Empowering learner autonomy by data-driven career development planning

Students who do not have a clear vision for their future career are at risk of low learning motivation and premature abandonment of university, especially after the 1st schoolyear. This issue is commonly happening in several higher education institutions and Van Lang University (VLU) is no exception. Therefore, it is of great importance that students gain an insight into the correlation between content knowledge they obtain and their future career goals. This study proposes a 9-step model, built based on the application of Career Development Model, and implemented on a digital platform named Student Career-oriented System, as a guideline for students to improve their career development skills. Students get to empower their learner autonomy by positioning themselves, exploring labour markets and opportunities, planning for their desired career, and taking actions to achieve the goals. The research also presents a case study of the implementation of this model at Van Lang University, and the general applicability in other educational bodies facing the same problems or having similar needs.