Factors Influencing Academic Career Choice Among Higher Education Students and Their Implications In the Context of Public Policy in Tanzania

Abstract

Tanzania faces a growing problem associated with academic career choices among higher education students. Therefore, the present study aims to empirically establish the main intrinsic (personality) and extrinsic (socio-economic) factors considered by students in deciding their academic careers. Besides, it is essential to employ a public policy perspective to reconstruct a broader picture of the findings for deliberate actions to be taken. The study employed a cross-sectional study design and simple random sampling technique to select 392 students from a population of students of the Mwalimu Nyerere Memorial Academy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Data were collected using a questionnaire and a desk review of documents. Study findings show that three main socio-economic and personality factors influenced student’s academic career choice: family influence, employment opportunities, and interest in studying a particular academic program. In the context of public policy, the study revealed that existing public policies do not create a supportive environment for students to make informed career choices. Therefore, there is a need to formulate career guidance policies, or review the existing education policy to address career guidance and counselling issues at all levels of education by considering the context of the dynamic and changing world of work.