Satisfaction of university students in relation to their transition into the workforce: a case study

Abstract

Are university students satisfied with the path to seeking employment? Student satisfaction is routinely forgotten, in both research and university career guidance services, when analyzing the transition into the workforce. In order to measure satisfaction, an ad-hoc scale was designed based on a theoretical framework for understanding career guidance in higher education. The chosen framework was the academic training-career guidance-employability prism. The present research aimed to validate a satisfaction rating scale using confirmatory factor analysis and SEM methodology. A second aim was to compare data on career guidance satisfaction by administering this scale to 497 final-year undergraduate students at the University of New Haven (USA) and the University of Padua (Italy). Outcomes showed good model fit and revealed that students completing the rating scale at UPD (Italy) were less satisfied than their American counterparts (UNH). This finding corresponds with other related studies. The present study demonstrates the adequacy and appropriateness of the satisfaction rating scale, highlighting it as an important tool for collecting reliable data with a view to improving university career guidance services.