Impact of factors influencing the STEM career-oriented subjects choice of Vietnamese high school students

Abstract

Studying subjects in school had a relationship with students’ future career choices. However, science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields (STEM) careers are often considered to be less accessible by many children. The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors influencing the STEM career-oriented subjects’ choice of Vietnamese high school students. The survey was conducted with 1768 students in grade 10^th (at the age of 16) in several high schools in 4 provinces represented for different geography regions of Vietnam by questionnaire combined with direct investigation using contact and interview methods with students. The results indicated that gender and students’ academic achievement in science studies were measured as factors to consistently and positively associate with students’ subjects choice toward STEM career orientation, accounting for other factors. The implications of this study in education are that teachers and educators should organize learning and teaching activities appropriate to male and female students in order to improve their academic achievement and their self-efficacy in science subjects. Hence, these supporting measures may foster students’ selection of STEM-related subjects to study and enhance students’ aspirations towards STEM careers.