Vocational Education Research Articles

Malaysian youth’s propensity towards ambidextrous learning: an in-depth analysis of behavioural insights dimensions

The aim of this experimental study was to compare the results before and after an intervention that included ambidextrous training to accelerate the enrolment of adolescents in technical, vocational, and educational training (TVET). In particular, the effects of an ambidextrous learning-based training programme on increasing the intention to enter TVET were examined. The independent variables constructed in this study include self-efficacy and TVET knowledge, while the dependent variable is TVET intention. The sample consisted of 480 16-year-old students from government schools in four Malaysian regions selected by cluster sampling. The study used a randomised experimental design with a no-treatment control group. The intervention included training developed as part of Behavioural Insights. Methods of analysis included descriptive and bivariate analysis of mean differences and structural equation modelling to describe the predictive model. The results showed significant differences between the actual and the control groups in terms of post-test results across all factors, including TVET intention, TVET knowledge, and self-efficacy. The structural equation modelling test found that TVET knowledge emerged as the strongest predictor of TVET intention, surpassing self-efficacy. As knowledge about TVET is the most important factor influencing a person’s intention to choose TVET, these initiatives should provide clear and comprehensive explanations of the concepts of TVET, the different TVET clusters available, and the potential career opportunities within these sectors.

Exploring the concepts of consumer feedback systems for occupational therapy student learning during practice placements: A scoping review.

Consumer contribution to occupational therapy student learning is mandated for Australian educational programs. However, there is limited research about how consumers contribute to student learning during practice placements. A scoping review was completed to explore the concepts of existing feedback systems for consumers to authentically contribute to student learning during practice placements. Five databases were searched for all articles up to and including July 2023. All publications were included if they described and investigated authentic contribution to student learning during a practice placement experience. Data from the results and discussion sections of the papers were transformed into qualitative data and thematically analysed to develop a conceptual understanding of consumer feedback systems. Forty-six papers met the eligibility criteria. Most articles originated from Medicine (30%) and Nursing (45%) education. Feedback systems were primarily designed to critique student communication and professional behaviours using a variety of standardised and non-standardised methods. Five interconnected themes were created that addressed the concepts of consumer feedback systems. The themes were (1) creating value specific for each stakeholder is essential, (2) preparation is required and nuanced; (3) consumers do engage and provide critical feedback when the system is supportive of all stakeholders; (4) gathering approaches need to be responsive to the diversity of practice and learning; (5) processing feedback with a trusted mentor is critical for learning. Consumers, academics, practice educators, and students recognised that consumers have an important role in contributing to student learning during practice placements. Future consumer feedback systems need to be co-produced to create an optimal mode for consumers to authentically contribute to student learning constructively and safely. A consumer consultant was a member of the advisory panel for the larger research project that this review is part of and provided advice to the research team at all stages of the project. In Australia, occupational therapy training programs require input from consumers to help students learn. However, there is not much research on how consumers help occupational therapy students during their practical training. We did a review to see how existing feedback systems let consumers genuinely help students during their training. We searched five databases for research up to July 2023. We included research that talked about how consumers help all health students learn during practical training. We found 46 articles, mostly from Medicine and Nursing education. We analysed them to understand how consumer feedback systems work and found five main themes: (1) making sure everyone involved gets value out of it, (2) being prepared is important, (3) consumers give useful feedback when the system supports everyone involved, (4) different approaches are needed because practices and learning vary, and (5) discussing feedback with other people helps students learn. Current feedback systems mostly focused on how students communicate and behave professionally. Consumers, educators, and students all agree that consumers play a vital role in helping students learn during practical training. In the future, we need to work together to make feedback systems that let consumers help students in the best way possible, making sure it is constructive and safe for everyone.

