Educational and career aspirations of secondary school students in Poland and Ukraine

Research objectives and problems: The aim of this research was to identify the educational and career aspirations of secondary school students in Poland and Ukraine. The research problem was formulated as follows: What are the educational and career aspirations of the Polish and Ukrainian students participating in the study, and are there any differences between the two groups in this regard? Research methods: A quantitative research approach was applied, using the diagnostic survey method with a questionnaire technique. The participants were selected using a snowball sampling method, also known as chain sampling. Process of argumentation: The paper begins with an introduction discussing the significance of educational and career aspirations in the lives of young people. The theoretical section defines the concept of aspirations and outlines the factors that influence their development. This is followed by a description of the methodology used in the author’s study, including a profile of the research sample. The empirical section presents the study’s findings, and the paper concludes with a summary of conclusions and recommendations. Research findings and their impact on the development of educational sciences: The research was carried out between January 2022 and May 2023 in Poland (in the Wielkopolskie, Mazowieckie, and Lubelskie provinces) and Ukraine (in the Ternopil and Lviv provinces). The study sample included three groups of students (948 individuals): one group of secondary school students from Poland and two groups from Ukraine (equivalent to secondary education), surveyed both before and during the war. The findings revealed both similarities and differences in the educational aspirations of the participating adolescents. These results may serve as an inspiration for further research into the career trajectories of future generations and as the foundation for designing educational programs intended to support the development of young people’s aspirations. Conclusions and/or recommendations: Assisting adolescents in identifying and developing their educational and career aspirations has been one of the key challenges of secondary education. Teachers’ professional efforts in this respect should aim at expanding young people’s horizons and equipping them with key knowledge and skills needed to plan their future careers and adapt to a rapidly changing labor market. Educational activities should therefore be designed to help students recognize their individual aptitudes, understand the specifics of various professions, and become aware of labor market demands.