An investigation of the opinions of the students of physical education and sports on vocational education: The cases of america and turkey universities

Abstract

This study aims to compare the opinions of students in the departments of sports management (SM) and coaching (COA) in the USA Bergen Community College and Esenyurt University on their department preferences and on education. Descriptive research model was employed in the study. A total of 300 students from Esenyurt University (SM; n=71, COA; n= 79) and USA Bergen Community University (SM; n= 67, COA; n= 83) were surveyed. Data were analyzed in SPSS 22.0 package program and number, percentage, means and standard deviation were used. The t-test was used to compare two independent groups. The relationship between group variables was tested at .05 significance level by chi-square analysis. When the means obtained from universities were examined, it can be seen that there is a significant difference between the two universities in terms of “awareness of department” (t (300) =-2.643; p=0.009<0.05) and ‘’ adequacy of the academic education” (t (300) =2.624; p=0.009 <0.05) whereas a significant difference was found in favor of Bergen College in terms of “adequacy of employment-oriented education” (t (300) =-7.604; p=0.000<0.05) (x=4.024). It was determined that university students surveyed have sufficient level of awareness/information about their department, they preferred their department willingly, and that they knew that the education they will receive will help them progress in the field of sports in the future. It was also found that the participants from both universities preferred the departments studied willingly and with sufficient information. This shows that they are willing to continue their career in the field of sports after having completed their education. Even though the participants were satisfied with their departments, they had concerns about finding a job for the future.