Vocational Education Research Articles

Skilling in the Informal Economy in India: Identifying and Addressing Inequities in Designing and Delivering Lifelong Learning Opportunities

Lifelong learning opportunities (LLOs) for adults enhance their capabilities and resilience in adapting to changing circumstances, especially in the context of livelihoods. However, informal economy workers face barriers to accessing LLOs, including the digital divide among other challenges. An action research case study of an Indian LLO provider shifting to hybrid vocational education reveals the potential of digital LLOs, where low mobile data costs, high phone penetration, and flexible options mitigate learning expenses. The study details the constraints that the informal economy learners and the LLO providers face and thus contributes to the literature analyzing the broader implications of market changes and skill development for sustainable development.

The Development Path of Wenzhou's Integration of the Private Economy and Vocational Education Under the "Four Chain Drive" Model

Wenzhou City, one of the key areas in China for private economic development, has been actively pushing for the deep integration of the private sector and vocational education in recent years, seizing the chance presented by the "Ministry and Province Co-constructing" National Highland of Vocational Education Innovation pilot project. This study attempts to investigate the creative growth path by using the integration of the private business and vocational education in Wenzhou City as the research object and the "four-chain-driven" model as the theoretical foundation. This study determines the research status, issues, and influencing factors of the industry and education integration mode by methodically arranging the academic history and dynamics of related research both domestically and internationally. It also incorporates the chain theory into the relevant research on the evolution of the integration of industry and education, which offers the theoretical foundation for this investigation. Research on the current state of Wenzhou's integration of the private sector and vocational education, research on influencing factors, and research on the "four-chain-driven" model are all included in the study. In order to provide references for governmental decision-making, this study aims to thoroughly analyse the current state of affairs, issues, and potential mechanisms of the integration of the private economy and vocational education in Wenzhou from multiple dimensions through empirical investigation, statistical analysis, and case studies. In the end, this research seeks to create an innovative "four-chain-driven" model of industry-education integration and development that is in line with Wenzhou's real circumstances. It also offers theoretical direction and doable avenues for Wenzhou to achieve superior industry-education integration development.

Kesiapan Kerja Setelah Melaksanakan Praktek Kerja Industri Siswa Kelas XII SMK Negeri 2 Solok

This research aims to determine the impact of industrial work practices on the readiness for work among 12th-grade students in electrical installation engineering at SMK Negeri 2 Solok. This study falls under quantitative research, with the research subjects being 26 12th-grade students in electrical installation engineering at SMK Negeri 2 Solok. Data collection was done through questionnaires and documentation. The questionnaire was used to measure variables related to industrial work practices, student readiness, and the location of industrial work practice. Data analysis was conducted using data analysis tests for normality, homogeneity, and the F-test. The questionnaire results indicate an influence on the readiness for work among 12th-grade students in electrical installation engineering, with an average questionnaire score of 178, a maximum score of 218, a minimum score of 117, and a standard deviation of 23.681. The normality test yielded a sig(2-tailed) value of 0.894 > 0.05, the homogeneity test had a sig value of 0.758 > 0.05, and the F-test had a sig value of 0.013 < 0.05. Based on the data analysis results, it can be concluded that there is an impact after conducting industrial work practice on the readiness for work among 12th-grade students in electrical installation engineering.

Parental involvement in public school programs and activities in Omar District, Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education – Sulu: Teacher’s perspective

This study is descriptive-exploratory research determining the extent of parental involvement in public school programs and activities as perceived by teachers at Omar District, Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education, Sulu. Employing weighted mean, standard deviation, t-test for independent samples, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson’s r test of correlation. The following are the findings of this study: 1) Out of 100 teacher-respondents, the great majority are within 31 years old and above age brackets, are female, and most have 6–10 years of service and a bachelor’s degree. All the sub-categories subsumed under the extent of parental involvement in public school programs and activities, as perceived by teachers at Omar District, Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education—Sulu, are all rated as “highest extent,” with a total weighted mean score of 4.67, 4.61, 4.59, and 4.52 with a standard deviation of .15786,.20728,.19589, and .28588, respectively, by the teacher-respondents at Omar District, Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education—Sulu. 3) Generally, there is no significant difference in the extent of parental involvement in public school programs and activities, as perceived by teachers at Omar District, Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education—Sulu, when data are grouped according to their demographic profile. 4) Generally, the sub-categories subsuming the extent of parental involvement in public school programs and activities, as perceived by teachers at Omar District, Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education—Sulu, are moderately correlated, which means there is but not strong interdependency among the subcategories subsumed.

