Scholarlink

The COVID-19COVID-19 outbreak significantly disrupted graduate education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields, particularly affecting in-person laboratory research and mentoringMentoring interactions. MentoringMentoring support plays a vital role in preparing STEM graduateSTEM graduate education students for future careers. Since the early 2000s, STEM programs have increasingly promoted the use of Individual Development Plans (IDPs)Individual Development Plan (IDP) to formalize mentorship and support students’ academic and career developmentCareer development. The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 reinforces this approach by advocating IDPs as essential tools to support professional development among STEM graduate students. However, the effectiveness of IDPs in enhancing mentoringMentoring and career outcomes during crises such as the COVID-19COVID-19 pandemic remains unclear. This study offers insights into the role of IDPs during the pandemic by examining their relationship with mentoringMentoring support and career confidence with a nationwide sample of STEM graduate students. The findings reveal that while IDPsIndividual Development Plan (IDP) effectively promote mentor–mentee interactions and instrumental support, thereby benefiting career outcomes, they fall short in providing psychosocial support—a critical component of mentoringMentoring that fosters career confidence. Given the importance of psychosocial support in mentoringMentoring, this study underscores a more holistic approach to IDP design and mentoringMentoring practices, particularly during challenging periods.

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Career Confidence During the COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis: The Role of Individual Development Plans and Mentoring Support Among STEM Graduate Students

  • 章节

  • 发表日期：

    2026年

查看全文
  • Chi-Ning Chang,
  • Guan Saw,
  • Cammie Justus-Smith,
  • John Hui,
  • Ryan Culbertson

摘要

The COVID-19COVID-19 outbreak significantly disrupted graduate education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields, particularly affecting in-person laboratory research and mentoringMentoring interactions. MentoringMentoring support plays a vital role in preparing STEM graduateSTEM graduate education students for future careers. Since the early 2000s, STEM programs have increasingly promoted the use of Individual Development Plans (IDPs)Individual Development Plan (IDP) to formalize mentorship and support students’ academic and career developmentCareer development. The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 reinforces this approach by advocating IDPs as essential tools to support professional development among STEM graduate students. However, the effectiveness of IDPs in enhancing mentoringMentoring and career outcomes during crises such as the COVID-19COVID-19 pandemic remains unclear. This study offers insights into the role of IDPs during the pandemic by examining their relationship with mentoringMentoring support and career confidence with a nationwide sample of STEM graduate students. The findings reveal that while IDPsIndividual Development Plan (IDP) effectively promote mentor–mentee interactions and instrumental support, thereby benefiting career outcomes, they fall short in providing psychosocial support—a critical component of mentoringMentoring that fosters career confidence. Given the importance of psychosocial support in mentoringMentoring, this study underscores a more holistic approach to IDP design and mentoringMentoring practices, particularly during challenging periods.