Co-creating academic careerself-efficacy: exploring academiccareer segments, mediating andmoderating influences inengineering education trajectory

Introduction: This study explores the dynamic relationship among differentacademic career stages within engineering education, using academic careerself-efficacy (ACSE) – one’s belief in their academic ability, as the unitaryconstruct. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships betweenthe academic career segments demonstrating self-efficacy at the beginning ofcareer, during academic progression, and post-graduation completion, alongwith the mediating and moderating effects corresponding to the relationships.Methods: Quantitative survey was conducted on Indian recent engineeringgraduates. Data was collected from closed-ended questionnaire. Structuralequation modeling was employed to analyze the relationships among academiccareer segments, mediation and the moderating impact of personal traits.Results: There were statistical significances among the relationships betweenacademic career segments with each other. Notably, ACSE during academicprogression emerged as a crucial mediator between entry-level ACSE and ACSEpost-graduation completion. Furthermore, gender, social caste, engineeringmajor, campus placement and engineering grade were identified as significantmoderators for these relationships.Discussion: It sheds light on the significance of ACSE throughout diverseacademic career segments enhancing career aspirations, engineering skills,and expressions and reflections that facilitate collaborative co-creation forengineering as a career. It contributes to the positive propagation of engineeringeducation as an excellent and rewarding career choice.