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Determinants of Student Loyalty and Word of Mouth in Dual VET Secondary Schools in Bulgaria

Author

Listed:
  • Teofana Dimitrova

    (Department of Marketing and International Economic Relations, Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences, University of Plovdiv Paisii Hilendarski, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria)

  • Iliana Ilieva

    (Department of Mathematics, Physics and Information Technology, Faculty of Economics, University of Food Technologies, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria)

  • Valeria Toncheva

    (Department of Marketing and International Economic Relations, Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences, University of Plovdiv Paisii Hilendarski, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria)

Abstract

In response to the growing importance of vocational education for youth employability, this study examines students’ perceptions of dual vocational education and training (dVET) in Bulgaria, focusing on the following determinants of student loyalty (SL) and word-of-mouth communication (WOM) in the secondary education context: brand associations, brand relevance, brand image, image of dVET, service quality, and student satisfaction, based on previously validated scales adapted to the Bulgarian context. A structured questionnaire was administered to a target population of 608 students across nine vocational secondary schools in the Plovdiv region. A total of 507 usable surveys were collected from students in 11th and 12th grades who were actively participating in work-based learning. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with the SmartPLS 4 software. The findings indicate that brand image is the strongest direct predictor of the image of dVET. Furthermore, student satisfaction stands out as the most influential antecedent of WOM. The indirect pathways from service quality to both SL and WOM, mediated by student satisfaction, underscore the pivotal role of satisfaction as a transmission mechanism. The study contributes to the limited empirical research on branding in dVET and offers insights for policymakers, school administrators, and employers seeking to improve the attractiveness of these pathways.

Suggested Citation

  • Teofana Dimitrova & Iliana Ilieva & Valeria Toncheva, 2025. "Determinants of Student Loyalty and Word of Mouth in Dual VET Secondary Schools in Bulgaria," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-22, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jadmsc:v:15:y:2025:i:9:p:348-:d:1742560
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Parves Sultan & Ho Yin Wong, 2019. "How service quality affects university brand performance, university brand image and behavioural intention: the mediating effects of satisfaction and trust and moderating roles of gender and study mode," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 26(3), pages 332-347, May.
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