Training Occupations Research Articles

Parents, friends, and classmates: reference groups and dropout from vocational education and training in Germany

This study examines the influence of social contexts on the decision to either complete or leave the first vocational education and training (VET) position among young German apprentices—an aspect that has received little attention in dropout research. In particular, the role of three reference groups—parents, friends and classmates at vocational school—in shaping this decision is examined. Using longitudinal data from the German National Educational Panel Study, the analysis addresses two key research questions: (1) Which reference groups are associated with the dropout decision? (2) And how do they influence the decision-making process? For this purpose, the study primarily investigates apprentices’ perceptions of the normative expectations and career ambitions of these groups, and compares the occupational achievements of apprentices and their parents. Two main results are found: (a) Parents and friends have a normative function; apprentices are more likely to complete their VET successfully if they believe that their parents and friends expect them to do so. (b) Both classmates and parents serve a comparative function; if apprentices perceive high career ambitions among their classmates, this may be intimidating and increase the risk of dropping out—in favor of switching to another training occupation. In addition, having parents with a higher occupational status seems to encourage apprentices to pursue a more demanding career path in the case of a change in training occupation. This study supports the notion that a multitude of actors contribute to the success of VET. Therefore, it could be beneficial for career guidance and counseling efforts to extend beyond individual counseling and consider actors who, although indirectly involved in VET, act as important reference groups for apprentices.

Integrated optimization of train stop planning and seat allocation for high-speed railways based on active management for dynamic demand

ABSTRACT Proactive demand management methods can achieve a trade-off between supply and demand for high-speed railways. Focusing on multi-type demand configurations, four active demand management methods were designed, two single-scenario and two multi-scenario methods. An optimization model of stop planning and seat allocation was constructed to minimize the difference between demand and supply, number of trains, and train-stop costs. The number of train stops, transport capacity, and train occupancy rates were considered. Particle swarm optimization and CPLEX were combined to handle this significant linear programming problem. A real case study of different demand scenarios based on the Hohhot-Beijing high-speed railway in China verified the feasibility of active demand management methods. The results indicate that integrated optimization can be justified with mixed load patterns. Compared with the original scheme, the optimized scheme reduced the number of trains by 23.4% and increased train occupancy rate by more than 36.7%.

Different dropout directions in vocational education and training: the role of the initiating party and trainees’ reasons for dropping out

The high rates of premature contract termination (PCT) in vocational education and training (VET) programs have led to an increasing number of studies examining the reasons why adolescents drop out. Since adolescents’ trajectories after a PCT are quite diverse, a thorough assessment of different dropout directions is called for. However, empirical studies that distinguish between dropout directions are still scarce. The same is true for studies that differentiate between PCTs initiated by the trainees themselves and those initiated by the training company. Based on data from the German National Educational Panel Study (NEPS) on trainees in German dual VET programs (n = 5823), this study identifies six different dropout directions: (1) downward PCT into unqualified employment or unemployment, (2) downward PCT into a prevocational program, (3) horizontal PCT that represents a change of training company or (4) a change of occupation, and (5) upward PCT into general education or (6) higher education. Using multinomial logistic regression models we examine the effect of (a) the initiating party and (b) self-reported PCT reasons of trainees on dropout directions. Regarding trainees’ reasons we include reasons related to different aspects of the training (personal reasons, not the desired training occupation, financial reasons, training quality, conflicts, excessive demand, and being offered a different training position). The results indicate that in cases where trainees are dismissed by the training company, a horizontal change to a different training company becomes more likely, while the probability of an upward dropout into higher education decreases. Regarding PCT decisions made by trainees themselves, a downward PCT into unqualified employment or unemployment is more likely if personal reasons were the cause of a PCT decision. Moreover, the probability of a change of training company (horizontal PCT) increases in cases of conflict and if there is a prospect of a different training position, and decreases if the training position is not the desired occupation. A change of occupation (horizontal PCT) is more likely when there is the opportunity for a different training position available. Furthermore, upward PCTs (both into further general education and higher education) are more likely in cases where the training was in a field that was not the desired occupation. The probability of upward PCT into higher education decreases when there are conflicts and excessive demands, while upward PCTs into general education are significantly less likely when a different training position is obtained. The differential effects that occur for different types of PCTs emphasize that adolescents dropping out of VET cannot be treated as a homogenous group. Consequently, the results underscore the importance of conducting a more thorough assessment of both dropout directions and the initiating party of a PCT in future research.

