Identifying and Enhancing Motivating Factors for Students in Collegiate Aviation

Abstract

This study was designed to explore the motivating factors for students currently enrolled in Collegiate Aviation Programs. The interest in investigating the pre-college experiences of aviation majors is to improve the field's understanding of the factors associated with major selection and guide future interventions to ensure all youth have the opportunity to pursue high-paying, in-demand aviation occupations. Prior studies looked at ways to recruit individuals into aerospace careers, and studied barriers to entry, but none previous to the initiation of this study looked at what pushed an individual past these barriers. Understanding what made these individuals choose their path will better assist the industry to entice the next generation of professionals to follow in their footsteps.