Employers’ perceptions of online university degrees and their relationship with the recruitment and selection practicesBobek, Vito (Avtor) Zych, Filip (Avtor) Janković, Božidarka (Avtor) Horvat, Tatjana (Avtor) higher educationonline university degreesrecruitmentChileThe emergence of online university degree programs is an opportunity for Chile, struggling with low tertiary education attainment rates and a skills gap in the labor market. However, little attention has been dedicated to whether the employers in Chile perceive online and on-campus university education as equivalent. This study investigated the perceptions of a convenient sample of 38 employers from different industries, using Likert scale questions and a hypothetical hiring scenario. The survey results were then consulted with three experts who provided their interpretations. The findings indicated that the investigated sample generally does not perceive online and on-campus university education as equivalent but would not discard an online degree graduate only due to their academic background. However, when given a choice between a 100% online, 100% on-campus, and a hybrid degree holder, none of them would choose a 100% online degree graduate. Instead, 57% would hire a hybrid degree graduate and 43% a 100% on-campus graduate. There is a significant, positive correlation between the perceived equivalence in rigor, learning experience, and learning content and the willingness to hire an online degree graduate. The university’s reputation is a crucial factor influencing hiring decisions in Chile. The degree’s relevance may be insignificant compared to other factors considered by the hiring managers. 20222023-06-19 16:12:42Znanstveno delo84537UDK: 378:004.738.5(83)COBISS_ID: 125446915DOI: 10.2478/ngoe-2022-0016ISSN pri članku: 0547-3101sl