Grasp Your Field! : First-Year Business Students’ Engagement with the Study Environment and Their Own Academic Field

Abstract

This study focuses on first-year business students’ transition into their study community and working life. It seeks to analyze and understand students’ first-term experience by examining the self-determination theory and career orientation literature. The data consist of 84 reflective student papers wri!en at the beginning and the end of the semester. Qualitative content analysis of the papers was conducted with ATLAS.ti. The results demonstrated the importance of a supportive study community for a successful transition and highlighted the need to strengthen first-year students’ academic study skills. Older students and alumni’s career experiences proved to be central in building a career orientation towards becoming a business professional. The study demonstrates the usefulness of self-determination theory in understanding students’ first-year experience and the elements that significantly contribute to their engagement. Practically, it of fers inspiration and tools for developing pedagogically motivated first-year studies.