TIAN YAN, MOHAMAD NIZAM NAZARUDIN, XIE PEI, GUO YANG
DOI: https://doi.org/In an increasingly competitive and uncertain global job market, sustainable career planning has become critical, especially for student-athletes who must balance academic and athletic commitments. This study investigates the impact of higher education programs, specifically their management structures and support systems, on the career readiness of university student-athletes in Henan Province, China. A quantitative research design was employed using a structured questionnaire administered to 382 student-athletes across six public universities. Key dimensions included institutional support, academic flexibility, career counselling services, and the integration of athletic and academic departments. Data were analysed using SPSS v29, employing descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression. The findings reveal a statistically significant relationship between perceived institutional support and student-athletes’ career readiness (r = .672, p < .01). Multiple regression analysis showed that academic flexibility (β = .415, p < .001) and career counselling availability (β = .371, p < .001) were strong predictors of career readiness, accounting for 49.6% of the total variance (R² = .496, F(4,377) = 92.51, p < .001). Notably, 63% of respondents reported inadequate coordination between academic and athletic units, while 58% felt unprepared for career transitions post-graduation. The results underscore the critical role of strategic management in higher education to ensure career sustainability for this vulnerable population. This study contributes to both the education management and sports policy literature by positioning career readiness as a key component of sustainability in university governance. Recommendations include developing integrated dual-career pathways, enhancing cross-department collaboration, and embedding career guidance into the athletic experience. Future research should consider longitudinal tracking of career trajectories and extend the model to other provinces to assess national policy implications