Peningkatan Okupansi Penumpang Lrt Sumatera Selatan Dengan Menganalisis Penumpang Integrasi Lrt Sumsel

For more than five years of operation, the South Sumatra light train (LRT) occupancy rate has not yet reached the target, so it is necessary to evaluate the program and realize the costs per passenger for South Sumatra LRT transport operators. The implementation methods that will be carried out at the completion of the research are the preparation stage, data collection, analysis and document preparation, evaluation and assistance, and refinement. This results in macro and micro costs for operating the South Sumatra LRT pilot.

‘Love, Love not’—a discovery of study engagement at higher education and the factors involved

Taking that higher education is career-oriented, this study examines how Vietnamese undergraduate students engage with their study and how the factors related to the training program and occupation’s prospects contribute to students’ engagement with their study. The study applies a mixed-method approach. Self-administered questionnaire survey is used to collect data from 973 Vietnamese undergraduate students, of which 48.2% are social work students and 51.8% are non-social work students. In addition, the study conducts 27 semi-structured interviews with students and lecturers to explore their perspective and experiences with regard to students’ study engagement and the factors involved. The results show that social work students are more engaged with their study than non-social work students, even though they feel more worried about job opportunity and income. Approximately one-third of social work students consider not to pursue social work profession when they graduate mostly because they believe that working in social work cannot provide them the income they need for their living. However, the results also show that students’ satisfaction/dissatisfaction with income in their field was not statistically related to their study engagement. Instead, feeling of personal growth, opportunity to perform personal ability, sense of significance, convenient access to study materials and activities, and feeling proud of their school and lecturers’ prestige are found positively associated with students’ level of study engagement. The study hence provides some recommendations for educators to strengthen students’ study engagement at higher education level.

Constructing and validating authentic assessments: the case of a new technology-based assessment of economic literacy

BackgroundAuthentic situations are considered a source of learning due to their real world relevance. This can encourage learners to acquire new knowledge. Increasing digitisation and associated resources, such as professional development opportunities for teachers, technology tools, or digital equipment for schools enable the development and implementation of authentic assessments. The basic academic principles for acquiring economic literacy are already provided in lower secondary school. This article examines, using the example of a new authentic technology-based assessment (TBA)—Economic Literacy—Assessing the Status Quo in Grade 8 (ECON 2022) -, the processes involved in constructing a TBA. The purpose is to develop a curricular valid measurement instrument for surveying the current state of economic literacy in the 8th grade of a German federal state. This study explores which economic competencies students—typically between 14 and 15 years of age—possess in Grade 8, and what level of competence can therefore be expected of them at the beginning of a vocational training programme. The assessment is geared toward the curriculum of the subject of economics and is based on a domain model. This article presents the background and construction process for the development of ECON 2022 as a TBA.MethodsTo check the validity of test construction with a focus on the implementation of the authentic assessment and an analysis of difficulty-generating characteristics, the ECON 2022 test items were validated with an expert survey (N = 25). The two-stage data analysis comprised a descriptive quantifying analysis of the rating from the difficulty-generating characteristics specificity, cognitive demand and modelling and the design criterion authenticity. A set of experts rated the criteria. The expert survey was then compared with a previously conducted rating by the research team. The analysis of free-text comments on individual items was carried out discursively and qualitatively by the research team. Both sources of information were used to adapt the test items to measured item difficulties from the field test. For this purpose, items of great difficulty were changed to slightly easier items. In this context, the paper focuses on two central research questions: - How does the authenticity of a test environment relate to difficulty-generating criteria at item level? - Does the authenticity of a test environment have an impact on test results?ResultsResults are as follows. (1) The ECON 2022 assessment offers an example of a test design in which the use of TBAs can support innovative and interactive item development. (2) Using the ECON 2022 assessment enabled the implementation of an assessment of economic literacy using authentic situations and the mapping of different facets of economic competence. (3) The validation study showed that the actual item difficulty did not correlate significantly with the authenticity of the assessment, and authenticity thus did not contribute to item difficulty.ConclusionThe results of the study show that we were successful in developing an authentic TBA in ECON 2022. ECON 2022 allows us to examine economic literacy in schools with a high degree of curricular validity and relevance and to analyse what level of competence and knowledge can be expected of students when they enter a vocational training occupation.

