Social cognitive career theory (SCCT) is a valuable framework when developing applicable and appropriate career development interventions for students with disabilities. The use of SCCT in developing interventions will enhance the self-efficacy and outcome expectations of K-12 students with disabilities, thereby leading to more purposeful,…

Careers occupy a major portion of one's life and often contribute to one's identity. This action research study explored and appraised career awareness activities for K-12 students in a rural, eastern region in the United States. Data was collected from high school student participants in the form of survey and focus group sessions during the…

Smart education research has been rapidly developed for transforming education systems leading to engage and empower students, educators and administrators more effectively. Despite decades of the adoption of new technologies in improving education systems, approaches are frequently criticized for lacking appropriate theoretical and technological…

This study investigated why university students choose to major in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine/health (STEM(M)) disciplines, and how their study and career-related confidence compares with that of their peers. The study engaged 12,576 students enrolled at Australian universities. The findings suggest that STEM(M)…

Impending teacher shortages are a major concern in K-12 education. One potential way to grow the pipeline of new teachers is dual enrollment (DE) Teachers for Tomorrow (TfT) programs, which expose students to teaching careers and allow them to earn high school and college credits simultaneously. The purpose of this quantitative study was to…

In recent years there has been an increased emphasis on recruiting and retaining STEM students in order for the United States to retain its position as a leader in STEM fields (President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, (2012), Report to the president, engage to excel: Producing one million additional college graduates with degrees…

Kentucky ranks first in the nation in cancer incidence and mortality. The Appalachian region of the state experiences the highest cancer disparities due to inequities in many social determinants of health as well as poor health behaviors. As a strategy for addressing cancer and education disparities in the region, the Appalachian Career Training…

This study aimed to determine to what extent undergraduate students' level of academic career awareness and demographic variables predicted their level of academic career interest. The sample consisted of 3,696 students studying at 16 faculties, who were 3rd- and 4th-year undergraduate students from Akdeniz University in the fall semester of…

Recently, the promotion of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education has become the highlight due to the shortage in the STEM workforce. Surprisingly, the enrolment rates in STEM degrees are still low in many countries. Social media has been identified as one of the main platforms that can help to increase prospective…

Students of color do not pursue teaching careers as often as their white counterparts. Project Teacher Development (PTD) is a partnership between a large urban school district and a public regional university to recruit and prepare students of color as future educators. The goal of PTD is to identify, mentor, and inspire high school students to…

Background: The gender gap in engineering presents a critical barrier to achieving a diverse and innovative engineering workforce. This gap is influenced by gender stereotypes, socialization processes, masculine culture, and insufficient early experiences with engineering. These contribute to diminished STEM self-concept, interest, and…

Along with demographic change and advances in technology, the transition to green skills is one of a number of mega trends set to transform the economy and labour market. These shifts are also interconnected. The need for "green skills" is therefore not just about new green jobs, but also greening existing roles, increasing economic…

Understanding teachers' conceptions surrounding integrated STEM education is vital to the successful implementation of integrated STEM curricula in K-12 classrooms. Of particular interest is understanding how teachers conceptualize the role of the STEM disciplines within their integrated STEM teaching. Further, despite knowing that…

Exploring Summer Youth Employment Programs: Increasing Access Through Career Pathways builds the case and provides actionable recommendations for state-led support in the intentional alignment of summer youth employment programs (SYEP) with career pathways and the work-based learning continuum, including through Career Technical Education (CTE).…

Youth-focused environmental programs develop environmental stewardship and related interest in future career pursuits. However, research is limited on how youth perceive the varied skills and capacities needed in environmental careers, which could impact their ability to contribute to environmental work. We describe findings from a…