founded.”

Response 5:

We maintain the fact that a series of changes were made at the introduction to correct those presented by you. See lines 42-59 of the text, lines 116-149. Moreover, in the discussion section, for each confirmed hypothesis there are references to studies from other countries that confirm or refute our assumptions and thus we can have a comparative picture with other countries.

Reviewer 1 point 6

„Regarding the theoretical framework, there is a lack of a clear connection between the arguments presented in the article and the existing academic literature on the topic.”

Response 6:

We note that the entire theoretical framework has been revised and restructured. We understood the point of view and we considered that important changes had to be made. Thus, in the introduction, after a brief presentation of the concept of career counseling, the purpose of the study is presented in order to bring a clearer understanding of the text. See lines 30-32. Subsequently, in the introduction, the research objectives were moved from the methodology and presented in the theoretical framework, based on a series of well-founded arguments. See lines 60 to 68. We believe that through these modifications, to which are added paragraphs that contextualize the Romanian space (lines 69-114), but also by connecting to certain theories in the field (lines 165-188) we have offered the text substantial improvements for the theoretical understanding of the phenomenon studied.

Reviewer 1 point 7

„A review of the references is also necessary. Some authors, such as E., Anastasiadou, S., Papademetriou, C., & Masouras, A. (2024), are listed in the bibliography but do not appear in the main text, raising concerns about their inclusion and relevance.”

Response 7:

That's right. It was removed from the list of bibliographic references, being a material error. Moreover, all references and citations were rechecked.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Your paper will be more suited to one of the counselling journals rather than one that speaks across the wider social sciences.

There are some minor points that need to be cleared-up. Such as, at different points on page six you state that your sample was from 19 then 20 universities. Also, a large sample does not ensure representativeness.  The two are unrelated  

A more basic point is that in addressing an international readership it would be useful to learn more about the Romania context. Is there a figure for the proportion of young people who enter higher education? You cite the high drop-out rate. We know that the proportion of a cohort achieving a BA or equivalent vocational qualification is below the EU average. Where are the drop-outs going? Is it to employment? How many Romanian students combine university with employment? It is possible that the labour market is their best source of careers information and advice

Author Response

For research article:

 

Analyzing Career Counseling and Guidance Services Among Romanian Universities: A Quantitative Approach to Students’ Perception

 

Response to Reviewer 2 Comments

 

Thank you very much for taking the time to review our manuscript. Please find the detailed responses below and the corresponding revisions/corrections highlighted/in track changes in the re-submitted files.

 

 

Reviewer 2 point 1

„Your paper will be more suited to one of the counselling journals rather than one that speaks across the wider social sciences.”

Response 1:

Your suggestion is a valid one. However, I considered this journal to be the most appropriate, given that it analyzes a complementary educational service provided to students. The study’s results may have significant implications for the fields of education, public policy, and socio-economic development. Moreover, considering the alarming trends in Romania regarding school dropout rates (which have reached nearly 48% for undergraduate studies), this study could serve as a warning signal regarding the effectiveness and usefulness of these services for the entire community. It may influence unemployment rates, access to educational services, and the social and economic aspects of certain communities.

 

Reviewer 2 point 2

 

„There are some minor points that need to be cleared-up. Such as, at different points on page six you state that your sample was from 19 then 20 universities.”

 

Response 2:

 

You are right and thank you for your observation. This aspect has been modified. The face value is 19 universities, it was a material error. See line 267 in the results section.

 

Reviewer 2 point 3

„Also, a large sample does not ensure representativeness.  The two are unrelated.”  

Response 3:

We checked the methodology better and modified that section, ensuring a clearer understanding of how to sample the study. See changes to lines 247 to 251.

„A convenience sample (Stratton, 2021) is used, which is considered appropriate for exploratory studies or studies focusing on perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors, where the goal is to understand trends rather than to provide an exact estimation of a general population. The diversity of universities ensures a national distribution, and the large sample size (N=7402) validates relevant conclusions regarding students' perceptions.”

 

Reviewer 2 point 4

„A more basic point is that in addressing an international readership it would be useful to learn more about the Romania context. Is there a figure for the proportion of young people who enter higher education? You cite the high drop-out rate. We know that the proportion of a cohort achieving a BA or equivalent vocational qualification is below the EU average. Where are the drop-outs going? Is it to employment? How many Romanian students combine university with employment? It is possible that the labour market is their best source of careers information and advice.”

Response 4:

In the introduction there are a series of data to answer the above questions. See lines 69-98. However, for a better clarification of things, new studies have been added to contextualize the situation in Romania even better. See lines 98-111.

