University Support, Workplace Experience, and Career Decision-Making Proficiency Among Myanmar Undergraduates Studying in Myanmar and Thailand

This study examined the relationships among university support, workplace experience, and career decision-making proficiency (CDMP) among Myanmar undergraduate students studying in Myanmar and Thailand. Survey data were collected from 300 students (52.7% female) enrolled at four universities in Myanmar and four in Thailand. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the proposed relationships. The primary model explained 51.4% of the variance in CDMP (R2 = 0.514). University support was positively associated with CDMP (β = 0.345, p < 0.001) and workplace experience, while workplace experience was positively associated with CDMP. The indirect association of university support with CDMP through workplace experience was significant (β = 0.346, p < 0.001), accounting for approximately 50.1% of the total association and indicating partial statistical mediation. The main structural relationships remained significant after adjustment for country of study and academic year level. These findings highlight the importance of integrating university-based career support with meaningful workplace learning opportunities to strengthen students’ career decision-making proficiency. Future research should examine whether these relationships hold across different educational and cultural contexts.