Vocational Education Training Research Articles

Student services in higher education: impact on academic success amid and after the pandemic

The influence of student support services on academic success cannot be overstated, as they play a pivotal role in shaping student performance and overall well-being. In response, educational institutions have established dedicated student affairs offices to cater to the diverse needs of students, ensuring their welfare and holistic development. In particular, during the unprecedented challenges posed by the pandemic, these support services have emerged as even more vital, prompting adaptation and innovation within student affairs offices to uphold student well-being and academic progress. This study delved into the experiences of students from the College of Education at Rizal Technological University, specializing in various fields, such as a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and a bachelor’s degree in technical vocational teacher education. These students, who hailed from campuses in Mandaluyong City and Pasig City were selected based on their exposure to student support services before, during, and after the pandemic. Having completed the requisite coursework, they provided valuable insights into their competencies and experiences with support services. Utilizing a descriptive quantitative approach, this study explored students' perspectives on support services before the pandemic, shedding light on the challenges encountered and issues faced during their utilization. Furthermore, it assessed students' satisfaction levels regarding the efficacy of support services in addressing their welfare and development needs. Finally, the study examined post-pandemic changes and enhancements in student support services, offering valuable insights for ongoing improvement and adaptation in the face of evolving circumstances.

Practices Promoting the Inclusion of Adult Students with Disabilities in the Classroom: A Case of a Technical Vocational Education and Training College in Kazakhstan

Practices Promoting the Inclusion of Adult Students with Disabilities in the Classroom: A Case of a Technical Vocational Education and Training College in Kazakhstan

Наставничество в профессиональном образовании

The article analyzes the problem of mentoring in the framework of vocational education, examines the degree of personal relationships between mentor and mentee. It provides an opportunity to understand the importance and relevance of one of the forms of systematic transfer of knowledge and skills by a professional to a young specialist, which is mentoring. Representing the process of introducing a young specialist into professional activity. The author formulates the provisions that make it possible to comprehend the features of mentoring activities carried out by teachers of secondary vocational education in order to form an environment of qualitative formation and intensive development of the process of professional adaptation of a young specialist through mentoring in educational institutions of the Novosibirsk region.

Action research as professional learning in and through practice

ABSTRACT It is widely accepted that professional learning is a crucial aspect of the ongoing professional practice of educators. But how should this professional learning take place, and what arrangements enable and constrain practices associated with educator learning? In this article, we explore two case studies of action research projects: one undertaken with Australian Vocational Education and Training (VET) teachers, and the other undertaken with Swedish principals. Using the theory of practice architectures and the Professional Learning Framework (see text), we consider what action research team members identified that they learnt through the action research projects, and what enabled and constrained that learning. The findings highlight five key themes that enabled and constrained educator professional learning and supported educators in making positive changes in their professional practice: power and solidarity, trust, recognition, agency and time. Further, reflection and collaboration were also highlighted as important factors in supporting educator professional learning. We conclude that action research can enable educator professional learning, can support the contextualised understanding of what works, how it works and for whom it works, and can enable educators to make positive changes in their professional practices.

Mérnöktanár-képzés – Modellalkotás, szakmai szókincsfejlesztés, tantárgyi kapcsolatok

Vocational Teacher Training Programmes provide teachers of Vocational Education and Training schools. University of Debrecen Faculty of Engineering offers Vocational Teacher Training in five specializations, in form of cooperative training. The company specialists participating in the training teach prospective vocational teachers with modern professional knowledge. The aim of this article is to summarize the pedagogical experiences of the prospective vocational teachers, based on the content analysis of their lesson plans. The investigation focuses on prospective vocational teachers’ examples of modeling, professional vocabulary development and connections between subjects from their practical pedagogical training in Vocational Education and Training schools.

