Undergraduate Student Perspectives on Employability: A Mixed Methods Exploration of Nutrition Student Career Awareness, Confidence, and Preparedness
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21153/jtlge2023vol14no1art1638Abstract
There is a growing need for nutrition graduates to fill diverse roles that will address emerging health priorities including community-based chronic disease prevention, personalised nutrition, digital health, and innovations in food and agriculture. Little is known about how well universities are preparing nutrition students to fill these roles. The aim of this study was to explore undergraduate nutrition students’ career awareness, confidence, and preparedness. A secondary aim was to explore their perspectives regarding employability initiatives within the university curriculum. A mixed methods approach was used, including semi-structured focus groups to gain in-depth insights and surveys to expand and diversify the study population, enhancing validity and transferability of the findings. Results of the focus groups were analysed thematically using an inductive approach. Initial themes informed the survey with closed questions analysed using descriptive statistics and open questions analysed thematically. Seven students participated in focus groups and 73 completed the survey. Common themes arising from the focus group and survey responses included a lack of awareness of roles available to nutritionists, lack of placement experience seen as a link to understanding what nutritionists do and getting that first job, and life experiences and personal circumstances influencing career pathways. Practical opportunities for nutrition students to develop their career awareness, confidence, and preparedness should be a key consideration in the design of the undergraduate nutrition curricula.
Metrics
References
Amiet, D., Choate, J., Hoskin, J., & Dart, J. (2021). Exploring attitudes, beliefs and practices of academic staff towards undergraduate career development in non-vocational courses. Higher Education Research & Development, 40(5), 885-900. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2020.1799952
An, S., & Lipscomb, R. (2013). Instant mentoring: sharing wisdom and getting advice online with e-mentoring. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 113(5). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2013.02.012
Australian Qualifications Framework Council. (2013). Australian Qualifications Framework, 2nd edition. Australian Qualifications Framework Council. https://www.aqf.edu.au/publication/aqf-second-edition
Bennett, D., Richardson, S., & MacKinnon, P. (2016). Enacting strategies for graduate employability: How universities can best support students to develop generic skills. Part A. Canberra, ACT. Australian Government, Office for Learning and Teaching, Department of Education and Training. https://bit.ly/2JMfZzq
Besnilian, A., Goldenberg, A., & Plunkett, S. W. (2016). Promoting diversity within the dietetics profession through a peer mentorship program. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 116(2), 198–202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2015.07.018
Blackburn, G. (2017). A university’s strategic adoption process of an PBL-aligned eLearning environment: An exploratory case study. Educational Technology Research and Development, 65(1), 147–176. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-016-9472-3
Boak, R., Palermo, C., Beck, E. J., Patch, C., Pelly, F., Wall, C., & Gallegos, D. (2022). A qualitative exploration of the future of nutrition and dietetics in Australia and New Zealand: Implications for the workforce. Nutrition & Dietetics, 79(4), 427–437. https://doi.org/10.1111/1747-0080.12734
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Croxford, S., Stirling, E., McLeod, S., Biesiekierski, J., Murray, E., Ng, A. H., Bramley, A., & Forsyth, A. (2022). An exploratory study of industry perspectives to inform undergraduate nutrition employability initiatives. Nutrition & Dietetics, 79(4), 447–455. https://doi.org/10.1111/1747-0080.12731
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2012). Self-Determination Theory. In P.A.M. Van Lange, A.W. Kruglanski, & E.T. Higgins (Eds.) Handbook of Theories of Social Psychology (416–437). Vol 1 SAGE Publications. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781446249215
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The ‘what’ and ‘why’ of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behaviour. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227–268. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327965PLI1104_01
Doolan, M., Piggott, B., Chapman, S., & Rycroft, P. (2019). The benefits and challenges of embedding work integrated learning: A case study in a university education degree program. Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 44(6), 91–108. https://doi.org/10.14221/ajte.2018v44n6.6
Errington, E. P. (2011). Mission possible: Using near-world scenarios to prepare graduates for the professions. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 23(1), 84–91. https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/18139/
Hayden, J. K., Smiley, R. A., Alexander, M., Kardong-Edgren, S., & Jeffries, P. R. (2014). The NCSBN national simulation study: A longitudinal, randomized, controlled study replacing clinical hours with simulation in prelicensure nursing education. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 5(2), S3-S40. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2155-8256(15)30062-4
Heafala, A., Mitchell, L. J., & Williams, L. T. (2021). Studying the transition from graduate to health practitioner: The Griffith Dietetics Graduate Outcomes Survey. Nursing & Health Sciences, 23(3), 723-732. https://doi.org/10.1111/nhs.12861
Hickson, M., Child, J., & Collinson, A. (2018). Future dietitian 2025: informing the development of a workforce strategy for dietetics. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 31(1), 23-32. https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.12509
Hughes, R. (2003). Competency development in public health nutrition: reflections of advanced level practitioners in Australia. Nutrition & Dietetics: The Journal of the Dietitians Association of Australia, 60(3), 205-212.
