Managing what Matters: An Analysis of Undergraduate Students' Values (2014-2025). The Significance of Managing Based on Values
Managing what Matters: An Analysis of Undergraduate Students' Values (2014-2025). The Significance of Managing Based on Values

Summary/Abstract: This longitudinal study explores how undergraduate business students in Romania have redefined what truly matters to them over a 12-year span (2014-2025). Drawing on 4,201 student responses, both free-written reflections and structured surveys, we trace the emotional and psychological shifts in value hierarchies across two major periods: pre- and post-pandemic. While values like family, health, love, career and professional success consistently held high importance, the data reveal nuanced shifts shaped by social isolation, global uncertainty, and evolving inner needs. After 2020, esteem-related values (e.g., integrity, loyalty, personal success) increased significantly, suggesting a renewed moral and personal recalibration in response to disruption. Meanwhile, belonging-related values declined, reflecting the emotional costs of distance and disconnection. Beyond numbers, the findings unveil a striking mismatch between what students say they value and what brings them real joy, like music, pets, sunsets, or shared silence. These subtle contradictions highlight the complexity of value formation in young adults navigating an unpredictable world. Using frameworks from Schwartz and Maslow, we identify emerging patterns of emotional resilience, moral focus, and relational depth. This study calls for a human-centred approach in education and leadership, one that listens not just to what students declare, but to what they quietly long for.

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