Relationship between Religious Commitment and Career Decision Making Among International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Students

Abstract

This study is an exploration of the relationship between religious commitment and career decision making among students at the International Islamic University Malaysia. The sample of this study consisted of two hundred and thirty students. The major hypotheses of the study were that (a) the degree of religious commitment among students in IIUM is high, (b) the students are highly confident in their career decisions; (c) there is a positive correlation between confidence in career decisions and religious commitment. The instruments used were Career Decision Scale (CDS) and Religious Commitment Inventory (RCI). The results found that students of IIUM have a high level of religious commitment and a moderate level of confidence in career decision-making. Multivariate Analysis of Variance showed a significant difference between local and

Abstrak

Kajian ini adalah satu ekplorasi tentang hubungan antara komitmen agama dan pertimbangan pemilihan kerjaya dalam kalangan 230 orang mahasiswa di Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM). Hipotesis utama adalah (a) darjah komitmen agama mahasiswa UIAM adalah tinggi; (b) mahasiswa mempunyai keyakinan yang tinggi dalam pertimbangan kerjaya mereka; (c) terdapat korelasi positif antara keyakinan dalam pertimbangan kerjaya dan komitmen agama.  Instrumen yang digunakan adalah Skala Pertimbangan Kerjaya (CDS) dan Inventori Komitmen Agama (RCI).  Hasil kajian mendapati bahawa mahasiswa UIAM mempunyai komitmen agama bertahap tinggi dan keyakinan dalam membuat pertimbangan pemilihan kerjaya yang sederhana.  Analisis Varian Multivariat menunjukkan perbezaan yang signifikan antara mahasiswa tempatan dan antarabangsa di mana mahasiswa antarabangsa lebih tinggi keyakinan dalam membuat pertimbangan kerjaya. Analisis korelasi statistiks tidak menunjukkan korelasi yang signifikan antara CDS dan RCI seperti yang dijangka oleh hipotesis. Bagaimanapun, hasil kajian menunjukkan hubungan yang signifikan dan positif antara subskala “kepastian kerjaya” dan komitmen agama.  Dapatan ini mempunyai implikasi yang penting bagi kaunselor kerjaya, sebab ia menunjukkan kepentingan komitmen agama dalam kaunseling kerjaya.

International students with international students having more confidence in career decision-making. Using statistical analysis of correlation, results did not show any significant relationship between CDS and RCI as was predicted by the hypothesis. However, the results showed a significant, positive relationship between the ‘career certainty’ subscale and religious commitment. These findings have important implications for career counsellors, as they show the importance of religious commitment in career counseling.