Transition Frontiers: Career Guidance in Vietnam’s Industry 4.0
Main Article Content
Abstract
As students start to reach the end of high school, they face the challenge of making what is likely the biggest decision of their life so far: Go to work or continue studying at university? Unfortunately, students are poorly equipped to make such a life altering choice. Some jobs, especially those connected to the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) require the skills that come with a four-year degree. If they decide to continue on to higher education, they have another big decision to make: Which program of study to follow? Studying in the wrong program could lead to wasted time and money. It could also lower the motivation to study, leading to lower levels of learning, which in turn could lead to fewer professional opportunities in the future. To help solve these problems, many high schools offer career guidance to support students through this major life transition. Is the current guidance adequate? To answer this question, an exploratory qualitative ethnographic study was performed with seven students who are one year away from earning a bachelor degree in the field of financial technology from a large public university in Vietnam. Findings reveal that most students believe that current guidance offerings, while important, are also inadequate leading some students to regret their choice of study program. Solutions to these problems are discussed based on the insights of these respondents.
Keywords:
adolescent, student, career guidance, field of study, Vietnam
References
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[2] Tran Quang Tuyen and Huong Vu, “Wage earning differentials by field of study: Evidence from Vietnamese university graduates,” Int. J. Educ. Dev., vol. 78, p. 102271, Oct. 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2020.102271.
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[4] L. L. Zhou, A. Bach, and V. Bach, “Private Universities in Vietnam: Reflection and Proposition,” Int. J. Learn. Teach. Educ. Res., vol. 18, no. 12, pp. 280–301, Dec. 2019, doi: 10.26803/ijlter.18.12.16.
[5] Tien Phong, “Bao nhiêu sinh viên ra trường làm trái ngành?,” Báo điện tử Tiền Phong. Accessed: Apr. 21, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://tienphong.vn/post-1474115.tpo
[6] Tran Quang Tuyen, Vu Thi Bich Ngoc, and Vu Huong Van, “Does job mismatch affect wage earnings among business and management graduates in Vietnam?,” Res. Int. Bus. Finance, vol. 65, p. 101982, Apr. 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.ribaf.2023.101982.
[7] Dân Trí, “Tư vấn hướng nghiệp: Thực trạng đầy bất cập,” Báo điện tử Dân Trí. Accessed: Apr. 21, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/tu-van-huong-nghiep-thuc-trang-day-bat-cap-2017061511265523.htm
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[14] M. S. Islam, M. E. Rahman, M. S. Moonajilin, and J. van Os, “Prevalence of depression, anxiety and associated factors among school going adolescents in Bangladesh: Findings from a cross-sectional study,” PLOS ONE, vol. 16, no. 4, p. e0247898, Apr. 2021, doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247898.
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[16] T. T. Q. Ho, B. T. N. Nguyen, and N. P. H. Nguyen, “Academic stress and depression among vietnamese adolescents: a moderated mediation model of life satisfaction and resilience,” Curr. Psychol. N. B. Nj, pp. 1–11, Oct. 2022, doi: 10.1007/s12144-022-03661-3.
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[19] R. Nathan and L. H. Estate, Career Counselling, 2nd edition. SAGE Publications Ltd, 2005.
[20] H. Gelatt, “Positive Uncertainty: A New Decision-Making Framework for Counseling,” J. Couns. Psychol., vol. 36, pp. 252–256, Apr. 1989, doi: 10.1037/0022-0167.36.2.252.
[21] V. S. H. Solberg and S. R. Ali, Eds., The Handbook of Career and Workforce Development: Research, Practice, and Policy, 1st edition. New York: Routledge, 2017.
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[23] J. Andre, “Can Learning Analytics Increase Student Agency and Transform Digital Learning?,” in Digital Transformation and Higher Education, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Sep. 2021, p. 16.
[24] J. Andre, “Using Cryptocurrency to Increase Student Motivation and Agency: Thoughts from Vietnam,” Int. J. Emerg. Technol. Learn., vol. 17, no. 12, pp. 4–15, 2022, doi: 10.3991/ijet.v17i12.30475.
[25] J. Henrich, The WEIRDest People in the World: How the West Became Psychologically Peculiar and Particularly Prosperous, Illustrated edition. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2020.
[26] Tue Minh, “Định hướng nghề nghiệp để chủ động tương lai,” Báo Nhân Dân điện tử. Accessed: Apr. 21, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://nhandan.vn/post-744180.html
[27] Dai Hoc Tan Trao, “Chuyên gia tâm lý giáo dục chia sẻ về vấn đề chọn ngành, chọn nghề cho mùa tuyển sinh năm 2023,” Trường Đại học Tân Trào. Accessed: Apr. 21, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://daihoctantrao.edu.vn:443/tin-tuc/chuyen-gia-tam-ly-giao-duc-chia-se-ve-van-de-chon-nganh-chon-nghe-cho-mua-tuyen-sinh-nam-2023!-3923.html
[28] Tuoi Tre, “Hướng nghiệp và định hướng nghề nghiệp đang là mối quan tâm hàng đầu,” TUOI TRE ONLINE. Accessed: Apr. 21, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://tuoitre.vn/huong-nghiep-va-dinh-huong-nghe-nghiep-dang-la-moi-quan-tam-hang-dau-20221008200339431.htm
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[30] T. Hooley, “The Evidence Base on Lifelong Guidance: a Guide to Key Findings for Effective Policy and Practice,” European Lifelong Guidance Policy Network, 2014. Accessed: May 05, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.elgpn.eu/publications/browse-by-language/english/elgpn-tools-no-3.-the-evidence-base-on-lifelong-guidance
[31] J. Quoidbach, D. T. Gilbert, and T. D. Wilson, “The End of History Illusion,” Science, vol. 339, no. 6115, pp. 96–98, Jan. 2013, doi: 10.1126/science.1229294.
[32] Thuy Nga, “Career guidance needs to start much earlier than high school,” VietNamNet News. Accessed: Apr. 21, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://vietnamnet.vn/en/career-guidance-needs-to-start-much-earlier-than-high-school-2152444.html
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[34] I. Schoon and J. Heckhausen, “Conceptualizing Individual Agency in the Transition from School to Work: A Social-Ecological Developmental Perspective,” Adolesc. Res. Rev., vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 135–148, Jun. 2019, doi: 10.1007/s40894-019-00111-3.
[35] S. V. Schnepf, “Do Tertiary Dropout Students Really Not Succeed in European Labour Markets?,” Institute of Labor Economics, Bonn, DE, 2014. Accessed: May 06, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.ssrn.com/abstract=2409537
[36] J. Andre and T. Le, “The Importance of a University Degree: What Happens When Universities Fail to Supply the Workers Industry Needs?,” in Business based on Digital Platform, University of Finance - Marketing, Ho Chi Minh City, VN, 2022, p. 15.
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