How Do Career Development Courses Help Chinese Undergraduate Students Achieve Healthy and Quality Career Development?

Abstract

Postsecondary institutions worldwide generally provide career development courses or similar courses to better prepare undergraduate students for healthy and quality future careers. Understanding whether these career development courses positively affect students’ career-related outcomes is crucial. Utilizing survey data collected from a large research university located in the eastern part of China, we found that students who have taken at least one career course exhibited career awareness and career planning abilities that were 0.096 and 0.147 units higher, respectively, than those of students who have not taken career courses, with other variables held constant. More specifically, an additional career course was statistically significantly associated with a 0.099, 0.084, and 0.175 unit increase in students’ career awareness, job search self-efficacy, and career planning ability, respectively. A student’s college major and annual family income seemed to be good predictors for a student’s career awareness, job search self-efficacy, and career-planning ability. Furthermore, the more career courses that a student took, the higher the career awareness, job search self-efficacy, and career planning ability that the student had. With these findings in mind, our study recommends postsecondary stakeholders to leverage such courses to help students better prepare for a healthy and quality career development.

Sustainable Career Development of Nursing Graduates in Higher Vocational Colleges: A Case Study of Weifang Nursing Vocational College

“…The study also indicated that by conducting a dynamic study of career development from college to graduation, educational administrators can better understand these college students in creating appropriate interventions to help them better plan their career paths. Zhao and Wu (2022) found a positive relationship between career development courses and undergraduate students' career-related outcomes, such as career awareness, job search self-efficacy, and career planning ability. The findings additionally indicated that one student's career knowledge could significantly improve students' career awareness and career planning ability.…”

“…The findings additionally indicated that one student's career knowledge could significantly improve students' career awareness and career planning ability. Zhao et al (2022) discovered that, even during the pandemic, self-perceived employability as a significant personal resource was essential for sustainable career advancement. The findings also showed that self-perceived employability helps not only an individual's professional advancement but also companies since it encourages improved employee productivity and mental health.…”

“…However, if the school curriculum does not provide the courses that students need and can be applied in their careers, this will affect their career development. According to Zhao and Wu (2022), educational institutions all around the world often provide career development courses or comparable courses to better prepare undergraduate students for future career paths. It is critical to comprehend whether these job development courses help students achieve favorable professional outcomes.…”

“…Although "employability" and "employment" are two different concepts, the graduate employment rate is commonly used to assess the quality of the offering of educational institutions, particularly the career development courses offered while students are enrolled in higher education institutions Therefore, these institutes must help students succeed and prepare for high-value careers, especially by supporting those who are still unsure about their future path (Ciarocco, 2018, Senter, 2020. Zhao and Wu (2022) claimed that career development courses aim to meet the needs of students considering multiple careers or majors. However, one of the problems with career development and the limiting obstacles in today's globalized and competitive world of work is the problem of changing management and adaptability (Asuquo & Inaja, 2013).…”

Service-Oriented Career Planning for Medical University Students: Closing the Gaps

“…The goal and direction of career planning education are unclear, and career planning does not effectively combine ideological and political education (Cao et al, 2012). In the development of course teaching and career counseling services, there is the phenomenon of single teaching form and superficial consulting content (Zhao & Wu, 2022). Fourth, team building is not in place.…”