The Influence of Study Abroad Experience on Career Planning among Japanese Female University Students in the U.S.: A Case from a US Study Center of a Japanese University

IR (HANDLE) Web Site Open Access

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • 日本人女子大学生のアメリカ海外留学経験がキャリア観に与える影響 : 日本の某大学在米学習センターのケース

Search this article

Description

Even though studying abroad seems to have an influence on students' career development, one of the factors that hinders Japanese students from seeking education abroad is related to career and job-search concerns (e.g., JASSO, 2012). The objective of this study is to understand how the study abroad experience affects career planning among female Japanese college students. In this study, Bronfenbrenner's human ecology model was used as a theoretical framework to examine how study abroad experience and interactions between personal and contextual factors affected students' career-related changes. Through the qualitative analysis of the interview data of 10 Japanese female students who were studying at a U.S.-based study center of a Japanese university, this study found that students experienced changes in their career perspectives (reexamination of their English language ability for their career and developing their career-related preferences) through their interactions with people in the United States, which was also affected by the complex interplays between the individual students and their multiple levels of ecological environment. The interview results also highlighted individual differences in their career development, such as the way they respond to the interactions and the access to career exploration opportunities.

Journal

Keywords

Details 詳細情報について

Report a problem

Back to top