Academic Mo+va+on on Students’ Career Aspira+ons at the Jus%ce Ins%tute of Bri%sh Columbia Jairus Korpa CAREER ASPIRATION TRENDS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT STUDIES STUDENTS AT THE JUSTICE INSTITUTE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA Introduc+on: AGENCY LEGEND: had specific career goals related to law enforcement or public safety. er th O ed U BC nd ec id PP O C /C SC O DF SI S C BS A C P M RC r ye w La SS BC VI C PD / SP D PD W SELECTED AGENCY Bri$sh Columbia (JIBC), had on a students' career aspira9ons. Of the 123-surveyed par9cipants, 98% of students enrolled at JIBC for their post-secondary educa9on N influence that a law enforcement studies educa9on, from the Jus$ce Ins$tute of 0.0% P skills required for successful careers. The purpose of this study was to explore the CSIS: Canadian Security Intelligence Service DFO: Department of Fisheries and Oceans BCC: British Columbia Corrections CSC: Correctional Service Canada PPO: Parole or Probation Officer 7.5% VT on educa9on, which supports future development and improves interpersonal VICPD: Victoria Police Dept. SPD: Saanich Police Dept. BCSS: British Columbia Sheriff Service RCMP: Royal Canadian Mounted Police CBSA: Canada Border Services Agency 15.0% M communi9es. Career choice and outcome for many professionals are dependent VPD: Vancouver Police Dept. DPD: Delta Police Dept. APD: Abbotsford Police Dept. MVTP: Metro Vancouver Transit Police NWPD; New Westminster Police Dept. AP D can have an enhanced quality of life for themselves, their families, and their DP D it directly affects each person's future. With a post-secondary educa9on, students 22.5% VP D Educa9on is one of the most important resources available to Canadians because STUDENT SAMPLE (LESD/BLES) 30.0% Career Aspirations Prior to JIBC Exposure Career Aspirations After JIBC Exposure choice within 6 months of their respec9ve program comple9on. As a result, the primary research supported that 93% of the student par9cipants agreed that their Background: educa9on at JIBC introduced them to new career opportuni9es. A post-secondary educa9on has become the norm in pursuit of a professional Discussion: career. Career goals may be influenced by a variety of mo9va9ons, both intrinsic and extrinsic. Such mo9va9ons support the perspec9ve that psychosocial factors Most career aspira9ons start with sejng a goal, which some students have had also influence career goals and aspira9ons. In many western countries (G7) such since childhood, while others had set goals in their adult years. Students who as Canada, a post-secondary educa9on supports professional career development made efficient use of their educa9onal experiences were more likely to seek out and success. According to Weingarten, Hicks, Jonker, Smith, and Arnold (2015), the various career opportuni9es available to them. A primary goal for most post- “Educa9onal ins9tu9ons may be the most important public ins9tu9ons in Canada secondary ins9tu9ons is to teach students to think cri9cally while searching for to ensure a vibrant and robust quality of life and economy” (p. iii). Extrinsic credibility and validity. Historically, the media has glamourized law enforcement mo9va9ons contribute to the high enrolment amongst students, post high-school professions, where policing appears to be exci9ng and adventurous. However, as gradua9on. However, academic research suggested differing perspec9ves as to many experienced police officers have expressed, the reality can be very different. why individual’s seek certain career paths. The literature reviewed suggested 3common influencers: 1) psychological and social mo9vators; 2) subject maaer and educa9on; and 3) the glamourized influence through entertainment and media. Therefore, a post-secondary educa9on taught by educated and experienced professionals may help clarify the myths presented in the media, such as in television and movies. The correla9on between higher educa9on and a successful Methods: career had emerged from both the qualita9ve and quan9ta9ve findings. This study was based on a mixed methods approach, where collected quan9ta9ve Conclusion/Recommenda+ons: data supported one of the researched common influencers on career aspira9ons, specifically subject maaer and educa9on. Anonymous quan9ta9ve data was The findings indicated that a mo9va9on to work through the challenges of collected from 7 cohorts who were currently enrolled in both JIBC’s Law achieving one’s career goals may be intrinsic, extrinsic, or a combina9on of both. Enforcement Studies Diploma (LESD) and Bachelor of Law Enforcement Studies Ascencio (2018) suggested, in order to organize and sustain the behaviour and (BLES) programs. The data retrieved was collected using a group-administered ac9ons that lead to a successful outcome, it is essen9al to set goals. A law ques9onnaire which consisted of 8 ques9ons. The mul9ple-choice styled enforcement educa9on is specialized to prepare students for a professional career ques9ons ranged from what program the student was currently enrolled in, what in policing and public safety. Unlike general studies, where it is rela9vely easy to career goals the student had prior to their educa9on at JIBC, and what career change majors, a law enforcement educa9on is specific towards a specialized goals the student had ader their exposure to a JIBC law enforcement studies profession. Indecision can create unnecessary anxiety and challenges if the educa9on. The purpose for collec9ng quan9ta9ve data was to provide insight into student wants to change their focus. It is encouraged that families and students whether a law enforcement educa9on at JIBC influenced a change in career goals. research prospec9ve careers before they enrol, as misinforma9on of the criminal The qualita9ve por9on of this study explored exis9ng academic studies as to why career goals and aspira9ons change over 9me. jus9ce system is prevalent. Future research into mo9va9ons towards specialized careers may be explored at post-secondary ins9tu9ons that offer specialized studies. This study focused specifically on a small sample of law enforcement Results/Findings: studies students at JIBC. Future research may be expanded with addi9onal The quan9ta9ve research determined that 66% of the (123) student par9cipants specialized studies, such as within the School of Public Safety and the School of had changed their career goals, following exposure to their law enforcement Health, Community, and Social Jus$ce at the Jus$ce Ins$tute of Bri$sh Columbia. studies at JIBC. The top 3 agencies students selected included: Vancouver Police Department, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and Canada Border Services References: Agency (CBSA). The most drama9c change in career choice amongst students was Ascencio, J. (2018). Offenders, work, and rehabilita9on: Hor9cultural therapy as a social cogni9ve career a 3.6% decline towards future careers with CBSA and the RCMP. The two most theory interven9on for offenders. Journal of Therapeu$c Hor$culture, 28(1), 21-28. Retrieved from https://www.ahta.org/the-journal-of-therapeutic-horticulture notable increases students selected was for Metro Vancouver Transit Police (MVTP) and the Undecided category, which both increased by 2.6%. Totals further indicated that 57% of the students surveyed would be applying to their agency of choice Bachelor of Law Enforcement Studies Rossiter, S., Budgen, M., & Grescoe, P. (2008). Safe and sound: The story of the Jus$ce Ins$tute of Bri tish Columbia. Altona, MB: Tribute Books Inc. Weingarten, H., Hicks, M., Jonker, L., Smith, C., & Arnold, H. (2015). Canadian postsecondary performance: Impact 2015. Retrieved http://www.heqco.ca/SiteCollectionDocuments/ HEQCO_Canadian_Postsecondary_Performance_Impact2015.pdf Jus9ce Ins9tute of Bri9sh Columbia April 2019