Influences on career identity in Vietnamese students at an international university
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCUAbstract
This study considers the career identities of Vietnamese students studying at an offshore (Australian) university in Vietnam. The students had completed the first module of a new career development learning program called Career Passport. As part of the program, students were required to write a narrative on their ‘career story’ to reflect on their experiences and synthesise their learning. The study drew on a social constructionist and narrative psychology approach to explore the major influences on the career identity that emerged from the students’ narratives. The strongest influence on the students’ career identities and career decision-making was family, which is in accordance with the collectivist cultural values of Vietnam. Somewhat less expected was the effect of various media, such as film and television. Despite the influence of family, the narratives reflect a strong desire to meet individual values, needs and interests in what the students would like their future careers to look like. The latter two findings perhaps indicate that Vietnamese students at an international university are more influenced by Western values and expectations of ‘career’ than their counterparts who study at domestic universities.
Journal
Australian Journal of Career Development
Publication Name
Australian Journal of Career Development
Volume
26
ISBN/ISSN
2200-6974
Edition
N/A
Issue
1
Pages Count
8
Location
N/A
Publisher
Australian Council for Educational Research
Publisher Url
N/A
Publisher Location
N/A
Publish Date
N/A
Url
N/A
Date
N/A
EISSN
N/A
DOI
10.1177/1038416217697973