Job training in polarizing job markets: A longitudinal analysis using administrative microdata

Job training in polarizing job markets: A longitudinal analysis using administrative microdata

Mentoring Fellows into Career Educators through a Multispecialty Clinician-Educator Course

Mentoring Fellows into Career Educators through a Multispecialty Clinician-Educator Course

The discourse on technological literacy: exploring visual representations enabled by the visual cultures of four Swedish vocational education and training programmes

In today’s rapidly changing world, technology has profoundly impacted our daily lives, making it increasingly difficult to predict what skills will be necessary for the future. To address this challenge, 21st-century skills have been proposed as a framework for shaping future education, in which one of the skills is technological literacy. How the latter is understood, positioned, and approached is influenced by discourses produced within and among various societal practices, such as the educational system. This article provides a glimpse of the discourse on technological literacy by exploring how “technological literacy” is portrayed within the visual cultures of four Swedish upper secondary VET programs. Our results indicate that the portrayals of becoming technologically literate for VET students vary among the programmes. However, they all emphasise practical and hands-on activities, where students can be seen engaging with various tools, equipment, and objects relevant to each programme’s field of study. Teamwork and peer-to-peer learning are also portrayed as central to these programmes, simultaneously as leadership roles and the distribution of responsibilities among students are commonly featured. While the programmes’ visual portrayals reflect diversity in ethnicity and gender, traditional gender roles are still (re)produced in the pictorials.

Gen Z chooses trade schools over traditional colleges

Over the past several months, there has been a lot in the news about students from Generation Z (1997–2012) choosing to attend “trade” schools over more traditional colleges. Those of us who work in the trade schools don’t call them that. The Technical College System of Georgia is, I suppose, what others might call trade schools. The colleges in the system offer such programs as welding, automotive maintenance and repair, plumbing, construction, industrial systems maintenance, electrical lineman, aviation maintenance, among many others.

‘Where you put your attention, where is your heart’: understanding rural teachers’ perceptions and choices of retention in China

ABSTRACT The retention of qualified teachers in rural schools remains a global challenge. The Chinese government has made considerable efforts in tackling the issue. However, how the policies are put into practice and impact teacher retention choices remains unclear. In order to investigate individual teachers’ perceptions and choices of retention in rural China, interviews were conducted with 15 teachers from Gansu Province. This study reports on policy enactment and implementation from teachers’ perspectives and how teachers agentically achieved self-conciliation in making their decisions to remain in their posts and manage their career objectives. The findings suggest that though retention policies aim to provide a supportive environment for teachers, most teachers are not satisfied with the available resources, and they suffer from a lack of freedom to engage in professional development activities. However, it is also noted that teachers are agentic in shifting their personally valued functioning and goals to make self-conciliation in retaining their teaching career. The findings imply that the implementation of retention policy should be strengthened, and professional freedom should be taken into account to improve teacher retention.

“I want kids to have the same feeling as I do towards physical activity”: Acculturation of British preservice physical education teachers

The purpose of this study was to describe the acculturation of six British physical education (PE) preservice teachers (PSTs). The research questions we sought to answer were: (a) What were the PSTs’ values, beliefs, and perspectives regarding PE? and (b) What factors shaped the PSTs’ values, beliefs, and perspectives during their acculturation? We collected data with three types of formal interviewing and employed standard interpretive techniques to reduce the data to themes. Key findings were that the PSTs aspired to a career teaching secondary PE, possessed a balanced orientation to teaching curricular PE and coaching extracurricular sport, and espoused a mostly traditional multi-activity curriculum that was dominated by sport. The main attractors to a career in PE were the opportunity to maintain a connection with sport and working with youth. The key shaper of the PSTs’ perspectives was their apprenticeships of observation. These findings should aid sport pedagogy faculty in their efforts to produce stronger initial teacher education programs.

Gendered Impact of Contextual Shocks Increasing Vulnerability of Female Youth and the Role of Technical and Vocational Education and Training and Life Skills Interventions in Resilience Building: A Case of Mwenezi and Chiredzi

Gendered Impact of Contextual Shocks Increasing Vulnerability of Female Youth and the Role of Technical and Vocational Education and Training and Life Skills Interventions in Resilience Building: A Case of Mwenezi and Chiredzi

Phraseological picture of the world of students in the system of secondary vocational education: cognitive research

Phraseological picture of the world of students in the system of secondary vocational education: cognitive research

