This article is a quantitative research analysis that aims to compare the career orientations of Swedish and Chinese undergraduates involved in an International Social Work Program as an effort to provide insight for social work educators.  Use of the Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) was applied to analyze the data.  A mail questionnaire was issued to 51 students studying at the University of Gävle (Sweden).

The results show that fifty percent of Swedish students and fifty percent Chinese students would prefer to work in the government and/or public sector.  Also,  the study participants  agree that they will be influenced by career development opportunities in future work, and that the most substantial difference between the nationalities is that Chinese students tend to be more influenced by the social expectations of immediate parents, relatives, and friends, than their Swedish counterparts.  Finally, this article lists a few recommendations geared towards helping social work educators provide more relevant links between the school’s curriculum and anticipated job requirements, and bridging more opportunities for student internship positions.