Chinese vocational college students pursuing a baccalaureate: academic motivation and career adaptability.

Introduction: The present study aimed to explore how academic motivation (AM) and career adaptability (CA) affect baccalaureate attainment among Chinese higher vocational students. Methods: An explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach was applied to the research design. A sample of 1,563 participants was surveyed with a questionnaire, and in-depth interviews were conducted with 33 participants. Results: The results indicated that more than half of the participants (59.2%) decided to apply for a baccalaureate, whereas the rest decided to work (23.5%) or remained undecided (17.3%). The main findings are as follows: female students, Grade Point Average (GPA) at an average level, and students from low-income families intended to apply for a baccalaureate. Quantitative analyses revealed that extrinsic motivation was the primary predictor of baccalaureate intention, while the concern dimension of career adaptability showed a significant but negative association with this choice. Extrinsic-oriented utility motivation exceeds intrinsic motivation as the main source of academic transfer. Remedial support is essential for students to pass the transfer examination. Discussion: These results have important policy implications for Chinese universities receiving transfers from higher vocational colleges regarding student retention and academic success.