Institutional Support Services for Career Transitioning of Students With Hearing Impairments: A Mixed-Methods Study

Abstract

This study investigated the perceptions of institutional support services for career transitioning (CT) of undergraduate students with hearing impairments (HI) in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The research aims to analyze the perceptions of students and explore employers' perceptions of institutional support services. The study employed a mixed-methods design by gathering data with a questionnaire and a semi-structured interview. Purposive and convenience sampling methods were used to select 46 students with HI and 7 private sector employers. Findings revealed no significant difference in the perceptions of male and female students regarding institutional support services. The results highlight both strengths and areas for improvement of institutional support services, including the need for increased training on communication skills, professional readiness, self-advocacy, interpersonal skills, technical proficiency, and specialized work strategies. The findings underscore the need for effective institutional support services in facilitating successful CT of students with HI.