Empowering Gen Z international students

The serial mediating role of psychological resources in linking university support to perceived employability

Authors

  • Sha Xu Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
  • Azlin Norhaini Mansor Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
  • Salleh Amat Universiti Kebangsaan, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/cqhyrc70

Keywords:

University Support; Perceived Employability; Generation Z; International Students; Quality Education

Abstract

This study investigates how host-university support influences the perceived employability of Generation Z Chinese international students in Malaysia. Navigating a dual labor-market paradox—host-country mobility restrictions and home-country hyper-competition—these students require robust cross-cultural adaptation. Grounded in Social Cognitive Career Theory, we examined the serial mediating roles of career decision self-efficacy and career adaptability. Data from 412 final year undergraduates were analyzed using CB-SEM. Results reveal that university support significantly predicts perceived employability directly and indirectly through individual and serial mediation, explaining 43.3% of the variance. Theoretically, institutional support acts as a vital acculturative buffer internalized via a cognitive-to-adaptive sequence, establishing cognitive confidence as a prerequisite for adaptive resource mobilization. Practically, this study advocates a "confidence-first, adaptability-second" intervention strategy to help international graduates overcome systemic barriers and enhance global competitiveness.

Author Biographies

  • Sha Xu, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

    Sha Xu is a Ph.D. candidate in her 3rd year at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). She is studying educational management. She is passionate about enhancing the academic development, career readiness, and employability of international students. Her research interests and practical focus lie in higher education studies, university support strategies, and initiatives to improve the academic performance and employability of international students. 

  • Azlin Norhaini Mansor , Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

    Azlin Norhaini Mansor received her Ph.D. in Educational Administration from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Master of Education and Bachelor of Science (Biology) from New York State University at Albany, New York, USA. She was a teacher (1987-1997), an assistant director at the Educational Planning and Research Division, Ministry of Education Malaysia (1997-2010), and a senior lecturer at the Matriculation Division, Ministry of Education (2010--2012), before being appointed as a senior lecturer in UKM in 2012. She is currently an Associate Professor and a member of the Centre for Shaping Advanced and Professional Education. Her publications and research interests include educational leadership, educational management, policy evaluation, and various fields involving teaching and learning. She can be contacted at email: azlinmansor@ukm.edu.my

  • Salleh Amat, Universiti Kebangsaan, Malaysia

    Salleh Amat, an associate professor in counseling at the School of Education, Universiti Kebangsaan, Malaysia, is a respected counselor educator. He received his Bachelor of education and Master of Education degree in counseling from University Putra Malaysia and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, respectively. He pursues his Ph. D. in counseling supervision from the University of Wyoming, USA, in 2006. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Salleh has been a licensed and registered counsellor in Malaysia and has also been a member of the Malaysian Board of Counselor since 2013. At this time, he is the director of the Career Advancement Centre (UKM-Karier), which assists students in improving their job search skills, identifying and working toward career goals, and increasing networking skills among students at this university. He can be contacted at email: sallehba@ukm.edu.my

     

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Published

2026-07-05

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Vol. 16 No. 16 (2026): Journal of International Students

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Research Articles (English, regular edition)

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Copyright (c) 2026 Sha Xu, Azlin Norhaini Mansor , Salleh Amat

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How to Cite

Xu, S., Mansor , A. N. ., & Amat, S. . (2026). Empowering Gen Z international students: The serial mediating role of psychological resources in linking university support to perceived employability. Journal of International Students, 16(16), 141-164. https://doi.org/10.32674/cqhyrc70