Banning short-haul flights and investing in high-speed railways for a sustainable future?

Long-distance mobility sustainability, high-speed railways (HSR) decarbonization effect, and bans for short-haul flights are debated in Europe. Yet, holistic environmental assessments on these topics are scarce. A comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted on the Paris-Bordeaux transportation options in France: HSR, plane, coach, personal car, and carpooling. The overall ranking on four environmental indicators, from best to worst, is as follows: coach, HSR, carpooling, private car, and plane. Scenario analyses showed that increasing train occupancy decreases the environmental impact of the mode (-12 %), while decreasing speed does not. Moreover, worldwide carbon footprints of electric HSR modes range 30–120 gCO2eq per passenger-kilometer traveled. Finally, a consequential LCA highlighted carbon paybacks of the HSR project. Under a business-as-usual trip substitution scenario, the HSR gets net-zero 60 years after construction. With a short-haul flight ban, it occurs after 10 years. This advocates for generalizing short-haul flight restrictions and investing in HSR infrastructure.

A conceptual non-stop operation strategy for urban rail transit: a case study of São Paulo’s monorail line

Purpose The purpose of this study is to address the extended travel time caused by dwelling time at stations for passengers on traditional rail transit lines. To mitigate this issue, the authors propose the “Non-stop” design, which involves trains comprised of modular vehicles that can couple and uncouple from each other during operation, thereby eliminating dwelling time at stations.. Design/methodology/approach The main contributions of this paper are threefold: first, to introduce the concept of non-stop rail transit lines, which, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, has not been researched in the literature; second, to develop a framework for the operation schedule of such a line; and third, the author evaluate the potential of its implementation in terms of total passenger travel time. Findings The total travel time was reduced by 6% to 32.91%. The results show that the savings were more significant for long commutes and low train occupancy rates. Research limitations/implications The non-stop system can improve existing lines without the need for the construction of additional facilities, but it requires technological advances for rolling stock. Originality/value To eliminate dwelling time at stations, the authors present the “Non-stop” design, which is based on trains composed of locomotives that couple and uncouple from each other during operation, which to the best of the authors’ knowledge has not been researched in the literature.

Subject- and Activity-Oriented Promotion of Reading and Writing Skills of Low Literacy Levels Using the Example of Training Occupations in the Construction Industry

Subject- and Activity-Oriented Promotion of Reading and Writing Skills of Low Literacy Levels Using the Example of Training Occupations in the Construction Industry

Thermal sensation prediction model for high-speed train occupants based on skin temperatures and skin wettedness.

Passenger thermal comfort in high-speed train (HST) carriages presents unique challenges due to factors such as extensive operational areas, longer travel durations, larger spaces, and higher passenger capacities. This study aims to propose a new prediction model to better understand and address thermal comfort in HST carriages. The proposed prediction model incorporates skin wettedness, vertical skin temperature difference (ΔTd), and skin temperature as parameters to predict the thermal sensation vote (TSV) of HST passengers. The experiments were conducted with 65 subjects, evenly distributed throughout the HST compartment. Thermal environmental conditions and physiological signals were measured to capture the subjects' thermal responses. The study also investigated regional and overall thermal sensations experienced by the subjects. Results revealed significant regional differences in skin temperature between upper and lower body parts. By analyzing data from 45 subjects, We analyzed the effect of 25 variables on TSV by partial least squares (PLS), from which we singled out 3 key factors. And the optimal multiple regression equation was derived to predict the TSV of HST occupants. Validation with an additional 20 subjects demonstrated a strong linear correlation (0.965) between the actual TSV and the predicted values, confirming the feasibility and accuracy of the developed prediction model. By integrating skin wettedness and ΔTd with skin temperature, the model provides a comprehensive approach to predicting thermal comfort in HST environments. This research contributes to advancing thermal comfort analysis in HST and offers valuable insights for optimizing HST system design and operation to meet passengers' comfort requirements.

