CAREER GUIDANCE ACTIVITIES OF A UNIVERSITY AS A TOOL FOR MANAGING AN INDIVIDUAL EDUCATIONAL TRAJECTORY

Krekova M. M., Huseynzade N. A.

The article examines the career guidance activities of a university as one of the key tools for managing a student’s individual educational trajectory. The relevance of this study is stems from the increasing complexity of a professional choice in the context of a dynamic labor market, the expanding range of educational programs, and the growing need for the conscious design of one’s professional future. The paper argues that career guidance in modern higher education should be understood not as a one-time support mechanism provided to applicants at the stage of admission, but as a continuous process involving the early identification of professional interests, support in choosing a field of study, adjustment of the educational pathway during the period of study, and preparation for entering the labor market. It is demonstrated that career guidance activities help to reduce professional uncertainty, strengthen academic motivation, increase the stability of professional choice, and align educational decisions with the demands of the economy. It is concluded that the university acts not only as an institution responsible for student recruitment, but also as a coordinator of professional self-determination, ensuring the integrity and sustainability of a student’s educational trajectory.

Keywords:career guidance, higher education, individual educational trajectory, professional self-determination, professional choice, university, labor market.