Understanding the Maintenance of Students’ Trust in Universities from Estonian Context

Universities are institutions governed by management principles and practices. Understanding the factors affecting the trust students repose in universities can provide useful insights into the management of these organizations. This study intends to investigate the factors that contribute to the trust students have in universities, specifically in terms of how well the institution prepares students for employment. For this, the study has used Estonia-based data from the Eurostudent-VII survey to examine the perceptions students have. Factors have been identified using factor analysis techniques and the substantiated effect these factors have on student trust using structural equation modelling. The study revealed that the level of trust students have in their university is influenced by student–teacher relations as well as career-support services. The interest taken by lecturers in what students have to say and their willingness to motivate their students to do their best, coupled with the assistance provided to students to help balance their studies, family, and paid work, all have a positive impact on students’ trust in universities for future employment. In addition to fostering academic discourse on student trust in the Estonian context of trust literature, the findings of this study have implications for university policies and practices, suggesting the importance of nurturing positive relationships between students and teachers, as well as providing relevant and high-quality career services.