Career choice process in Peruvian and Spanish engineering students: a cross-cultural study

The Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) was tested in a cross-cultural study, Spain and Peru. This model explains career-related decision encompassed in following variables: self-efficacy, interest, outcome expectations, goals, perceived social supports and barriers. 1,005 undergraduate engineering students, 580 from Spain and 425 from Peru completed the Spanish adaptation of the Engineering Fields Questionnaire. Multiple-group structural equation modelling (SEM) was carried out to examine the model’s fit for Spain and Peru. Two models are established to clarify the role of the two dimensions of self-efficacy (academic and coping) in the SCCT career choice process model. There were founded differences by country in the role of coping self-efficacy in the SCCT model. Peruvian students exhibited better protective factors than Spanish students did. Although both countries share the same language there are clear social and cultural differences which concerning the Engineering degrees.