Nursing students’ work readiness and its influencing factors before participating in a nurse residency program: a multicenter cross-sectional study

BackgroundStudies have shown that work readiness is closely related to nurses’ role adaptation, career development, and patient safety. However, we know little about the nursing students’ work readiness and its influencing factors before participating in a nurse residency program, and whether factors have changed from before.Aim(1) To investigate the work readiness of nursing students ready to engage in a nurse residency program; (2) to identify the factors affecting the nursing students’ work readiness and the associations between emotional intelligence and work readiness; and (3) to discuss the changes of factors affecting nursing students’ work readiness.DesignAn online, multicenter cross-sectional study.Methods878 nursing students from eight tertiary hospitals in Chongqing, China were recruited. The online investigation used the General Information Questionnaire, the Nursing Students’ Work Readiness Scale, and the Emotional Intelligence scale. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS V23.0.Results768 valid questionnaires were included in this study. The nurses obtained a work readiness score of 277.08 ± 44.39 and an emotional intelligence score of 89.57 ± 13.89. Univariate analysis revealed that the following factors affected work readiness: age, sex, family support for becoming a nurse, voluntary choice of nursing major, previous experience as a student cadre, scholarship recipient status, willingness to engage in nursing work during the COVID-19 pandemic and confidence in clinical nursing practice. Frequent incidents of violence, poor salary for nurses for the nurse residency program, and low social acceptance were the top three reasons for decreased confidence in clinical nursing among nursing students. Furthermore, multiple linear regression analysis indicated that age, voluntary choice of nursing major, student leadership experience, confidence in clinical nursing work, self-emotion, and emotional application significantly influenced nurses’ work readiness.ConclusionClinical instructors and administrators should dynamically assess nurses’ work readiness, prioritize individuals aged ≤23, who have chosen the nursing profession involuntarily, lack prior experience as student cadres, and exhibit low confidence in clinical nursing work. This focus will enhance their emotional self-management skills and ability to apply emotions effectively, improving their work readiness and training efficacy.

Enhancing the Performance of Vocational Education in the Digital Economy with the Application of Fuzzy Logic Algorithm

Vocational education improves the skill and efficiency of students/learners in addition to their regular courses. Within a short period of such courses, the performance has to be improved for providing professional development. In this article, the fuzzy-based performance improvement validation method (FPIVM) is introduced. This method excels in analyzing the performance of instructor-centered vocational education improvements for varied learners. In this process, the differential performance between various training and learning sessions is identified for identifying the gap in skill improvement. The fuzzy process operates using continuous intervals for performance measures based on instructor and learner scores. This is synchronized based on the existing learner’s skill and the instructor’s efficiency in meeting the vocational course study level. In particular, the fuzzification over the independent (learner and trainer) skill score is updated for new intervals. Such skill scores are classified as high or low compared to the previous outcomes. This improves the change in instructor or mode of education for successive sessions. Thus, the quality and performance of the sessions are retained unanimously for providing better outcomes. The outcomes are revised after each session for sustaining a high learning score regardless of student density.

Comparison of Dual VET Models in Spain: Analysing Educational Quality from the Perspective of Educational Centres

In Spain, dual vocational training has recently become a fundamental pillar to train the working population. This article focuses on two objectives: to evaluate the quality of two models of dual VET in Spain and to identify their differences in terms of the following dimensions: Teaching Team, Process, Evaluation and Synergies. To achieve these objectives, a quantitative methodology and a cross-sectional design were used to collect data using an ad hoc questionnaire (37 items) developed based on a literature review and the 14 European quality criteria. The sample consisted of 263 educational institutions. Regarding the results for the first objective, Model B implemented EQAVET with higher quality. With regards to the second, researchers observed that all dimensions received a high or very high compliance of 70%. However, discrepancies were primarily found in the training of tutors in training centres, quality certification of dual VET and links, and support and cooperation between training centres and companies. This study provides empirical evidence regarding the factors that lead to higher quality dual VET in schools, based on the manner in which the criteria of the European Framework for Quality and Effective Vocational Education and Training (EQAVET) are implemented.

