Reality checked? Conceptualising the relationship between work experience, abroad experience and university students' work value preferences
Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning
ISSN: 2042-3896
Article publication date: 19 April 2023
Issue publication date: 8 November 2023
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to explore the degree of variance in work value preferences espoused by university students based on whether the students are in possession of work experience and experience abroad. Vocational identity development (VID) was used as a theoretical lens to explore the extent to which being in possession of experience in these two areas shapes vocational identity.
Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire (n = 1,188) was employed to measure the relative salience for 8 latent work values constructs and 25 individual-level work values. Respondents were classified into two groups based on work experience and abroad experience, and the differences in work value preferences between these groups were explored.
Findings
The authors' comparison of sample groups revealed that respondents without experience abroad attached significantly greater importance to specific work values (e.g. stability, extrinsic motivation and leisure) than those with sojourner experience. The relative salience of specific work values (e.g. altruistic and extrinsic motivation) was found to be significantly greater for respondents without work experience than those with such experience, however, not to the extent of abroad experience. VID as a theoretical framework was found to be valuable in conceptualising how work value preferences appear to be the outcome of a process of co-construction between an individual and his environment.
Research limitations/implications
The reasons as to how and why changes in work value salience occur cannot be conclusively established due to the exploratory nature and conceptual design of the present study.
Practical implications
The findings suggest work and abroad experience play a pivotal role in shaping respondents' work values and, more generally, the VID. This reinforces the need for cooperation between higher education and industry to provide experiential learning opportunities and career guidance to enhance graduate employability and contribute to long-term engagement of talent in tight labour markets.
Originality/value
The value of these findings is that the findings contribute to greater conceptual understanding of the relationship between work experience, abroad experience and work value preferences. This is particularly relevant to academic staff and curriculum developers at a tertiary level in preparing and guiding university students in their interactions with professional practice.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank Jens Dallmann and Luo Hengshen for their support in the data collection for this study and Mariska van der Giessen for her encouragement and facilitation of this research project. They are also grateful to the anonymous reviewers for their helpful suggestions throughout the review process.
Citation
de Boer, P. and Bordoloi, P. (2023), "Reality checked? Conceptualising the relationship between work experience, abroad experience and university students' work value preferences", Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning, Vol. 13 No. 6, pp. 1092-1107. https://doi.org/10.1108/HESWBL-10-2022-0203
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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