 

„According to data provided by the National Institute of Statistics (INS), between July and September 2024, the unemployment rate among young people aged 15 to 24 was 25.3%, significantly above the European average of 15% (Economedia, 2024). This situation indicates major difficulties in the transition from the education system to the labor market for young Romanians. In 2022, only 2% of young Romanians (aged 15 to 29) were employed during their studies, placing Romania in last place in the European Union, along with Slovakia (5%) and Hungary (6%). This share is significantly lower than the European average (25%) and extremely low compared to countries such as the Netherlands (73%), Denmark (52%) and Germany (45%). This substantial difference can be explained by the structure of the Romanian labor market, the limited employment opportunities for young people, but also by the lack of integrated educational policies that facilitate the transition from school to work (Economedia, 2024).”

 

 

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Thank you for allowing me to review the manuscript entitled "Analyzing Career Counseling and Guidance Services Among Romanian Universities: A Quantitative Approach to Students’ 
Perception." Due to the topic of interest, I do believe this is a very interesting manuscript which can provide substantial contribution to the literature. I do, however, have some recommendations for improving its quality.

 

First, I think the authors should present their research questions or explain further their aim in the introduction. All the hypotheses can be presented directly in the literature review.

Second, Table 3 can also be substituted by a descriptive section of the results

Third, Table 4 should follow APA ways of reporting results. It is not necessary to include both Sig. 2-tailed and N in the table. The same applies to all the rest of the tables with correlation matrix.

Fourth, the discussion needs much more work. The authors did not discuss the results but only said whether the hypotheses were confirmed or not. This is not sufficient to prove the contribution of the manuscript. Please explain what these results can say theoretically and practically.

 

 

Author Response

For research article:

Analyzing Career Counseling and Guidance Services Among Romanian Universities: A Quantitative Approach to Students’ Perception

 

Response to Reviewer 3 Comments

 

Thank you very much for taking the time to review our manuscript. Please find the detailed responses below and the corresponding revisions/corrections highlighted/in track changes in the re-submitted files.

 

Response to Reviewer 3 comments

Reviewer 3 point 1

„First, I think the authors should present their research questions or explain further their aim in the introduction. All the hypotheses can be presented directly in the literature review.”

Response 1:

Thank you so much for your suggestions. Taking into account the proposals, the following modifications have been made:

-       The entire introduction has been modified to be clearer in relation to the objectives, purpose, and research potentials. Although we consider that the hypotheses can remain as elements of presentation in the research methodology, we maintain the fact that in the theoretical part, the purpose (line 30) was better presented, but also the research objectives, which are in accordance with the research hypotheses (lines 61-68).

-       Moreover, in the methodology chapter, the research questions were introduced in section 2.2., but also a series of international studies that had the same similar research directions. See lines 219-244.

„2.2. Research Questions

To investigate these aspects, our study relied on a set of research questions designed to understand the degree of utilization and satisfaction with career counseling services. The research questions used in the questionnaire are as follows:

• What is your level of study? (Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD)
• What year of study are you in?
• To what extent are you familiar with the services offered by the CCOC and the specialized staff? (Measurement scale)
• How do you evaluate the services provided by the CCOC? (Measurement scale)
• Do you know your tutors and the tutoring programs within your educational institution? (Binary response)

A study similar to ours was conducted in universities in Pakistan, where factors such as students' lack of interest, gaps in communication regarding career counseling services, and insufficient resources from institutional management were identified as significant findings (Keshf & Khanum, 2022). Although a different research instrument (semi-structured interviews) was used, career management and institutional support were also referenced in studies on students in China (Wang et al., 2024) and South Africa (Motsepe et al., 2024). Regarding student satisfaction with career counseling services, a cross-sectional study conducted on a sample of 200 respondents in Ghanaian universities explored this topic (Amedome, 2023). Using the same theoretical model, Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT), an online survey was administered to Vietnamese students (Pham et al., 2024). Thus, the present study aligns with an international research trend in career counseling services across various educational institutions, highlighting their potential to significantly influence students' future development.”

Reviewer 3 point 2

„Second, Table 3 can also be substituted by a descriptive section of the results.”

Response 2:

Since the description of the table already exists in the text on lines 350 to 359, table 3 at your suggestion has been withdrawn because it duplicates the information. The rest of the tables have been renumbered.

Reviewer 3 point 3

„Third, Table 4 should follow APA ways of reporting results. It is not necessary to include both Sig. 2-tailed and N in the table. The same applies to all the rest of the tables with correlation matrix.”