Artificial Intelligence‐Driven Smart Scan: A Rapid, Automatic Approach for Comprehensive Imaging and Spectroscopy for Fast Compositional Analysis

Nanomaterial properties and functionalities are influenced by their shape, size, and chemical composition. The importance of these parameters highlights the need for a statistically robust analysis of a large particle population, necessitating automation. This study introduces a neural network‐empowered smart scan technique that achieves a relative increase in speed compared to traditional energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX) mapping. The main advantage is that it reduces the required dose, decreasing potential damage to the sample by avoiding unnecessary exposure. It holds potential use in other multimodal scanning transmission electron microscopy or scanning‐based imaging approaches. In the first example, identifying particles in a matrix with a trained neural network reduces the acquisition time by two orders of magnitude. This acceleration enables a statistical compositional analysis of thousands of particles in less than 1 h. Similar improvements are observed for atomic resolution. The discrete positions of atoms identified by the trained network allow for selective EDX sampling at these centers, thereby identifying the atomic species of the column with much‐reduced sampling. Consequently, a lower sampling dose is required, enabling mapping of more delicate materials with high lateral resolution and at a high statistical confidence interval. Even though manual training is still required, this approach greatly benefits repetitive quality control tasks.

STEM Teachers’ Motivation and Engagement in Teacher Professional Development and Career Advancement: A Case Study of Lithuania

The demand for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills has been consistently increasing due to technological advancements and globalization, making STEM education and teacher training a critical priority. Although many national and international initiatives have been implemented to strengthen STEM education and raise the attractiveness of the teaching profession, a shortage of teachers in general, and STEM teachers in particular, is still evident across Europe. This study aimed to identify factors contributing to attracting existing and potential teachers to careers in STEM education. Qualitative research methods were employed to study teachers’ perceived motivation, challenges, and suggestions regarding STEM teachers’ careers, competence, and collaboration development. The study revealed that the practical application of competence development initiatives significantly motivates STEM teachers, emphasizing the importance of aligning professional development with classroom implementation. These results emphasize the importance of prioritizing practical, classroom-oriented professional development and fostering a culture of collaboration in educational institutions.

Program Development for Enhancing Teachers’ Competencies in Teaching Railway Control and Maintenance in Vocational Colleges under the Office of Vocational Education Commission

Teacher competency is crucial for the quality development of learners. Teachers with high competence in learning management will result in high-quality learners. This research aims 1) to study the components and indicators of teachers’ competency in teaching railway control and maintenance. 2) to study current conditions, desirable conditions, methods of development, and needs for the development of teachers’ competency in teaching railway control and maintenance. 3) to design and develop a teachers’ competency-enhancing program in teaching railway control and maintenance, and 4) to study the results of implementing the teacher competency-enhancing program in teaching railway control and maintenance. The methodology was research and development conducted in 4 Phases as follows according to the objectives. The results showed that 1) Components and indicators of teachers’ competency in teaching railway control and maintenance have 5 components, and 17 indicators, confirmed by experts, are appropriate at the highest level. 2) Current condition, teachers’ competency in teaching railway control and maintenance, overall was moderate level. The desirable condition, overall was at the highest level. Competency development methods consist of (a) Training, (b) Self-learning, (c) Workshops, (d) Study visits, and (e) Work practice in the workplace, and the priorities of the needs for competency development, including (a) Self-development, (b) Ethics and professional ethics of teachers, (c) Measurement and evaluation of learning outcomes, (d) Curriculum administration and learning management, and (d) Building relationships and cooperation with the community for learning management, respectively. 3) Teachers’ Competency Enhancing Program in Teaching Railway Control and Maintenance consists of (a) Principles, (b) Objectives, (c) Model and development methods, (d) Contents and developing activities consisting of 5 Modules, and (e) Measurement and Evaluation. The result of the program evaluation by qualified experts was appropriate, utility, and possibility at the highest level. 4) The results of implementing the teachers’ competency-enhancing program in teaching railway control and maintenance were used. It was found that (a) knowledge of teacher competency in teaching railway control and maintenance before development received an average score of 17.70 out of 30, representing 58.99% after development, receiving an average score of 25.90, representing 86.33%. Knowledge after development was higher than before development. (b) Teachers’ competencies and overall performance before development were at a moderate level. After development was at the highest level, and (c) the results of the program satisfaction assessment by participants overall and all aspects are at the highest level.

