EVALUATION OF CAREER GUIDANCE AND CAREER EDUCATION NEEDS IN SIX UNIVERSITY DEGREES ON EDUCATION. BASES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TUTORIAL ACTION PLAN

This research analyses the career guidance and career education needs of university students. It is the result of an innovative Tutorial Action Plan proposed by Oviedo University (Spain), which is elaborated using the same principles that support the career education programs in previous levels of educational system. Significant reluctance among some university teaching staff to offer their students professional guidance has led to consider the suitability of rigorously evaluating the way in which university students' career development needs are dealt with. Given its interest in the project, the Faculty of Educational Sciences of Cordoba University (Spain) participates too. This article presents the main conclusions reached on the career guidance provided to students in Education Degrees (pre-primary and primary school teachers, pedagogues and social educators) at Oviedo and Cordoba Universities. A specific instrument is developed and validated to evaluate guidance needs at the university (CENO-PAT), with solid metric characteristics. The work involves all students attending classes, with a sample of 2,414 people who, with a confidence level of 99%, optimally represent the two Faculties, including the six degrees and every course. The students direct important criticism towards the career guidance that they receive at the university: they are convinced that their professional future, which is a priority for them, does not matter to most of their teachers. They make numerous demands related to their guidance and career development. They also state that in very few subjects the teachers work on the need to protect the environment in all professional and personal contexts.