Response 3:

Table 4 mentioned by you, renamed Table 2, has been modified in such a way as to comply with the recommended requirements.

Table 2. Pearson Test on the Correlation Between Cycle and Year of Study and CCOC Knowledge

 

	Cycle of studies		Year of study		Knowledge of CCOC services
Cycle of studies		1
Year of study		,250**		1
Knowledge of CCOC services		-,086**		-,048**		1
**. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).

Source: SPSS processing

 

Reviewer 3 point 4

„Fourth, the discussion needs much more work. The authors did not discuss the results but only said whether the hypotheses were confirmed or not. This is not sufficient to prove the contribution of the manuscript. Please explain what these results can say theoretically and practically.”

Response 4:

In terms of discussions, two important changes were made, in accordance with the suggestions offered:

1. First of all, elements of government policies that must be carried out as a result of the research have been added, this having a practical utility of the study. See lines 537-551.

„The study results highlight the need for institutional interventions to improve accessibility and utilization of career counseling services, as the lack of information and engagement negatively impacts students' transition to the labor market (ANOSR, n.d.). An effective strategy involves integrating career counseling into the academic curriculum, ensuring each student has access to personalized guidance and aligning their skills with economic demands. Simultaneously, promotional campaigns through digital platforms and academic events can enhance the visibility of these services. At the governmental level, a key solution is the allocation of funds for the development of counseling infrastructure, the training of specialists, and the digitalization of the process (Romanian Gouvernment, 2019). An important aspect is the legal regulation of the process to ensure at least one counselor per 800 students, similar to the pre-university education system (Ministry of Education, 2023). Given that universities have institutional autonomy, this can also be achieved by creating new positions and engaging career guidance experts.”

2. Secondly, some additional arguments have been added where I felt a need to develop the confirmed hypotheses. See lines 519-523 and lines 510-514.

„Our results suggest that this decline in appreciation could be correlated with a discrepancy between students' expectations and the reality of the services provided. As they interact with these centers, students may find that the support received does not fully meet their specific needs, indicating the necessity for qualitative improvements in counseling activities.”

„This trend can be explained by the maturation of students' expectations and a greater awareness of the discrepancy between the educational offerings and the actual demands of the labor market. As they approach graduation, students become more critical in evaluating these services, as their impact on the transition to a career becomes more evident.”

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The overall text is much better.

I suggest further segmenting the now improved introduction into some sub-sections such as literature review, social cognitive carreer theory and social cognitive carreer theory and on national scale as this way the reader is more guided in the reading.

On the other hand, some errors have been corrected and the contribution of other academic sources has been enriched.

The Materials and Methods sections have also been substantially improved with the separation of hypotheses and research questions, which makes the reading much clearer. 

The same applies to the discussion of hypotheses and the correction of some formal errors. I consider this version of the article to be better than the previous one.

 

Author Response

Reviewer 1, point 1

“The overall text is much better.

I suggest further segmenting the now improved introduction into some sub-sections such as literature review, social cognitive carreer theory and social cognitive carreer theory and on national scale as this way the reader is more guided in the reading.

On the other hand, some errors have been corrected and the contribution of other academic sources has been enriched.

The Materials and Methods sections have also been substantially improved with the separation of hypotheses and research questions, which makes the reading much clearer. 

The same applies to the discussion of hypotheses and the correction of some formal errors. I consider this version of the article to be better than the previous one.”

Reviewer 1, Response 1

Dear Reviewer, thank you so much for your valuable feedback! Your suggestions guided us in improving the quality of our paper. We appreciate your input and efforts!

We agree with your comment on the introduction, and we have now introduced sub-sections to increase readability as follows:

1.1. Literature review (See line 33 in the manuscript)

1.2. On a National Scale (See line 72 in the manuscript)

1.3. Social Cognitive Career Theory (See line 169 in the manuscript)

Thank you for pointing out that the Materials and Methods have been substantially improved. Your feedback had a significant impact on this process. So thank you again for taking the time to review our work, and we appreciate your contribution!

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Well done, good luck with the paper

Author Response

Reviewer 3, point 1

“Well done, good luck with the paper.”

Reviewer 3, Response 1

Dear Reviewer, thank you so much for your kind response. We appreciate your feedback the opportunity to improve the overall quality of our paper. Your comments had a significant impact on our work!

Round 3

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

I have no further comments. The authors have introduced the proposed suggestions for improvement and the text can in my opinion be published.