Abstract:

Although graduates from high-level comprehensive universities are increasingly entering the teaching profession, their career adaptation still faces many challenges, and relevant research remains insufficient. Using both questionnaires and interviews, this study finds that novice teachers graduating from high-level comprehensive universities generally show a relatively good level of career adaptation, but significant differences exist among different groups. Graduates from normal universities demonstrate better career adaptation than non-normal graduates from high-level comprehensive universities. Moreover, novice teachers from higher-level universities and with higher academic degrees tend to show weaker adaptation. Novice teachers graduating from high-level comprehensive universities have clear advantages, such as strong career commitment, rich disciplinary knowledge, and strong learning ability, but they are insufficiently prepared for teaching, particularly in knowledge of students, pedagogical knowledge, educational knowledge, and practical teaching experience. To promote their career adaptation, the government should strengthen the teacher education system and improve teacher preparation in high-level comprehensive universities; employing schools should create a supportive environment for novice teachers’ career adaptation; and novice teachers should enhance their awareness and ability to become reflective practitioners and inquirers.

Key words: high-level comprehensive universities, novice teachers, career adaptation, National Excellence Program