Perceptions and Impacts of Local Education within the ICT Field

The primary aim of this research is to uncover valuable insights into the awareness, influences, and opinions pertaining to diverse educational approaches within the ICT sector. Specifically, the study seeks to appraise and analyse the disparities, commonalities, advantages, and limitations between the two prominent educational paths prevalent in the field: academic/traditional education and vocational education. A mixed-methods research design was adopted to encompass a triangulation of perspectives. The initial viewpoint is the lead researcher’s which involved scraping 200 ICT professional profiles from LinkedIn, extensive data cleaning and analyses using MaxQDA, and applying Factor Analysis for Mixed Data (FAMD). The second viewpoint entailed the general perspective of ICT students and professionals. The collection of this perspective was through 100 online survey participants. Lastly, the third viewpoint entailed the experience of eight ICT professionals through qualitative interviews. This methodological approach facilitates the acquisition of varied insights and observations in the ICT field, both within local educational contexts and beyond.Whilst each perspective provided insights and observations pertaining to the research aim, common theories emerged which showcased the strengths and benefits of viewpoint triangulation with the adoption of mixed methods. This study makes a significant contribution to the broader comprehension of the role and significance of local education in the realm of ICT. Additionally, it embraces the concept of industrial revolution 4.0 in universities, exploring new trends and ideas while promoting collaborative efforts between students and industries in creating high-quality education.

The Effect of Motivation, Job Training, and Work Facilities on Employee Performance at the Madya Dua Medan Tax Service Office

This study investigates the impact of inspiration, work preparing, and work offices on representative execution at the Madya Dua Medan Assessment Administration Office. The study strategy was utilized utilizing a poll dispersed to a few representatives. The consequences of the relapse examination show that inspiration, work preparing and work offices fundamentally impact representative execution. These discoveries highlight the significance of dealing with these elements in working on the productivity and adequacy of duty authorities. Administrative ramifications and proposals for additional examination are likewise talked about. This exploration gives significant bits of knowledge to human asset the board in the duty area to further develop worker execution.

Estimating Gender Differences in the Association between Cognitive Resilience and MCI Incidence.

Recent evidence suggests that the influence of verbal intelligence and education on the onset of subjective cognitive decline may be modulated by gender, where education contributes less to cognitive resilience in women than in men. This study aims to examine gender differences in the association between cognitive resilience (CR) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) incidence in an Australian population-based cohort. We included 1806 participants who had completed at least the first two waves and up to four waves of assessments in the Personality and Total Health (PATH) through life study (Baseline: 49% Female, Mage=62.5, SD=1.5), age range=60-66). CR proxies included measures of educational attainment, occupation skill, verbal intelligence, and leisure activity. Discrete-time survival analyses were conducted to examine gender differences in the association between CR proxies and MCI risk, adjusting for age and Apolipoprotein E4 status. Gender differences were only found in the association between occupation and MCI risk, where lower occupation skill was more strongly associated with higher risk in men than in women (OR = 1.30, 95% CI[1.07, 1.57]). In both genders, after adjusting for education and occupation, one SD increase in leisure activity was associated with lower MCI risk by 24% (OR = 0.76, 95% CI[0.65, 0.89]). Higher scores in verbal intelligence assessment were associated with reduced risk of MCI by 22% (OR = 0.78, 95% CI[0.69, 0.89]). Occupational experience may contribute to cognitive resilience differently between genders. Life-course cognitive engagement and verbal intelligence may be more protective against MCI than education and occupation for both men and women.

Empowering Learning Through Game Creation: Investigating the Impact of Educational Technology on Learners’ Engagement and Attainment Level in Subject-Based Game Design (Phase I)

Empowering Learning Through Game Creation: Investigating the Impact of Educational Technology on Learners’ Engagement and Attainment Level in Subject-Based Game Design (Phase I)

Narcissism and Its Association with Neurotic Tendencies Among Students at University Technical Education Colleges in Jordan

The goals of this research are to determine the degree of narcissism among students at Jordanian university technical education colleges, investigate the connection between narcissism and neurotic tendencies among the study participants, and determine whether there are differences in the subjects' levels of narcissism based on the gender variable (male versus female student group). Additionally, the study's psychometric and demographic variables will be used to predict the levels of narcissism and neurotic tendencies. A total of (362) students participated in this study during the second semester of the academic year (2023/2024) and were selected randomly. Two scales were applied, namely, the narcissism scale and the neurotic tendencies scale. The findings revealed a medium level (68%) of narcissism among the subjects. A statistically significant and positive correlation between narcissism and neurotic tendencies was observed. Furthermore, in narcissism, statistically significant gender differences were evident. Given the literature and the study results, the researcher ultimately suggested a set of practical practices.

