Structural conditions, sociocultural and motivational factors in youth vocational guidance: case study in Zipaquirá (Cundinamarca, Colombia)

Abstract

Previous research has shown that youth vocational guidance has been approached in a fragmented manner, analyzing structural, sociocultural, and motivational factors separately. The novelty of this study lies in its integration of these dimensions into a coherent analysis, aiming to understand how they influence the vocational decisions of young people in Zipaquirá (Cundinamarca, Colombia). This was achieved through a mixed-methods approach that combined the analysis of official data and dialogue sessions at the municipal level with Likert-type surveys and focus groups at the Cundinamarca Municipal Educational Institution (IEM Cundinamarca). The results demonstrate that, although the municipality has improved its rates of immediate transition and coverage in higher education, more than 50% of young people do not access this level, primarily due to economic limitations, a scarcity of local academic offerings, and a lack of information about financial aid. At the sociocultural level, family and teachers exert significant influence, while at the motivational level, personal interests and intrinsic satisfaction predominate over social prestige, although economic stability remains a relevant factor. It is concluded that youth vocational guidance is a complex process traversed by structural and subjective tensions, and that the integration of these dimensions allows for a more complete understanding of the phenomenon, highlighting the need to strengthen educational policies with a territorial and comprehensive approach to expand opportunities for youth training and social mobility in Zipaquirá.