The changes in society are reflected in the professions as well as in the skills employers most want (Moldoveanu and Dobrin, 2012) when they are deciding which new university graduates to hire. Therefore, people who have lost their jobs or who are still employed but want to change their profession or those who re-enter the labor market after a long period of absence need new qualifications and skills (Street, 1994).

In this context, the volunteering ensures the development of specific skills (Knepper et al., 2015) transferable to the labor market, enhancing the employability of participants (Păceșilă, 2015). Volunteering is an important factor in creating a competitive labor markets in Europe (Bocănială, 2014), in developing education and professional training (Hager and Brudney, 2004), as well as in rising social solidarity (Păceşilă, 2017). Non-formal learning occurring during participation in volunteer activities complements the efforts of formal education system (Profiroiu, 2013). Thus, the volunteer has the opportunity to practically experience the field of activity for which he prepares within the formal education system (Federația VOLUM, 2016; University of California, Career Service Center, n.d.).

Moreover, volunteering is seen as a way of offering new learning opportunities for seniors and persons with disabilities. The involvement of vulnerable groups in voluntary activities could also facilitate social integration and develop their social and professional skills which are helpful in finding a job.

Although involvement in voluntary activities cannot guarantee a paid job (Paine et al., 2013), volunteering gives individuals the opportunity to gain skills customarily required for interviews (Janey et al., 1991): work team, resource management, communication and networking, project management. Furthermore, volunteering should be considered a creator of social capital (Wilkinson and Bittman, 2002; Muthuri et al., 2006; Handy and Mook, 2011; Pro Vobis, 2017) because volunteers have the opportunity to meet people from various fields (Campaspe, 2015) building a network of contacts (Fitzsimmons, 1986) which can be extremely useful in their professional activity.

On the other hand, the growing number of people involved in voluntary activities in order to increase their chances of finding a paid job could be an advantage for the NGO sector which receives free labor from people with important skills. Therefore, many studies recognize the significant economic value of volunteering (Brown, 1999; Sajardo and Serra, 2011; Toraldo et al., 2016; Păceșilă, 2016).

As regards volunteers, not all of them are aware of the professional experience gained through volunteering (Automation Industry Association, 2010). Volunteering allows volunteers to quickly identify the profession that fits them best while enhancing the personality and experiences that the individuals express through their CV (Reitman and Williams, 2001).

However, with few exceptions, most programs and volunteer activities are not designed to meet learning and professional development objectives, but are focused on community needs. Among the exempted programs there is the European Voluntary Service, a European Commission program that promotes the participation of young people in transnational exchanges. (Tinact.ro, n.d.). This program enables young people to carry out voluntary activities in organizations from another EU country than their country of residence, from EU neighborhood or from another partner country in the world.

The European Voluntary Service aims to develop social cohesion, solidarity, tolerance and mutual understanding between young Europeans, while promoting the active citizenship. It is also regarded as a service of non-formal learning for young Europeans who acquire new skills on personal, educational and professional development and integrate more easily into society (Păceșilă, 2015).

Due to this fact, since 2012, the Faculty of Administration and Public Management from Bucharest University of Economic Studies introduced the discipline “Management of Non-Governmental Organizations” in curricula of its two undergraduate programs: “Public Administration” and “Sociology – Human Resources”.

The purpose of this paper is to determine if this discipline that promotes students’ involvement in volunteering could have a positive influence on students’ future professional career. Based on our research results, we could propose the introduction of this discipline in other programs curricula of Bucharest University of Economic Studies.

Alina Georgiana PROFIROIU

Mihaela PĂCEŞILĂ