A large-scale survey on epidemiology and underreporting of needlestick and sharp injuries among healthcare workers in China.

Needlestick and sharp injuries (NSI) carry the risk of transmitting numerous bloodborne pathogens, leading to both health and economic burdens. The underreporting of NSIs among healthcare workers (HCWs) is a global issue of concern, as timely treatment and prevention of complications rely on proper reporting. Underreporting further impedes accurate surveillance and appropriate resource allocation, with developed and developing nations facing disparities due to differences in healthcare policy. The purpose of this research is to examine the epidemiology of NSIs and NSI underreporting, as well as to identify the determinants associated with the occurrence of NSIs and the underreporting of such injuries. A retrospective online survey was conducted from January 15 to January 31, 2022 among healthcare workers (HCWs) across Gansu Province, China. A total of 7,283 healthcare workers (HCWs) from various institutions participated in this study. After quality assurance checks, 6,464 (88.77%) responses were included in the final analysis. Results revealed a 32.86% self-reported needlestick and sharp injury (NSI) incidence among respondents, with 28.53% of NSIs going unreported. Contrary to common belief, more experienced HCWs exhibited higher rates of both NSIs and underreporting compared to their less experienced peers. The primary reasons cited for NSIs and underreporting were lapses in concentration and not perceiving patients as infectious. Multivariate regression analysis exposes the significant influence of training frequency, occupation, department and years of services on the occurrence of NSIs. Conversely, the reporting of NSIs is primarily influenced by training, reimbursement,occupation, department and hospital grade. Compared to HCWs with no training, those who received ≥3 training sessions per year showed a 12.16% lower NSI incidence (27.12% vs. 39.28%, p < 0.001) and a 55.68% lower underreporting rate (14.61% vs. 70.29%, p < 0.001). There is a pressing need for enhanced surveillance, tailored training programs, and more efficient reporting mechanisms to combat this significant occupational health challenge.

An observational study on pedestrian and bicyclist violations at railroad grade crossings: Exploring the impact of geometrical and operational attributes

Introduction: In order to enhance the existing body of research regarding the prevalence of violations committed by pedestrians and bicyclists, this observational study utilized personal-specific, train-specific, operational, and behavioral data extracted from recorded videos at seven railroad grade crossings (RRGCs). Method: A total of 7,332 pedestrians and 1,684 bicyclist crossing events were observed during 279 gate operation phases at seven study locations. First, two separate violation models (binary logit) for pedestrians and bicyclists were developed to determine the influence of personal-specific characteristics and other behavioral traits on probability of pedestrians’ and bicyclists’ violation. Later, the impact of various geometrical (railway track, distance between gates, distance between gate and nearest track, and road width) and operational (train vehicle unit) parameters on the factors that caused non-motorist violations was examined by developing distinctbinary logit models. Results: The probability of pedestrians’and bicyclists’ violationwas found to be significantly influenced by train characteristics (train speed and train occupancy time), gate operational attributes (warning time and gate blockage duration), and personal-specificcharacteristics (gender, age, crossing speed, and looking both side). Furthermore, geometrical attributes along with train vehicle unit were observed to have impact over various factors that significantly influenced the behavior of pedestrians and bicyclists to violate. Practical Applications: The findings of this research provide essential information that could be applied in the initiatives of user awareness and enforcement program, emphasis on situational awareness and design of operational and geometricalelementsto significantlylimitthe effects of risky walking andbicycling behavior at RRGCs.

