Supporting Working Students: Needs and Opportunities for Academic Intervention

Abstract

This study aims to explore the need for and possibilities of developing a methodology to support students who work or face personal difficulties. A survey was conducted across Bulgarian universities, analyzing responses from 440 participants. Results: 37.7% of students do not work; 26.6% work in jobs related to their field of study. Most students believe that their educational institution does not have a structured framework to support working students. When asked about the necessity of such a framework, 90% responded with a categorical “Yes”. The study also evaluated the importance of specific academic interventions, such as additional study hours, consultations, flexible exam dates, and other supportive measures. Conclusion: The demands of modern socio-economic lifestyles increasingly require students to work while pursuing higher education. To maintain and enhance the quality of education, academic institutions should establish support mechanisms tailored to the needs of working students.