Effectiveness of Middle School STEM Career Education for STEM Knowledge, Efficacy, and Interest

The purpose of this study was to test STEM career interventions through a theoretically integrated STEM Career Education (SCE) Module. The effectiveness of SC education was tested on STEM Career (SC) interests, self-efficacy, and knowledge of students from two middle schools. The sample included middle school students from two private schools (N=33) in Islamabad, Pakistan. By using a mixed-method sequential explanatory research design, quantitative data were obtained before and after the intervention while qualitative focus group discussions were conducted post-intervention. A significant increase in SC interest, self-efficacy, and knowledge after participating in the SCs Program is reported, even after statistically controlling key variables. The training seems to be more effective for those with low SC knowledge. Findings indicate a need for robust interventions to target math self-efficacy. Results provide further directions for effective STEM interventions. By pinpointing limitations and future directions, this pilot study contributes to STEM education in Pakistan and provides a model of CE for other countries.

Research on the Construction of New Forms of English Teaching Resources in Higher Vocational College

The construction of new forms of teaching resources for higher vocational English education serves as the implementation carrier of the educational digitization strategic initiative in the field of higher vocational education. It aims to digitally transform and intelligently apply traditional teaching resources through information technology, thereby improving the efficiency and quality of higher vocational English teaching. This article aims to analyze the connotation and significance of the construction of new forms of teaching resources, identify the existing issues in teaching resources for higher vocational English education, and propose corresponding strategies. It provides strong support and guidance for the development of new forms of teaching resources in higher vocational English education and promotes the advancement of higher vocational education towards a higher level.

How middle-skilled workers adjust to immigration: the role of occupational skill specificity

PurposeOur study explores the effects of immigration on the employment of native middle-skilled workers, focusing on how this effect varies with the specificity of their occupational skill bundles.Design/methodology/approachExploiting the 2002 opening of the Swiss labor market to EU workers and using register data on the location and occupation of these workers, our findings provide novel results on the labor market effects of immigration.FindingsWe show that the inflow of EU workers led to an increase in the employment of native middle-skilled workers with highly specific occupational skills. This finding could be attributed to immigrant workers reducing existing skill gaps, enhancing the quality of job-worker matches, and alleviating firms' capacity restrictions. This allowed firms to create new jobs, thereby providing increased employment options for middle-skilled workers with highly specialized skills.Originality/valuePrevious literature has predominantly highlighted the disadvantages of specific occupational skills compared to general skills in the context of labor market shocks. However, our findings reveal that workers with specific occupational skills can benefit from an immigration-driven labour market shock. These results suggest that policy conclusions regarding the role of specific occupational skills should be more nuanced.

A Flexible Practicum Model on Education: Hybrid Learning Integrated Remote Laboratory Activity Design

This study’s objective was to create a hybrid learning-integrated remote laboratory model with validity and practicality. This model has four learning spaces, namely live synchronous, virtual synchronous, self-paced asynchronous, and collaborative asynchronous, so it can support flexible learning. Besides that, this learning model is also based on cognitivism, connectivism, constructivism, behaviourism learning theories and Bloom’s digital taxonomy. The hybrid learning integrated remote laboratory model consists of six syntaxes: 1) issue; 2) investigation; 3) team discussion to solve problems; 4) experiment using a remote laboratory; 5) analysis and evaluation; and 6) explore new solutions. Focus group discussions (FGD) were used to collect high-quality data by seven experts in learning models, vocational education, language and technology. The hybrid learning-integrated remote laboratory model quality analysis used Aiken’s V. The result showed that the hybrid learning integratedremote laboratory model content is valid, with a validity value of 0.87. The practicality analysis result showed that the average percentage of the assessments from lecturers and students was 88.16%, so it can be concluded that it has a high validity value and is very practical.