Multi-Criteria Decision-Making for Post-secondary Graduates of Technical and Vocational Education Stream (Plant and Animal Science): Analytical Hierarchy Process for Career Preference

Abstract Career preference of the Technical and Vocational Education (TVE) graduate in the agricultural sector has received little consideration in Nepal, even though youth unemployment and workforce migration are on the rise. Trait and factor theory was utilized as a theoretical framework to compre...

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Main Authors: Jay Chaurasia, Mahesh Jaishi, Santosh Khanal, Tej Prasad Dawadi, Balika Poudel, Vivek Ghimirey, Nobel Acharya
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-08-01
Series:Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s44447-025-00042-7
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author Jay Chaurasia
Mahesh Jaishi
Santosh Khanal
Tej Prasad Dawadi
Balika Poudel
Vivek Ghimirey
Nobel Acharya
author_facet Jay Chaurasia
Mahesh Jaishi
Santosh Khanal
Tej Prasad Dawadi
Balika Poudel
Vivek Ghimirey
Nobel Acharya
author_sort Jay Chaurasia
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Career preference of the Technical and Vocational Education (TVE) graduate in the agricultural sector has received little consideration in Nepal, even though youth unemployment and workforce migration are on the rise. Trait and factor theory was utilized as a theoretical framework to comprehend the inclination towards selecting a highly coveted vocation. A deductive study utilizing a structured survey of 332 Nepalese agricultural graduates from the TVE stream demonstrated how academic performance and economic considerations, among others, influence students' perceptions of career-related options. The study employed one of the first analytical hierarchy process (AHP) to TVE graduates in Nepal in 2024. Multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) through AHP highlighted that most respondents favored foreign employment as the top choice, with an overall priority score of 0.044 among other career alternatives. The study suggested scholarship exhibited the highest percentage (67.47%) of respondents and average response rate (0.98). The view of agriculture as a low-status profession was recognized as the primary barrier encountered by agricultural students in secondary schools participating in the TVE program while pursuing agricultural education. Agriculture as a low-status profession obtained an average of 2193.6 through the Garrett ranking while ranking the primary barriers faced by TVE students. These findings underscore the importance of prioritizing local work alternatives in students' career planning as an alternative to overseas employment. In addition, the results demand the need to realign TVE programs to the demands of the labor market when developing career-related programs and activities to more effectively align with students' preferences and requirements.
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series Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences
spelling doaj-art-919ad025f87a4c4b97c16c1afd3bbe6b2025-08-20T04:01:43ZengSpringerJournal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences1658-077X2025-08-0124411410.1007/s44447-025-00042-7Multi-Criteria Decision-Making for Post-secondary Graduates of Technical and Vocational Education Stream (Plant and Animal Science): Analytical Hierarchy Process for Career PreferenceJay Chaurasia0Mahesh Jaishi1Santosh Khanal2Tej Prasad Dawadi3Balika Poudel4Vivek Ghimirey5Nobel Acharya6Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, Institute of Agriculture and Animal Sciences, Tribhuvan UniversityDepartment of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, Institute of Agriculture and Animal Sciences, Tribhuvan UniversityDepartment of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, Institute of Agriculture and Animal Sciences, Tribhuvan UniversityAgriculture Development Office, Directorate of Agriculture Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Bagamati Province GovernmentDepartment of Agronomy, Institute of Agriculture and Animal Sciences, Tribhuvan UniversityDepartment of Soil Science and Agri-Engineering, Agriculture and Forestry UniversityDepartment of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, Agriculture and Forestry UniversityAbstract Career preference of the Technical and Vocational Education (TVE) graduate in the agricultural sector has received little consideration in Nepal, even though youth unemployment and workforce migration are on the rise. Trait and factor theory was utilized as a theoretical framework to comprehend the inclination towards selecting a highly coveted vocation. A deductive study utilizing a structured survey of 332 Nepalese agricultural graduates from the TVE stream demonstrated how academic performance and economic considerations, among others, influence students' perceptions of career-related options. The study employed one of the first analytical hierarchy process (AHP) to TVE graduates in Nepal in 2024. Multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) through AHP highlighted that most respondents favored foreign employment as the top choice, with an overall priority score of 0.044 among other career alternatives. The study suggested scholarship exhibited the highest percentage (67.47%) of respondents and average response rate (0.98). The view of agriculture as a low-status profession was recognized as the primary barrier encountered by agricultural students in secondary schools participating in the TVE program while pursuing agricultural education. Agriculture as a low-status profession obtained an average of 2193.6 through the Garrett ranking while ranking the primary barriers faced by TVE students. These findings underscore the importance of prioritizing local work alternatives in students' career planning as an alternative to overseas employment. In addition, the results demand the need to realign TVE programs to the demands of the labor market when developing career-related programs and activities to more effectively align with students' preferences and requirements.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44447-025-00042-7Analytical hierarchy processForeign employmentGarrett's rankingJob selectionTechnical and vocational education
spellingShingle Jay Chaurasia
Mahesh Jaishi
Santosh Khanal
Tej Prasad Dawadi
Balika Poudel
Vivek Ghimirey
Nobel Acharya
Multi-Criteria Decision-Making for Post-secondary Graduates of Technical and Vocational Education Stream (Plant and Animal Science): Analytical Hierarchy Process for Career Preference
Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences
Analytical hierarchy process
Foreign employment
Garrett's ranking
Job selection
Technical and vocational education
title Multi-Criteria Decision-Making for Post-secondary Graduates of Technical and Vocational Education Stream (Plant and Animal Science): Analytical Hierarchy Process for Career Preference
title_full Multi-Criteria Decision-Making for Post-secondary Graduates of Technical and Vocational Education Stream (Plant and Animal Science): Analytical Hierarchy Process for Career Preference
title_fullStr Multi-Criteria Decision-Making for Post-secondary Graduates of Technical and Vocational Education Stream (Plant and Animal Science): Analytical Hierarchy Process for Career Preference
title_full_unstemmed Multi-Criteria Decision-Making for Post-secondary Graduates of Technical and Vocational Education Stream (Plant and Animal Science): Analytical Hierarchy Process for Career Preference
title_short Multi-Criteria Decision-Making for Post-secondary Graduates of Technical and Vocational Education Stream (Plant and Animal Science): Analytical Hierarchy Process for Career Preference
title_sort multi criteria decision making for post secondary graduates of technical and vocational education stream plant and animal science analytical hierarchy process for career preference
topic Analytical hierarchy process
Foreign employment
Garrett's ranking
Job selection
Technical and vocational education
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s44447-025-00042-7
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