Factors that affect career choice among University students in Uganda: A case study of School of Statistics and Planning, Makerere University

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the factors that influence career choice among undergraduate students of public university in Uganda and Makerere was used as a case study and given its population size the scope was further downed to School of Statistics. This study came on the heels of the sky rocketing unemployment and lack of diversified careers among both government and private sponsored students and that forms the statement of the problem. The objectives of this study were to investigate family factors, the role of gender, family influence and opportunity awareness in influencing career choice among the students. The researcher adopted a sample survey design which was appropriate because of the cross-sectional nature of data that was collected as is implied in the research objectives. The population of the study comprised of 400 participants that included 94 undergraduate students at school of statistics The majority of the respondents were males with a 51.06% of the total sample which may not show a far gender disparity at the school of statistics and planning. The study found that there was a relationship between family influence and Career guidance given to students before joining university, since the P-value of 0.370 is greater than the alpha value of 0.05. This goes to show that family is important in the career decision making of the students sampled or in general. A good number of respondents also admitted that men are inclined by nature to be more skillful than women. The factors that had the least consideration included the cultural background of the respondents influencing their career choice and women generally not performing well technical professions. The government has put in resources to enhance academic advancement of the children in Uganda. The government has further trained counselors in both primary and secondary schools which take up the role of career guidance.