Career Aspirations Among Technical and Vocational Education and Training Students

Career aspiration is the process of shaping and developing individuals toward the workforce. It involves setting goals, making choices, planning, and having expectations for their long-term lives. Career aspiration is also an important aspect of Career Education that should be emphasized for future graduates. It is dynamic and can change based on an individual’s experiences. Therefore, this study aims to identify the presence of career aspiration elements focused on knowledge, skills, and job security. The study also seeks to determine the patterns of students’ career choices. The study was conducted at the Faculty of Educational Sciences and Technology, University Technology Malaysia, Johor Bahru. The respondents were third- and fourth-year students of under the Department of Advanced Technical and Vocational Education and Training, totaling 111 students. The study employs a quantitative research design by developing a questionnaire instrument using Google Forms. The data was analyzed descriptively using frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation via the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 29.0. The analysis results indicate that the identification of knowledge elements related to career choice among TVET students is high, with a mean score of 4.24. Similarly, the identification of skill elements related to career choice is also high, with a mean score of 4.16. The identification of job security elements related to career choice recorded the highest mean score of 4.42, falling into the very high category. Lastly, the study successfully identified the career choice category among TVET students at University Technology Malaysia, which is at a high level with a mean score of 3.89. Based on these findings, the study concludes that TVET students have received early exposure to their desired career aspirations. In line with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0), they are also prepared to work with innovative new technologies. Hence, it is crucial for future graduates to understand career shifts over time to plan and select careers that align with evolving trends.