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A Structural Equation Approach to Investigate Different Constructs of Professional Identity Development for Engineering Students

Boekbijdrage - Boekhoofdstuk Conferentiebijdrage

Many engineering students experience difficulties in their professional career orientation as a result of the large number of career options presented in the broad engineering field. This has been linked to a hampered school-to-work transition and difficulties in career decision-making. Successful stimulation of a professional identity can be achieved by providing career guidance that aims to promote several key constructs underlying identity development, including career exploration, awareness, and confidence. This provides students with both a vocational and self-sense that prepares them better for their future career. Previous researchers often focused on a restricted set of underlying constructs, mostly in non-engineering students. This study overcomes these limitations with an in-depth analysis that examines five constructs simultaneously to contribute to a more general view of professional identity. By using structural equation modeling on the survey data, we aim to provide insights in the overall interplay of the constructs in the specific context of 624 Belgian engineering students at KU Leuven. We determine correlations between constructs and examine how these constructs differ for several personal variables. Results indicate substantial interconstruct correlations with construct differences for the phase of study, vocational interest, engineering persistence, and a small effect for parental occupation, but no effects for gender. These results contribute to a more general understanding of the professional identity of engineering students and the implications for career guidance during their education.
Boek: SEFI 49th Annual Conference Proceedings 2021
Pagina's: 170 - 179
ISBN:978-2-87352-023-6
Jaar van publicatie:2021
Toegankelijkheid:Open