Development of a digital training for social and emotional competences for medical assistants in vocational education and training in Germany

This paper describes a digital training for social and emotional competences for prospective medical assistants (MAs) in Germany. Social and emotional competences (SEC) are necessary for the collaboration with colleagues as well as for the contact with clients, patients or customers. The German dual system of vocational education and training (VET) therefore considers them as essential parts of the profile of most training occupations. Nevertheless, few materials exist so far for the systematic training of these competences. In former studies three social and emotional competences have been identified as essential for MAs: emotion regulation, perspective coordination and communication strategies. At the same time development needs have been identified for all of them. To address these needs the three hours online training programme SECOTrain (Social and Emotional Competence Training) has been developed, which offers separate training sessions for all three competences. The aim of the paper is to depict how the fostering of social and emotional competences can be approached via a digital training, report our experiences with this endeavour and to discuss associated advantages as well as challenges and ways to deal with them. Digital formats offer new possibilities and chances for education and training, as they facilitate access to the content in a standardized and efficient way. An independent processing of trainings is made possible, regardless of time and teacher. At the same time, this comes along with a risk of overstraining some learners, as problems of understanding or motivation may occur. SECOTrain transfers pedagogical ideas into the context of digital learning to reduce these risks as much as possible. Each of the three training sessions follows the principles of the Cognitive Apprenticeship approach and is inspired by existing theories and trainings. Video sequences of typical critical interaction situations serve as material for explanation, application and reflection to support a strong practical orientation. Effects of the training will be evaluated in a pretest–posttest-follow-up experimental design. The paper presents goals and content as well as methods, pedagogical principles and theoretical foundation of SECOTrain. Furthermore, results of a small pilot study are presented and discussed with regard to further adjusting the training to the needs of the target group. At the end, an outline of the planned evaluation is given.

Why do they leave? Examining dropout behaviour in gender-atypical vocational education and training in Germany

ABSTRACT Germany’s VET system is highly gender-segregated and marked by high dropout rates. This article investigates the dropout behaviour of apprentices in gender-atypical training occupations. First, we investigate whether gender-atypical apprentices drop out at a higher rate than their majority peers. Second, we examine differences in the self-reported reasons for dropping out among gender-typical and gender-atypical apprentices. Results show that gender-atypical apprentices, and particularly males in female-dominated occupations, are more likely to prematurely leave their apprenticeship. The self-reported reasons for dropping out differed by gender minority status: female minorities were more likely to drop out due to a lack of social integration, while male minorities were more likely to drop out due to unfulfilled aspirations in comparison to the gender majority. These results show that gender-specific perceptions and experiences are related to the higher dropout rates of gender-atypical apprentices.

The Dynamic Programming Model for Calculating the Maximum Number of Gathering Passengers in High-Speed Railway Station Based on Gaussian distribution

in this paper, based on the actual train operation plan and evacuation plan of the high-speed railway station, taking the train capacity and occupancy rate as the basic data, the Gaussian function is used to describe the passenger arrival law and the uniform distribution is used to describe the passenger evacuation law. Also, the calculation model of the number of gathering passengers at the high-speed railway station is established by MATLAB. Taking Guangzhou South Railway Station as an actual case, the maximum number of gathering passengers in the whole day and the change curve of the number of gathering passengers with time are obtained. The calculation results are consistent with the actual situation, which can provide a reference for the passenger flow organization and management of the high-speed railway station and the new construction and reconstruction of the high-speed railway station.

An integrated optimization approach for passenger flow control strategy and metro train scheduling considering skip-stop patterns in special situations

In many special situations (epidemic, emergencies, large-scale events, etc.) of the metro, it is a considerably real issue on how to control passenger flow density and improve operational efficiency synchronously under the control requirements of specific the load factor. This paper aims to propose an integrated optimization approach for jointly researching passenger flow control and train scheduling with skip-stop patterns. Besides, the passenger dynamic demand and train occupancy rate are considered. A mixed integer programming model is formulated to minimize the unused capacity of trains and the total number of waiting passengers at platforms and outside stations. Through the comprehensive analysis of the relationship between passengers and trains, the numerical experiments are implemented in Beijing Metro Line 1 to illustrate the validity of the proposed method. Finally, discussion and comparison of the performance of integration optimization strategies with diverse scenarios are given. The results show that, under the optimized combination strategy, the average boarding rate of all stations can increase from 88.09% to 94.69% by the proposed approach, the number of waiting behaviors of passengers can be declined by 92.65%, and the average travel time of passengers can be reduced by 7.22%.

