Exploring perceptions and expectations of internal sustainability efforts among software engineering students in Finland
Raphael, Manju (2025)
Diplomityö
2025
School of Engineering Science, Tietotekniikka
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2025061367644
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2025061367644
Tiivistelmä
This thesis examines master's students' perspectives and expectations of internal sustainability efforts (ISEs) in the field of software engineering in Finland. As the discussion around corporate sustainability has focused on internal practices, understanding how students who are professionals in Finland’s IT industry view internal workplace sustainability is critical. The dimensions of ISEs are health, atmosphere, education, monetary, infrastructure, and diversity, which promote employees' overall health, inclusion, and motivation.
Using semi-structured interviews with 14 master's students from Finnish universities, this study examines the rank and justification in which students prioritize the ISEs dimensions, how their values support these perspectives, and the degree to which these perceptions are likely to influence their potential employers.
The results show most students prioritized health, psychological safety, and learning, with health regarded as the most valued ISE factor. Diversity and infrastructure are observed as necessary, yet they lowest priorities that were often not commented on by male participants. Gender and cultural differences created variations in students' perceptions, with female and international students identifying and being more vocal about equity, language issues, and inclusive leadership. Participants also perceive money as contributing to overall mental well-being; however, this seems to be observed as more important among those international students who have a family obligation. Infrastructure is the least prioritized, as it is taken as a basic company requirement.
This thesis also investigates how students evaluate internal sustainability information while seeking for job. Although job relevance is the primary focus, not workplace sustainability, many students, especially those who have value-based career objectives, report moderate to high interest in companies when sustainability practices are referred to explicitly in the organization in job postings. Still, scepticism remains about whether those claims reflect genuine organizational culture.
This study highlights the need for Finnish tech organizations to adopt holistic and inclusive ISE strategies that reflect the evolving values of a diverse, skilled workforce. These insights can support organizations in developing sustainability practices that align with the ethical, social, and emotional needs of future employees.
Using semi-structured interviews with 14 master's students from Finnish universities, this study examines the rank and justification in which students prioritize the ISEs dimensions, how their values support these perspectives, and the degree to which these perceptions are likely to influence their potential employers.
The results show most students prioritized health, psychological safety, and learning, with health regarded as the most valued ISE factor. Diversity and infrastructure are observed as necessary, yet they lowest priorities that were often not commented on by male participants. Gender and cultural differences created variations in students' perceptions, with female and international students identifying and being more vocal about equity, language issues, and inclusive leadership. Participants also perceive money as contributing to overall mental well-being; however, this seems to be observed as more important among those international students who have a family obligation. Infrastructure is the least prioritized, as it is taken as a basic company requirement.
This thesis also investigates how students evaluate internal sustainability information while seeking for job. Although job relevance is the primary focus, not workplace sustainability, many students, especially those who have value-based career objectives, report moderate to high interest in companies when sustainability practices are referred to explicitly in the organization in job postings. Still, scepticism remains about whether those claims reflect genuine organizational culture.
This study highlights the need for Finnish tech organizations to adopt holistic and inclusive ISE strategies that reflect the evolving values of a diverse, skilled workforce. These insights can support organizations in developing sustainability practices that align with the ethical, social, and emotional needs of future employees.