The Impact of Work-Integrated Learning and Learning Strategies on Engineering Students' Learning Outcomes in Thailand: A Multiple Mediation Model of Learning Experiences and Psychological Factors

Abstract

Learning outcomes (LOs) provide an essential foundation for evaluating the effectiveness of higher education institutions (HEIs). LOs have been accepted as criteria for accrediting academic programs; however, little is known about why students vary in their desired outcomes and how experiences in the workplace and learning strategies have different impacts on LOs. Based on social cognitive career theory (SCCT), this study investigated the relationships among work-integrated learning (WIL), learning strategies, institutional and goal commitments, engineering skill self-efficacy, engineering career outcome expectations, lifelong learning skills (LLLs), achievement goal orientation, and LOs. The participant pool consisted of 1,316 undergraduate engineering students from 11 HEIs in Thailand. Hypotheses regarding the causal relationships, including the direct and indirect effects, were examined by using structural equation modeling (SEM). Both the measurement and structural equation models showed a good fit to the data. The results of the SEM indicated that achievement goal orientation, LLLs, and engineering skill self-efficacy had significant positive direct effects on LOs. Learning strategies had a strong direct effect on LLLs and institutional and goal commitments. The practice of WIL in the workplace was an important factor in building engineering skill self-efficacy and LLLs. The mediation analysis indicated that learning experience (i.e., institutional and goal commitments) and psychological factors played important roles in the relationship between learning strategies and LOs. This study confirmed and expanded the SCCT research. Finally, theoretical and practical implications for LO development were identified based on the results.