Investigating the relationships among the forced shift to remote learning, employability and work readiness of recent college graduates

Investigating the relationships among the forced shift to remote learning, employability and work readiness of recent college graduates

Comparison of The Physical Fitness Parameters of Special Education Vocational School Students and Inclusion High School Students

This study compared the physical fitness parameters of intellectually disabled special education vocational school students with those of inclusive high school students using the causal comparison method. Participants consisted of 22 (15 male, 7 female) from Special Education Vocational School and 25 (20 male, 5 female) inclusion students receiving inclusive education at high school. A physical fitness form was used to collect data on body mass index (BMI), standing long jump, flexibility, right-hand reaction, left-hand reaction, leg strength, back strength, right-hand grip, left-hand grip, 30 m sprint, and push-ups. The T-test was applied to data exhibiting normal distribution, while the Mann-Whitney U test was used for data not normally distributed. Among the parameters showing normal distribution, there were significant differences between the two different student groups in the standing long jump, flexibility, left-hand reaction, leg strength, and right-left hand grip strength. Although a significant difference was observed in the right-hand reaction, no significant differences were detected for the other non-normally distributed parameters of BMI, back strength, 30-m sprint, and push-ups. Our results indicated that students with intellectual disability (ID) enrolled in inclusive education at the high school level performed better in all physical fitness tests conducted compared to their peers in special education vocational schools.

Analysis of Employment Competitiveness of College Students Based on Binary Association Rule Extraction Algorithm

Today, assessing competition among college students in the job search is extremely important. However, various methods available are often inaccurate or inefficient when it comes to determining the level of their readiness for work. Conventional techniques usually depend on simplistic measures or miss out on crucial factors responsible for employability. The challenging characteristics of such competitive employment of college students are the lower levels of perceived stress, financing my education, and crucial professional skills. Hence, in this research, the Internet of Things Based on Binary Association Rule Extraction Algorithm (IoT-BAREA) technologies have improved college students' employment competitiveness. IoT-BAREA addresses this situation using a binary association rule extraction algorithm that helps detect significant patterns and relationships in large amounts of data involving student attributes and employment outcomes. IoT-BAREA positions itself as capable of providing insights into features that highly mediate the employability levels among students. This paper closes this gap and recommends a new IoT-BAREA method to help increase accuracy and efficiency in evaluating student employment competitiveness. Specifically, this study uses rigorous evaluation methods such as precision, recall and interaction ratio to determine how well IoT-BAREA predicts students' employability.

Vocational teachers’ perceptions on workplace learning in facilitating students’ professional engagement in the context of industry-university collaboration in China

PurposeThis study aims to explore vocational teachers' perceptions regarding workplace learning that align with students' training models and collaborative teaching involving specialised professionals within the context of industry-university collaboration.Design/methodology/approachUsing a qualitative approach, the study conducted nine semi-structured interviews from three subject areas to better understand how vocational teachers’ work-based learning enhances their pedagogical practice in guiding students’ professional training. Thematic analysis was adopted to identify patterns that emerged from concepts and theories related to coding categories.FindingsThe authors identified three key components: vocational teachers’ workplace learning in connection with students’ training models, collaborative teaching with specialised professionals and teachers’ regular interactions with enterprises. The findings demonstrate that vocational teachers’ engagement in workplace learning pertaining to specific subjects provides a valuable avenue for enhancing curriculum design with collaboration with industry experts. This is key for supporting vocational students’ transitions into the workplace and ensuring their knowledge and skills are tailored to the industry-standard practice.Research limitations/implicationsThe data are limited to the review of interviews from three vocational subject areas as the representative sector in the study. However, this research implies effective knowledge transfer between workplace settings and vocational institutions, and vocational teachers need to integrate work-based vocational knowledge and skills in a relevant and applicable way across diverse classroom settings.Practical implicationsFostering collaborative partnerships with local industries and professionals can be a primary way to facilitate authentic learning experiences that are linked to a specific vocational field and bridge the gap between diverse classroom learning and real-world work scenarios.Originality/valueThis study combines contemporary workplace learning theories with the conceptual understanding of vocational teachers’ involvement with industry-specific practice. Connecting teachers’ knowledge to the industry extends the input and collaboration from professionals and field experts to the diverse vocational classrooms.

