Archives for undergraduates
Students’ Personality Traits as Predictor of Career Choice among Undergraduates in Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti
This study explored how personality traits shape the career choices of undergraduate students at Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti. Using a descriptive survey design, the research examined this relationship within a real-world academic environment without altering any variables. The target population included students across various faculties and academic levels, from which a sample of 300 was carefully selected through stratified random sampling to ensure broad representation. Data were gathered using a structured questionnaire—the Students’ Personality Traits and Career Choice Questionnaire (SPTCCQ) which featured sections on demographic details, the Big Five personality traits (based on McCrae & Costa, 1992), and career decision-making indicators drawn from standardised scales. Content validity was confirmed through expert review by professionals in Educational Psychology and Guidance and Counselling, and a reliability test conducted with 30 students from a similar institution produced a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.84, indicating strong internal consistency. The questionnaires were distributed during non-lecture periods with the help of trained assistants to encourage participation. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple regression, with a 0.05 level of significance guiding interpretation. Findings showed that ‘openness to experience’ emerged as the most prominent personality trait and the strongest predictor of students’ career choices. Students predominantly favoured careers in Medicine/Health Sciences and Business/Management, with personal interest, potential earnings, and job opportunities being the most decisive influences. Peer influence was found to be the least significant. Based on these findings, the study recommends incorporating personality profiling into university career counselling services to help students make well-informed career decisions aligned with their individual traits.
Enhancing Academic Writing Proficiency among English as a Second Language Users at the Undergraduate Level: A Comparative Analysis of Student-Lecturer Perspectives and Strategies
Academic writing is a pivotal concern in the tertiary phase of education, yet with a great deal of drawbacks and challenges. The current study investigates academic writing-related challenges and possible mechanisms to overcome them. Therefore, the study delves into the avenue of academic writing hurdles faced by undergraduate students whose second language (L2) is English, specifically in the domain of sciences. This also examines the tactics formulated, from the standpoint of lecturers in tackling these impediments effectively. This research underscores both commonalities and disparities that resonate with the themes documented in prior scholarly works by harnessing qualitative data from a sample of undergraduate students and lecturers. The investigation identifies substantial contrasts between the viewpoints of students and lecturers concerning the challenges inherent in academic writing. While the preeminent concern for most L2 undergraduate students pertains to intricacies at the compartmentalised linguistic features, the focal point for most lecturers revolves around the holistic level, which encompasses a wider range of linguistic attributes. Moreover, the study unravels specific coping mechanisms students employ to navigate academic writing challenges. These discernments carry profound pedagogical implications, accentuating the imperative for providing pertinent writing models and interventions tailored to the individual requirements of L2 science undergraduates.
The Perception Of Romanian Students Regarding The Corporate Social Responsibility Practices Identified In The Tertiary-Level Education Sector
Due to the ascending responsible trends, companies, institutions and even individuals have the opportunity, nowadays, to reconceive their practices and, therefore, contribute to the development of collective wellbeing. In this regard, corporate social responsibility may be perceived as an appropriate instrument. Corporate social responsibility extends beyond traditional business practices by establishing a positive behavior based on ethical, legal, and philanthropic principles, willingness to educate individuals, to support and sustain the environment, society and future generations. Universities and businesses alike should be able to provide coherent explanations to the emerging realities of the environment and society. The higher-level educational institutions’ primary function is to consider and fulfill the expectations of the society in which it operates. Hence, forming professionals in a responsible manner has to become one of the main objectives of the academic environment. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the social responsibility of a reputable university located in Bucharest, from a legitimate stakeholder perspective, respectively, the student.