Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
YUKSEKOGRETIM DERGISI, cilt.11, sa.2, ss.421-437, 2021 (ESCI)
The aim of this study is to reveal how higher education affects university students' career building processes based on the opinions of students at a state university. In line with this aim, students' opinions regarding how they chose their departments/programs, to what extent their expectations from their departments were satisfied and how they thought university education would affect their future careers were asked. 79 students studying in four faculties of a state university in Ankara participated in the study. The study was designed as a phenomenological qualitative study in which the data were obtained through a written interview form. The data were then analyzed through directed content analysis technique. The findings indicated that most of the participants made their department choices after a short decision-making period (within a few months) before taking the university entrance exam. Therefore, department choice was found to be predominantly a haphazard and even accidental process. The participants reported that their expectations were not met due to the fact that their university courses were largely theory-based, their practice and internship opportunities were too limited, and the social activities and career opportunities offered by their university were insufficient. Some participants expected positive outcomes while some had negative ones. Based on these findings, higher education institutions are suggested to develop policies to ensure graduate employability by decreasing the mismatches between student expectations, labor market demands, and what they can offer their students.