The impact of creativity on creative performance among university students in higher vocational education in China: The mediating role of autonomous motivation

The impact of creativity on creative performance among university students in higher vocational education in China: The mediating role of autonomous motivation

Accessibility and Effectiveness of Online Learning in China's Vocational Education System: A Comparative Study between Urban and Rural Areas

The rapid expansion of online learning in China has revealed significant disparities between rural and urban vocational students, necessitating a thorough investigation. This study explores the accessibility and effectiveness of online education in both urban and rural settings, focusing on key dimensions like internet availability, device readiness, digital literacy, infrastructure support, LMS adoption, feedback methods, student engagement, and satisfaction. Data was collected from 314 participants, and statistical techniques including the Mann–Whitney U test and Pearson correlation were employed for analysis. The study delved into six crucial areas related to online learning accessibility and academic performance, utilizing Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to understand complex interrelationships among variables. The findings indicated that rural students consistently scored lower in all aspects of online learning accessibility (p < 0.01) compared to urban counterparts. Moreover, rural vocational learners exhibited lower engagement and satisfaction levels in online education, resulting in lower academic achievement than their urban peers. The strong correlations among these parameters highlight the need for integrated interventions to bridge the digital divide. In conclusion, this study underscores the urgency of targeted interventions to address the digital divide between urban and rural areas in China.

Factors Influencing Work Readiness in Students and College Students: A Systematic Review

Factors Influencing Work Readiness in Students and College Students: A Systematic Review

The mediating effect of health behaviors on the association between job strain and mental health outcome: a national survey of police officers.

Police officers often face emotionally challenging interpersonal situations and numerous studies have demonstrated that policing is a stressful occupation. A study revealed a significant positive correlation between emotional demands among police officers and emotional dissonance, as well as burnout. Health-promoting behaviors can contribute to better overall health outcomes and reduce the risk of developing health problems, but there is limited research evaluating the association of job strain and health behaviors with mental health outcomes in police officers. The objective of this study was to assess the job strain associated with mental health mediated by health behaviors in Taiwanese police officers. This was a cross-sectional quantitative study conducted in Oct 2016. A total of 41,871 police officers (response rate was 79.7%) participated questionnaire that consisted of demographic information, job characteristics, health behaviors, and mental component summary (MCS) scores of the Short-Form Health Survey. Independent t-tests and one-way analysis of variance (One-way ANOVA) were conducted to assess the differences in mean MCS scores across various demographics, health behavior, and job characteristics. Multivariate regression analyses were used to assess the relationship between job strain and health behaviors with mental health outcomes. MCS scores were associated with job characteristics and health behaviors among police officers except for gender. After adjusting for covariates, multivariate analysis indicated that police officers with high job demands and high job strain index exhibited poor MCS scores. Job strain was significantly associated with MCS mediated by health behaviors (consumption of fruits and vegetables, and physical activity) in Taiwanese police officers. Since regular physical activity and increased vegetable and fruit consumption might alleviate the effects of job strain on mental health status, it is recommended that institutional policies be established to promote health-enhancing behaviors among police officers.

Online collaborative problem-solving as a tangible outcome of digital skills in technical and vocational higher education

In today's world, specific skills are essential for success in work and life. Educators, governments, and industry leaders recognize collaborative problem-solving (CPS) and digital skills as necessary for the 21st century. However, our current understanding of these skills' interconnection and development within technical and vocational higher education remains limited. This study aims to achieve two main objectives. First, we want to examine the level of digital skills among technical and vocational higher education students in Chile and how it relates to their socioeconomic background. Second, we aim to investigate how students' different levels of digital skills influence their satisfaction with online collaboration and their assessment of group processes after completing an online CPS task. The study identified three distinct groups of students based on their digital skills: high-skilled, medium-skilled, and low-skilled. The low-skilled group faced more socioeconomic disadvantages compared to the other two groups. Moreover, students with low digital skills reported lower satisfaction with online group work and a poorer self-evaluation of the group processes involved in the collaborative online task. Insights for technical and vocational higher education institutions to foster targeted support of digital skills development for their student body are discussed.

Editorial: Vocational Education and Training (VET) in different national contexts

Editorial: Vocational Education and Training (VET) in different national contexts

Teacher Socialization Research: Leveraging Lessons Learned Toward a Favorable Future for Physical Education

Occupational socialization theory has been used to guide research related to the lives and careers of teachers and, more recently, teacher educators for around 50 years. Across this time, much has been learned about the factors that attract or deter prospective recruits from seeking occupations in the field, the effectiveness of professional development programming, and individuals’ experiences working in educational systems or scholarly contributions toward larger institutional missions. In this paper, we provide an overview of research stemming from occupational socialization theory before presenting and discussing vignettes that provide illustrative examples of the socialization of physical education teachers and faculty members in action. Building from the discussion across these vignettes, we describe lessons learned related to applying the findings of socialization research in practice before closing with research recommendations. We emphasize topical and methodological diversity in socialization research and provide example studies linked to the current literature.