Margeviča-Grinberga Ieva, Kalēja Aija
Faculty of Education Sciences and Psychology, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia.
Front Sociol. 2025 Aug 26;10:1524922. doi: 10.3389/fsoc.2025.1524922. eCollection 2025.
This study explores the impact of a job shadowing non-formal education program, integrated with social and emotional learning (SEL), on adult professional development and career planning. The program engaged adults from diverse professional backgrounds, providing them with structured opportunities to observe and interact with experienced professionals in real workplace environments. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining self-assessment questionnaires, interviews, and reflective journals to capture both quantitative and qualitative dimensions of participant experience. Findings indicate that participation in SEL-based job shadowing fosters the development of professional identity, emotional intelligence, and adaptability among adult learners. Participants reported increased self-confidence, enhanced workplace communication, and greater clarity in career direction. The program also supported the acquisition of practical skills and encouraged ongoing professional learning, with many participants expressing motivation to pursue further education or training. The results highlight the value of integrating SEL principles into job shadowing as a non-formal education programme, demonstrating its effectiveness in supporting career transitions, lifelong learning, and workforce readiness in a rapidly changing labor market. These insights underscore the importance of designing job shadowing as a non-formal education programme that not only addresses skill development but also promotes emotional and social competencies essential for sustainable professional growth. This study contributes to the theoretical understanding of how experiential, SEL-driven job shadowing can facilitate holistic adult development and provides practical recommendations for educators, policymakers, and employers seeking to enhance the relevance and impact of non-formal learning programs for adults.
本研究探讨了一项与社会情感学习（SEL）相结合的职业见习非正规教育项目对成人职业发展和职业规划的影响。该项目吸引了来自不同专业背景的成年人，为他们提供了在实际工作环境中观察并与经验丰富的专业人员互动的结构化机会。研究采用了混合方法，结合自我评估问卷、访谈和反思日志，以获取参与者体验的定量和定性维度。研究结果表明，参与基于SEL的职业见习促进了成人学习者职业身份、情商和适应能力的发展。参与者报告称自信心增强、职场沟通能力提高，职业方向更加清晰。该项目还支持实用技能的获得，并鼓励持续的专业学习，许多参与者表示有动力继续深造或接受培训。研究结果凸显了将SEL原则融入职业见习这一非正规教育项目的价值，证明了其在快速变化的劳动力市场中支持职业转型、终身学习和劳动力准备方面的有效性。这些见解强调了将职业见习设计为一种非正规教育项目的重要性，这种项目不仅要关注技能发展，还要促进对可持续职业成长至关重要的情感和社交能力。本研究有助于从理论上理解体验式、由SEL驱动的职业见习如何促进成人的全面发展，并为寻求提高成人非正规学习项目的相关性和影响力的教育工作者、政策制定者和雇主提供了实用建议。
