SELF-EFFICACY AND PERCEPTIONS OF STEM CAREER AMONG B40 PRE-UNIVERSITY GRADUATES

Abstract

The declining trend in the number of students pursuing STEM majors in Malaysian higher education institutions poses a significant challenge to the country's Education Development Plan and the economy. The reduced participation in the STEM fields could hamper the national aspiration of improving the socioeconomic status of B40 households. This research, guided by the Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT), aims to investigate the perceptions of B40 pre-university graduates towards self-efficacy and STEM careers in university. Moreover, it aims to explore the relationship between these factors and the choice of STEM majors in the university. The study involved 377 randomly sampled B40 pre-university graduates who are currently pursuing STEM majors in public universities in Malaysia. Data was collected through an online questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and multiple regression analysis. The findings indicate that students perceive self-efficacy and perception of STEM careers as critical factors in choosing STEM fields at the university level. Additionally, the study found a positive correlation between self-efficacy and perceptions of STEM careers, which aligns with the SCCT model. The research demonstrates the applicability of the SCCT model in identifying factors influencing students' decision-making regarding STEM fields.