Social Media Use in Career Guidance Delivery in Higher Education in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

This literature review examines the use of social media in higher education career guidance delivery in the UAE (United Arab Emirates). Previous research has revealed UAE youth feel unprepared for work, highlighting a need to improve the quality of career guidance. With social media becoming popular, social media integrated with career guidance can expand opportunities for students. The current use of social media in career guidance, highlighted that the UAE is utilizing social media as an information source rather than an interactive workspace. UAE universities use online career planning systems mainly. One of the main reasons being that social media delivery in career guidance leads to pressure for career guidance practitioners, in terms of moderating content. Coupled with the strict privacy laws governing the use of social media in the UAE, this can present challenges. For social media to become successfully integrated into career guidance delivery, universities in the UAE need to understand what their students want in terms of career guidance delivery.