Identifying Factors and Proposing Solutions for Career Education Challenges Faced by Migrant-background Students: A Focus on Foreign-born, Non-Korean Nationals in Specialized Vocational High Schools

This study examines the current challenges and solutions in career education for migrant-background students in specialized vocational high schools in Korea. Based on in-depth interviews with five teachers and five experts, two key categories of limitations were identified: migrant-background characteristics and educational environment factors. The former includes difficulties arising from language barriers, residency restrictions, and cultural differences, while the latter encompasses inadequate teacher understanding, lack of parental support, and limitations in school programs. To address these, two improvement categories were proposed: support tailored to migrant-background characteristics-including customized Korean language education, easing residency requirements, and enhancing practical career preparation-and enhancements to the educational environment, such as strengthening teacher training, expanding dedicated personnel, and developing monitoring systems for post-employment management. These insights offer comprehensive strategies to improve career education for migrant-background students in vocational schools.