Multi-Criteria Decision-Making for Post-secondary Graduates of Technical and Vocational Education Stream (Plant and Animal Science): Analytical Hierarchy Process for Career Preference

Abstract Career preference of the Technical and Vocational Education (TVE) graduate in the agricultural sector has received little consideration in Nepal, even though youth unemployment and workforce migration are on the rise. Trait and factor theory was utilized as a theoretical framework to comprehend the inclination towards selecting a highly coveted vocation. A deductive study utilizing a structured survey of 332 Nepalese agricultural graduates from the TVE stream demonstrated how academic performance and economic considerations, among others, influence students' perceptions of career-related options. The study employed one of the first analytical hierarchy process (AHP) to TVE graduates in Nepal in 2024. Multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) through AHP highlighted that most respondents favored foreign employment as the top choice, with an overall priority score of 0.044 among other career alternatives. The study suggested scholarship exhibited the highest percentage (67.47%) of respondents and average response rate (0.98). The view of agriculture as a low-status profession was recognized as the primary barrier encountered by agricultural students in secondary schools participating in the TVE program while pursuing agricultural education. Agriculture as a low-status profession obtained an average of 2193.6 through the Garrett ranking while ranking the primary barriers faced by TVE students. These findings underscore the importance of prioritizing local work alternatives in students' career planning as an alternative to overseas employment. In addition, the results demand the need to realign TVE programs to the demands of the labor market when developing career-related programs and activities to more effectively align with students' preferences and requirements.