A Narrative Inquiry into the Career Development Process of Graduate Students Participating in the BK21 Program

This study aimed to explore the career development experiences of graduate students participating in the BK21 program and to examine the impact of BK21 participation on their professional growth. Previous studies have primarily focused on quantitative approaches to examine the outcomes of BK21; therefore, this study adopted a qualitative approach to explore the individual career experiences and meanings of graduate students. In-depth interviews were conducted with four BK21-affiliated graduate students, and the data were analyzed using the narrative inquiry method. The participants’ narratives were categorized into three phases: career development before entering graduate school, career development during graduate studies, and the influence of BK21 participation on their career trajectories. Through an analysis of these narratives, four key themes emerged: (1) developing a career path through experiences and interactions with others, (2) engaging in self-directed and active academic immersion, (3) broadening perspectives and enhancing international competencies through global experiences, and (4) establishing a well-suited career trajectory based on graduate school experiences. The findings offer an in-depth understanding of the career development process of BK21-affiliated graduate students and provide personal, practical, and social justifications with the framework of narrative exploration. Recommendations for career education tailored to graduate students were discussed, along with an evaluation of the study’s significance and suggestions for future research.