Abstract
This study provides a historical analysis and review of the contemporary development of career choice orientations among Chinese college students in light of recent economic reform policies. Specifically, it describes the changes in, and developing trends of, career choice orientations in the past, present, and future among college students. This analysis reveals that with the profound transition from a centralized planned economy to a market economy in recent China, students’ career orientation has experienced a transformation from a societal standard to an individualistic standard; personal goals have changed from idealism to realism; and ideologies have developed from a unilateral structure to the coexistence of multiple systems. Such an intrinsic link between Chinese college students’ career choice orientation and social and economic development has implications for higher education with respect to new requirements for academic programs and curricular content.
Highlights
With the implementation of new economic policy across China in the past two decades, the economy has become the primary factor influencing changes in people’s behaviors and value2014, Vol 1, No 1 systems, especially in younger people
This study provides a historical analysis and review of the contemporary development of career choice orientations among Chinese college students in light of recent economic reform policies
It describes the changes in, and developing trends of, career choice orientations in the past, present, and future among college students. This analysis reveals that with the profound transition from a centralized planned economy to a market economy in recent China, students’ career orientation has experienced a transformation from a societal standard to an individualistic standard; personal goals have changed from idealism to realism; and ideologies have developed from a unilateral structure to the coexistence of multiple systems
Summary
With the implementation of new economic policy across China in the past two decades, the economy has become the primary factor influencing changes in people’s behaviors and value. Since China has been undergoing the transition from a centralized planned economy to a market economy, especially a so-called socialist market economy, there has been an unprecedented and profound social transformation (Wang, 1998), which has had an exceedingly lasting impact on people’s thought, value orientation, and mannerisms This impact can clearly be seen from the standards employed by young students in choosing a career--standards that are constantly changing (Li, 2001). Students’ orientation toward career choice is experiencing a profound transformation Their personal core values have shifted from a societal standard (i.e., good for the society) to an individualistic standard (i.e., good for me;Li, 2001); personal goals have changed from idealism to realism; and ideologies have developed from a unilateral structure (i.e., structure set forth by the government) to the coexistence of multiple systems (i.e., benefits for self, family, and the country;Zhao, 1999). Note that due to lack of empirical research on college students’ career choice during the period before 2000, the assertions made about the phenomenon of college students’ career choice were mainly based on information published in the newspapers and the author’s personal experiences and observations
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