Management of university-level training programs according to the AUN-QA approach: theoretical basis, management content, and influencing factors

The issue of education quality in general and university training program management, in particular, is one of the major concerns of current education systems in the world and in Vietnam. Many studies have shown a dialectical relationship between education quality and training program management. The university training program is to train human resources with high skills, thinking abilities, and creative abilities. In training activities, it is necessary to innovate contents, programs, teaching, and learning methods, build a list of training occupations, and a system of assurance and accreditation of college training quality, towards integration with the university educational community of countries in the region and the world. The identification and clarification of the theoretical basis of training program management according to the AUN-QA approach are even more urgent when many Vietnamese universities are conducting training quality accreditation under this system. Along with that, it is necessary to clarify the management contents and impact factors of the management process of university-level training programs according to the AUN-QA approach. Qualitative analyzes were used as one of the main tools of this study. However, in some important contents, some important issues need to be clarified, this study will conduct some surveys to create more objectivity and accuracy in the conclusions.

Train Occupancy Time of a Railway Section and the Combined Occupancy Method for Capacity Assessment

Accurate and convenient assessment of a section’s capacity is an essential problem in the operation of high-speed railway companies. The concept of occupancy time is widely used in the field, but there is still a lack of quantitative analysis to support follow-up studies and application. In this research, the calculation method for one train, two trains and multiple trains is discussed. The occupancy time of the two trains was divided into three cases according to the relationship between them, and the calculation formulas are given. For the calculation of multiple trains, the circumstances were too intricate to be classified. To solve this problem, the concept of a continuous train group was proposed. The three properties of the continuous train group were analyzed and proved by mathematical derivation to provide theoretical support to transform a multi-train problem into many two-train problems. Finally, a combined occupancy method for capacity assessment was formed and applied to the Beijing–Shanghai high-speed railway. A series of numerical cases were designed to evaluate the performance compared with the UIC406 method. The results demonstrate that the combined occupancy method can better assess the capacity and is more convenient to implement.

Compromises between Occupational Aspirations and VET Occupations—a Contribution to the Reproduction of Social Inequalities?

Abstract Many school leavers cannot fulfil their occupational aspirations when entering vocational education and training (VET), and have to make compromises. This study asks what form these compromises take by examining multiple extrinsic occupational dimensions, and investigates differences by social background. Data for VET entrants from lower and intermediate school tracks from the German National Educational Panel Study (NEPS-SC4) are combined with occupation-specific data. The cluster analysis reveals four distinct patterns of compromise: 1) upward moves and 2) downward moves in multiple extrinsic attributes, 3) concessions in firm size and wage, and 4) concessions in regular working hours and status. Multinomial logistic regressions indicate that compromise formation is hardly socially stratified in terms of parental education and occupational position. Compared to natives, VET entrants from second-generation migrant families are more likely to move upward into relative better training occupations than occupations originally aspired to.

Disparity in Occupational Health Risk During the Pandemic: Potential Misestimation and Its Implications for Health Policies.

This study clarifies potential misestimation of occupational risk caused by the dichotomy of frontline essential and nonessential occupations in prior studies. The linear regression is used to investigate the occupational risk in terms of incidence rate, hospitalization, and mortality on community level during the pandemic. Overall, frontline essential occupations were positively associated with incidence rate, hospitalization, and mortality (156.06, 18.47, and 3.49; P &lt; 0.01). Among essential occupations, however, education, training, and library occupations were negatively associated with them, whereas transportation, protective service, food preparation, and serving occupations were insignificantly associated with them. Moreover, among nonessential occupations, building and grounds cleaning, construction, and extraction occupations were positively associated with them. The dichotomy of frontline essential and nonessential occupations can bring overestimation and underestimation of occupational risk during the COVID-19 pandemic.