Occupational and Educational Expectations of Rural youth in Croatia

The present study is as an attempt to understand how socio-demographic characteristics (i.e., gender, family socioeconomic status) and school level supports (i.e., school climate, professional guidance at school) influence occupational and educational expectations among rural youth (i.e., aspirations for a meaningful career, future family values, and future employment goals). The findings showed a relationship among the demographic characteristics, school level supports, career aspirations and future family and employment expectations of rural youth. The results of regression analysis indicate that school climate does influence aspirations towards a meaningful career, future family orientation and future employment goals. In addition, aspirations towards a meaningful career are also influenced by gender and professional guidance at school.

The correlation of perceived stress and professional concerns during COVID-19 pandemic among Iranian dentists: the mediating role of cognitive flexibility

Objective: To evaluate the association of perceived stress and dental work-related concerns regarding to COVID-19 by mediating role of cognitive flexibility among dentists during pandemic outbreak of COVID-19 in Iran.Methods: This study was a cross sectional survey conducted by means of a confidential on-line survey on 174 Iranian dentists. COVID-19 related questions were divided to three parts: dentists’ perspective about their career future, virus contagion and concerns of getting infected COVID-19 from patients, and paucity of information and facilities to control the spread of the virus. Perceived stress and psychological flexibility were assessed by PSS (Cohen et al., 1983) and CFI (Dennis et al., 2010). To analyze data path analysis method was used.Results: Perceived stress significantly predicted psychological flexibility (both alternatives and control subscales) and COVID-19 factors related to dental work In addition, control subscale significantly predicted dentists’ concerns toward their career future and fear of COVID-19 contagion. Hence, control subscale of cognitive flexibility mediated the relationship of perceived stress and professional concerns of dentists during COVID-19 pandemic.Conclusion: Given these results, elevated stress during an infectious disease outbreak can effect (have impact on) perceived stress and professional concerns among dentists. Different aspects of dentists’ lives can be affected by those concerns and stress. Interventions to enhance the cognitive flexibility should be applied to reduce the psychological burden of the crisis for dentists.

Attitude of Library and Information Science students towards discipline and future of the profession

The purpose of the present research is to study the attitudes of LIS students towards their field and career future. Current applied and quantitative study used survey method. Data collection instrument was a modified questionnaire based on prior studies. The reliability analysis of the questionnaire was carried out using Cronbach's Alpha. Population of the study was graduate and undergraduate LIS students in Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University. In order to answer the research questions, descriptive and parametric statistical tests (Indepent-t, Anova and Pearson) were applied based on demographic variables. SPSS 20 was used to analyze the data and Excel was used to draw the graphs. Based on findings, the highest agreement among students was about the endangerment of career future by the recruitment of non-specialized individuals in this profession; while the lowest agreement was about the positive view of people about this field. There was a positive and a significant association between Attitudes towards Field & Career Future (ATFS&CF) and GPA. It could be concluded that students with higher GPA have more optimistic opinion about ATFS & CF. Respondents worried about their career future as well as the employment of graduates of other fields in this profession.

Family and Career. Future plans for university students. Ed. Ágnes Engler.

Bibliography of the reviewed book: Engler, Á. (2018). Future plans for university students. Debrecen: Center for Higher Education Research and Development. p. 212., ISBN 978-615-80077-6-4.

Development and Validation of a Career Future Time Perspective Scale

Future time perspective, like self-efficacy, can be understood both generally and domain specifically. Keeping this in mind, the current study aimed at developing and validating a Career Future Time Perspective Scale. In Study 1, we utilized an exploratory factor analysis and the Rasch rating model to ensure the construct validity of a Career Future Time Perspective Scale. The scale consisted of three factors—opportunity, value, and connectedness—across 9 items. In Study 2, we showed that this three-factor oblique scale was the most representative structure of career future time perspective. Study 3 demonstrated that after controlling for the future time perspective measures posited by Shell and Husman and Carstensen and Lang, this scale could also be used to explain: (a) career decision-making self-efficacy, (b) career-indecision tendencies, and (c) career-searching behavior. In Study 4, the reliability of the scale was demonstrated.

The alumni narrative of the connection between university skills and knowledge, and industry: An ‘outside-in’ understanding

This study takes an ‘outside-in’ approach by exploring the narratives of university alumni working in industry. The aim of the study is to understand how engaging with industry alumni supports and informs graduate skills and knowledge needed for future employability, and university career/future focused curriculum design. To achieve the aim, the study adopted an Appreciative Inquiry approach to guide a series of n=8 depth interviews recorded in a digital video format. This approach provided alumni with a platform to construct their unique professional narratives in a manner that was relatable and engaging to students, and that universities could use as an educational tool. Data from the interviews resulted in three main themes: 1) the necessity of soft-skills and work experience, 2) the importance of resilience, and 3) the willingness to constantly learn. Theoretically, the findings contribute externally validated support and extension of important and desirable graduate attributes, providing evidence for informing and extending career/future focused curriculum design. Practically, the findings provide students and universities with professional confirmation and foresight of the skills and knowledge needed to transition and navigate the professional workforce, along with an educational tool to implement into curriculum.

Entrepreneurial attitudes of socially maladjusted youth

The study shows the entrepreneurial attitudes that young people coming to the Youth Educational Centre have. These attitudes today seem to be an important attribute in designing the educational and career future. Presented research is part of the quantitative paradigm. The research procedure does not include the hypothesis, because so far no similar investigations have been conducted with regard to the indicated group of young people. The initial assumptions were therefore impossible to be put forward. The empirical part of the article was preceded by theoretical inquiries in the field of entrepreneurship. It is worth noting that the presented material is a part of a larger research project. The whole research procedure also took into account the orientations towards a professional career and communication skills of minors from educational centres.