Hughes, R., & Desbrow, B. (2005). Aspiring dietitians study: a pre‐enrolment study of students motivations, awareness and expectations relating to careers in nutrition and dietetics. Nutrition & Dietetics, 62(2‐3), 106-109. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-0080.2005.00015.x
Jackson, D. (2013). The contribution of work-integrated learning to undergraduate employability skill outcomes. Asia-Pacific Journal of Cooperative Education, 14(2), 99–115. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/ecuworks2013/19/
Jackson, D., & Collings, D. (2018). The influence of work-integrated learning and paid work during studies on graduate employment and underemployment. Higher Education, 76, 403-425. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-017-0216-z
Jorre de St Jorre, T., & Oliver, B. (2018). Want students to engage? Contextualise graduate learning outcomes and assess for employability. Higher Education Research & Development, 37(1), 44-57. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2017.1339183
Lawlis, T., Torres, S. J., Coates, A. M., Clark, K., Charlton, K. E., Sinclair, A. J., Wood, L. G., & Devine, A. (2019). Development of nutrition science competencies for undergraduate degrees in Australia. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 28(1), 166-176. https://doi.org/10.6133/apjcn.201903_28(1).0022
Lexis, L., Weaver, W. & Julien, B. L. (2023) STEM students see the value of LinkedIn as a career development tool and continue to use it in the long-term post-assignment. The Journal of Teaching and Learning for Graduate Employability, 14(1), 53-70. https://doi.org/10.21153/jtlge2023vol14no1art1510
McCall, L., Palermo, C., & Wray, N. (2009). Placements and their influence on Australian nutrition and dietetics students. Focus on Health Professional Education: A Multi-disciplinary Journal, 11(1), 14-21. https://doi.org/10.3316/ielapa.127828850635407
McLennan, B., & Keating, S. (2008). Work-integrated learning (WIL) in Australian universities: The challenges of mainstreaming WIL [Paper presentation]. ALTC NAGCAS National Symposium, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=cf35f1cb7d99912ab137bff95353ea3ae1382aa1
Mertens, D. M. (2019). Research and evaluation in education and psychology: Integrating diversity with quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods. SAGE publications.
Morgan, K., Kelly, J. T., Campbell, K. L., Hughes, R., & Reidlinger, D. P. (2019). Dietetics workforce preparation and preparedness in Australia: A systematic mapping review to inform future dietetics education research. Nutrition & Dietetics, 76(1), 47-56. https://doi.org/10.1111/1747-0080.12450
Murray, E., McLeod, S., Biesiekierski, J., Ng, A., Croxford, S., Stirling, E., Bramley, A., & Forsyth, A. (2020). Employability initiatives in undergraduate education and application to human nutrition: A scoping review. Journal of Teaching and Learning for Graduate Employability, 11(1), 63-80. https://doi.org/10.21153/jtlge2020vol11no1art921
National Committee for Nutrition. (2019). Nourishing Australia: A Decadal Plan for the Science of Nutrition. Australian Academy of Science. https://www.science.org.au/supporting-science/science-policy-and-analysis/decadal-plans-science/nourishing-australia-decadal-plan
Oliver, B. (2015). Redefining graduate employability and work-integrated learning: Proposals for effective higher education in disrupted economies. Journal of Teaching and Learning for Graduate Employability, 6(1), 56-65. https://doi.org/10.21153/jtlge2015vol6no1art573
Reddy, A., Reid-Warne, D., Ng, A. H., Horvath, D. & Forsyth, A., (2023). Graduates’ perspectives of the teaching and development of employability skills in undergraduate human nutrition programs [Manuscript submitted for publication].
Rhea, M., & Bettles, C. (2012). Future changes driving dietetics workforce supply and demand: Future scan 2012-2022. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 112(3), S10-S24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2011.12.008
Sanders, E. B.-N., & Stappers, P. J. (2008). Co-creation and the new landscapes of design. CoDesign, 4(1), 5-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/15710880701875068
Taylor, C., Angel, L., Nyanga, L., & Dickson, C. (2017). The process and challenges of obtaining and sustaining clinical placements for nursing and allied health students. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 26(19-20), 3099-3110. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.13658
Universities Australia. (2019). Work Integrated Learning in Universities: Final Report. https://www.universitiesaustralia.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/WIL-in-universities-final-report-April-2019.pdf
Yorke, M. (2006). Employability in higher education: what it is-what it is not (Vol. 1). Higher Education Academy. https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/knowledge-hub/employability-higher-education-what-it-what-it-not
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 Ashley Ng, Anj Reddy, Deanna Horvath, Amy Larsen, Jessica Biesiekierski, Sharon Croxford, Andrea Bramley, Susan McLeod, Emma Stirling, Emily Murray, Adrienne Forsyth
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
