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An Empirical Study on Factors Influencing Business Students’ Choice of Specialization with Reference to Nizwa College of Technology, Oman

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  • Essam Hussain Al-Lawati
  • Renjith Kumar. R
  • Radhakrishnan Subramaniam

Abstract

The academic specialization chosen by students is of crucial importance for their future career and therefore they should have access to appropriate information and guidance that would help facilitate a more optimal decision. This study aims to identify the variables that influence business students to choose their specialization. A sample of 163 business students from Nizwa College of Technology, Sultanate of Oman, is selected for the study. Factor analysis and multiple regression analysis are used for analysis. The most important variable that influences the students’ choice of specialization is the variable ‘Liking and preference of specialization’ (X2) with the highest mean. The factor analysis analysis output reveals the five sub-scales that influence students’ choice of specialization; Preference and dissonance post choice, Self and Peer influence, Nature of marketing specialization, Gender and specialization choice, Convenience and career. College orientation on specialisation (X5) is a significant factor that influences the students to advice their juniors to make the first choice of specialisation viz. HRM (63%), Accounting (32%) and Marketing (5%).

Suggested Citation

  • Essam Hussain Al-Lawati & Renjith Kumar. R & Radhakrishnan Subramaniam, 2017. "An Empirical Study on Factors Influencing Business Students’ Choice of Specialization with Reference to Nizwa College of Technology, Oman," International Business Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 10(9), pages 177-187, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:ibn:ibrjnl:v:10:y:2017:i:9:p:177-187
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Paglin, Morton & Rufolo, Anthony M, 1990. "Heterogeneous Human Capital, Occupational Choice, and Male-Female Earnings Differences," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 8(1), pages 123-144, January.
    2. Basit Zafar, 2013. "College Major Choice and the Gender Gap," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 48(3), pages 545-595.
    3. Pouliakas, Konstantinos & Livanos, Ilias, 2008. "The Gender Wage Gap as a Function of Educational Degree Choices in Greece," MPRA Paper 14168, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 19 Mar 2009.
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    Cited by:

    1. Tahmina Sultana & Muhammad Kawsar Mahmud, 2020. "Exploring the influential stimulators of career choice: an empirical assessment by exploratory factor analysis," Asian Journal of Empirical Research, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 10(5), pages 137-149, May.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    preference and dissonance post choice; self and peer influence; nature of the specialization; gender and specialization choice; convenience and career;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R00 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General - - - General
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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