IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/war/wpaper/2025-31.html

Hybrid or Hands On? Students’ Economic Preferences over Study Design and Labor Market Payoffs

Author

Listed:
  • Wojciech Zawadzki

    (University of Warsaw, Faculty of Economic Sciences)

  • Mikołaj Czajkowski

    (University of Warsaw, Faculty of Economic Sciences)

  • Katarzyna Skrzypek

    (University of Warsaw, Faculty of Economic Sciences)

  • Matylda Jędrzejewska

    (University of Warsaw, Faculty of Economic Sciences)

  • Maja Żmijewska

    (University of Warsaw, Faculty of Economic Sciences)

  • Jakub Ryłow

    (University of Warsaw, Faculty of Economic Sciences)

  • Dominika Gadowska dos-Santos

    (University of Warsaw, Faculty of Economic Sciences)

  • Gabriela Grotkowska

    (University of Warsaw, Faculty of Economic Sciences)

  • Agnieszka Różycka

    (University of Warsaw, Faculty of Economic Sciences)

  • Arkadiusz Filip

    (University of Warsaw, Faculty of Economic Sciences)

  • Marcin Gruszczyński

    (University of Warsaw, Faculty of Economic Sciences)

  • Agata Kałamucka

    (University of Warsaw, Faculty of Economic Sciences)

  • Tadeusz Kowalski

    (University of Warsaw, Faculty of Journalism, Information and Book Studies)

  • Waldemar Kozioł

    (University of Warsaw, Faculty of Management)

  • Magdalena Olender-Skorek

    (University of Warsaw, Faculty of Management)

  • Krzysztof Opolski

    (University of Warsaw, Faculty of Economic Sciences)

  • Katarzyna Saczuk

    (University of Warsaw, Centre of Migration Research)

  • Mateusz Szczurek

    (University of Warsaw, Faculty of Economic Sciences)

  • Urszula Sztandar-Sztanderska

    (University of Warsaw, Faculty of Economic Sciences)

  • Kacper Wańczyk

    (University of Warsaw, Centre for East European Studies)

  • Aleksandra Wiśniewska

    (University of Warsaw, Faculty of Economic Sciences)

  • Kateryna Zabarina

    (University of Warsaw, Faculty of Economic Science)

  • Piotr Żoch

    (University of Warsaw, Faculty of Economic Sciences)

Abstract

We study how university students trade off the design and demands of study against expected labor market returns. We conducted a Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) with students of the Economics Department at the University of Warsaw. Choice alternatives varied the share of in person teaching, weekly class hours, weekly preparation time, language mix (Polish vs. English), net monthly study cost (tuition minus stipends), and expected net salary after graduation. The DCE was embedded in a broader survey measuring study experience, time use, work during studies, scheduling preferences, and perceptions of quality and reputation. The instrument and framings follow state of the art DCE guidance and are publicly documentable. Using multinomial logit and mixed logit models, we estimate compensating differentials students require to accept (i) more online teaching, (ii) more weekly effort (classes/prep), or (iii) English medium instruction in Polish language curricula. The results show large, precise utility gains from higher expected salary, disutility from higher weekly preparation time, and strong (non linear) preferences over delivery mode and language. We then simulate policy scenarios (e.g., introducing 50% online, adjusting effort) and quantify the cost equivalent or salary equivalent levers needed to maintain program attractiveness. We position our results in the international literature on DCEs in higher education and discuss external validity with respect to a large national DCE that emphasized earnings over prestige. We conclude with program design implications for universities worldwide navigating hybridization, workload calibration, and language policy in light of students’ revealed economic preferences.

Suggested Citation

  • Wojciech Zawadzki & Mikołaj Czajkowski & Katarzyna Skrzypek & Matylda Jędrzejewska & Maja Żmijewska & Jakub Ryłow & Dominika Gadowska dos-Santos & Gabriela Grotkowska & Agnieszka Różycka & Arkadiusz F, 2025. "Hybrid or Hands On? Students’ Economic Preferences over Study Design and Labor Market Payoffs," Working Papers 2025-31, Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw.
    • Handle: RePEc:war:wpaper:2025-31
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.wne.uw.edu.pl/download_file/6460/0
    File Function: First version, 2025
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Patrinos, Harry Anthony & Jakubowski, Maciej & Gajderowicz, Tomasz, 2025. "The Learning Crisis in the United States Three Years After Covid-19," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1574, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    2. Gajderowicz, Tomasz & Jakubowski, Maciej & Kennedy, Alec & Christrup, Christian & Patrinos, Harry Anthony & Strietholt, Rolf, 2024. "The Learning Crisis: Three Years After COVID-19," IZA Discussion Papers 17550, IZA Network @ LISER.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Patrinos, Harry Anthony & Jakubowski, Maciej & Gajderowicz, Tomasz, 2025. "The Learning Crisis in the United States Three Years After Covid-19," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1574, Global Labor Organization (GLO).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • C25 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Discrete Regression and Qualitative Choice Models; Discrete Regressors; Proportions; Probabilities
    • C83 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Survey Methods; Sampling Methods
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis

    NEP fields

    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:war:wpaper:2025-31. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Jacek Rapacz (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/fesuwpl.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.