Siu Kuen (Maggie) Fung

Effects of Vocational Identity and Self-Efficacy Through an Industry-Based Mentorship Scheme in Hong Kong

Siu Kuen (Maggie) Fung – CLAP-TECH Centre, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong

Abstract:

An industry-based mentorship scheme embedded in the Applied Learning Programme Multimedia Storytelling was designed in CLAP-TECH Pathways as one of the key components for senior high school students, facilitated through a tripartite collaboration among partnered high schools, Hong Kong Baptist University, and Industry Partners (IPs). The program aims to enhance students’ vocational identity and self-efficacy for their transition from secondary to tertiary education and the creative industry. The mentorship program pairs mentors from IPs with mentees to provide personalized guidance, support, and resources. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach grounded in Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) (Bandura, 1986), the study evaluates the mentorship program’s effectiveness from the perspectives of both mentors and mentees. SCT focuses on the concepts of observational learning, particularly through role models, and the cognitive processes that mediate learning, including self-efficacy and reciprocal determinism. Difference analysis will be employed to assess how factors such as the frequency of mentor meetings and the quality of mentor-mentee interactions predict outcomes related to mentees’ workplace concerns, control, curiosity, and confidence. Data were collected through surveys, interviews, and focus groups at different stages. The combined results highlighted graduates participating in the mentorship program expressed greater confidence in informed decision-making regarding career and life planning, with scores increasing from 73.9 to 92, compared to non-participating students, who showed a rise from 55.6 to 65.7. Furthermore, when evaluating the 10 Essential Attributes, participating students improved from 76.1 to 90.1, while non-participants increased from 66 to 74.6. Overall, students reported gaining valuable workplace knowledge and industry insights from their mentors, leading to increased confidence and motivation. The mentors’ experiences also inspired students to explore diverse resources and solutions when facing challenges, underscoring the program’s positive impact on their development and future readiness.