The role of career guidance activities of a pedagogical university in the professional self-determination of applicants

Introduction. The intensification of socio-cultural and technological transformations contributes to the constant rethinking of career guidance practices in the context of a changing perception of the values of professions by modern schoolchildren and to the formation of an informed choice about the trajectory of their professional development. Aim. The present research aims to analyse the forms and formats of career guidance activities implemented by pedagogical universities; to determine the most effective forms and formats in terms of increasing motivation and interest in the teaching profession; and to assess the level of awareness of the choice of a teacher profession among applicants. Methodology and research methods. In this study, the problem of the effectiveness of the forms and formats of vocational guidance activities of pedagogical universities is considered from the point of view of the methodology of environmental and cultural approaches, which determine the presence of links between socio-cultural and educational space as an influencing factor in the personality formation and development in a social system changing under the impact of external objective factors. The current empirical study was based on a mixed design. In order to verify and triangulate the results obtained in the study, the authors carried out an expert assessment of the representation of various forms of career guidance implemented by pedagogical universities, and investigated the perception of the effectiveness of career guidance activities by first-year students. The sample of the respondents was made up of 1,628 first-year students aged from 16 to 44 years, who enrolled in full-time and part-time bachelor’s degree programmes 44.00.00 Education and Pedagogical Sciences (based on the intergraded group of specialties). The respondents were asked to assess the frequency of participation and the degree of influence of career guidance activities on the choice of profession at the stage preceding admission to university, as well as to answer questions that determine factors affecting professional choice. Empirical data were processed by means of frequency, comparative and multivariate analysis, using median test, Pearson’s chi-square criterion, factor analysis. Results. The main formats of career guidance activities implemented by pedagogical universities were identified. The analysis of the content of the events shows that pedagogical universities implement various career guidance practices in cooperation with regional education systems aimed at attracting the most trained and professionally oriented applicants to the field of pedagogical education in the region. It was revealed that the students, who entered the pedagogical university, most often participated in traditional career guidance activities, while the formats of career guidance involving active methods of working with applicants are represented in their experience to the least extent. Three types of career guidance activities were identified: the most passive role is assigned to applicants within the framework of career guidance presentation; the opportunity to express oneself appears within the framework of pre-professional pedagogical training; and the greatest subjectivity of the applicant is actualised by activities implying his/her involvement in pedagogical activity. Students, who are characterised by a high level of involvement in career guidance activities, give a higher evaluation for the influence of active career guidance methods on the choice of profession and have a more pronounced motivation for choosing teaching profession. Scientific novelty. In this paper, career guidance activities have been studied through the use of a mixed design, verification and triangulation of the results obtained that allowed to empirically substantiate their typology and determine the nature of their impact on the professional self-determination of applicants. Practical significance. The research results can be used to improve the quality of career guidance work of pedagogical universities. The research materials can be employed in the development of regional development programmes, development programmes of pedagogical universities and educational organisations.