Potentials and Limitations of MOOCs in Vocational Teacher Education

Formålet med denne studien er å utforske yrkesfaglærerstudenters erfaringer med massive open online courses (MOOCer) som digitale læringsressurser i yrkesfaglærerutdanningen. To forskningsspørsmål utforskes: 1) Hvilke potensialer og begrensninger oppfatter yrkesfaglærerstudenter at MOOCer som læringsressurs har i fag- og yrkesopplæring og yrkesfaglærerutdanning? 2) I lys av Digital Competence Framework for Educators (DigCompEdu), hvordan kan MOOCer styrke yrkesfaglærerstudenters profesjonsfaglige digitale kompetanse? Datamaterialet består av arbeidskrav og refleksjonsnotater utarbeidet av 100 yrkesfaglærerstudenter ved yrkesfaglærerutdanningen etter å ha jobbet med MOOC. Dataene ble analysert i henhold til trinnene i refleksiv tematisk analyse. Funnene ble sortert i tre overordnede kategorier: Potensialer, begrensninger og rammefaktorer. Potensialer beskrevet av yrkesfaglærerstudenter inkluderer fleksibilitet, variasjon, aktivitet, tilpasset opplæring, delbarhet og aktualitet, mens begrensninger som ble oppgitt var relatert til samspill, relasjonsbygging, praktiske ferdigheter, taus kunnskap, danning og fangbarhet. Rammefaktorer, slik som elevers og læreres forutsetninger og tilgang på økonomiske ressurser, ble oppfattet som både potensialer og begrensninger. Funnene viser at bruk av MOOCer som digitale læringsressurser i yrkesfaglærerutdanningen har mange potensialer, men også flere begrensninger. Yrkesfaglærere må være bevisste på når, hvor og til hvilke formål MOOCer er gunstige læringsressurser. MOOCer kan ikke erstatte fysisk tilstedeværelse i yrkesfaglærerutdanningen og fag- og yrkesopplæring, men de kan være et verdifullt supplement. For å legge til rette for utvikling av elevenes digitale ferdigheter må yrkesfaglærerstudenter utvikle og styrke sin egen profesjonsfaglige digitale kompetanse. Til tross for at det europeiske rammeverket DigCompEdu har høstet kritikk for ikke å ivareta yrkesfagenes egenart, viser denne studien at DigCompEdu favner bredt og fanger opp mange sentrale aspekter ved den mangefasetterte digitale kompetansen yrkesfaglærere trenger for å utdanne fremtidens fagarbeidere til et mangfoldig arbeidsliv.

Approaches for sustainable professional skill development for vocational education students in Thailand

Background This article presents a research study that aims to explore sustainable approaches for developing professional skills in vocational education students in Thailand. This is the second phase of the research, which utilizes a qualitative research methodology. Methodology The key informants in this study are administrators of vocational education institutions, teachers, and students currently enrolled in vocational education institutions in Thailand, totaling 36 participants. The research uses a purposive sampling method and snowball sampling method. Data collection methods include document analysis, in-depth structured interviews, and observation. The results of the interviews are analyzed, and the content analysis is summarized. The research process consists of 4 steps: 1) literature review, 2) data collection, 3) data analysis, and 4) verification and confirmation. Results The research findings highlight several key considerations, including: 1) factors influencing the development of professional skills among vocational education students, such as curriculum design, support and counseling, practical training in workplaces, interactive learning, problem-solving and analytical thinking skills development, practical learning, and supportive learning environments, 2) approaches for sustainable professional skill development involve employing the appropriate approaches for self-development. The steps include setting clear goals and plans, active learning and training, technology skill development, experiential learning, problem-solving skill development, participation in professional activities, self-reflection, and continuous self-improvement. Conclusion These approaches aim to enhance the competencies of vocational education students, ensuring quality and efficiency as part of lifelong learning and sustainable development.

An intelligent recommendation strategy for integrated online courses in vocational education based on short-term preferences

With the swift advancement of online teaching in vocational education, an increasing number of web-based course materials are being made available to students, granting them the freedom to select resources that suit their personal needs. To optimize the effectiveness of artificial intelligence-enabled smart vocational education, this study presents a course recommendation model centered on learning behaviors and interests. The model utilizes short-term preferences reconstruction behavior contribution to identify fluctuations in learners' interests in real-time. A model for recommending courses is proposed based on short-term preferences and enhancements to learning behavior. Its purpose is to tackle the issue of generalization arising from sparsity and weak correlation in learning behavior. The outcomes demonstrated the model put forth in the study achieved higher Hit Rate (HR) and Normalized Discounted Cumulative Gain (NDCG) values in comparison experiments with multiple models. Hence, this suggested that creating a novel component of historical learning behavior, powered by dynamic interest factors, could resolve the issue of changing learning interests and enhance the efficacy of course recommendation models. Furthermore, the introduction of a correlation mapping network enables the forward mapping transformation from weak to strong learning behavior, thus improving and optimizing input for the agent strategy, reducing data sparsity, and enhancing the performance and generalization of the course recommendation model.

A systematic approach at the development and assessment of functional literacy of the students of professional educational organizations: regional aspect

Functional literacy as a pedagogical category is considered in the context of its development in the system of secondary vocational education. It is known that for the successful development of the personal characteristics of students, the teacher needs a deep understanding of its essence and context. In this article, a description of the process of development and evaluation of functional literacy of students of professional educational organizations is presented, based on a systematic approach, which is considered as a methodological basis for the development and functioning of the process of developing functional literacy among students of vocational schools. The experience of professional development of vocational education teachers for the implementation of a systematic approach is also presented. The emphasis is on the development of general professional competencies, which are based on the key components of functional literacy and are related to the characteristics of the future activities of students of secondary vocational education. The content of the educational community work in the Samara region in the field of functional literacy at the secondary school level, described by the author, reflects the stages of the process, regional specifics, features of the professional development of secondary school teachers and the implementation of the principles of a systematic approach (integrity, hierarchy, planning, dynamism, adaptability and structuring) in the formation and assessment of functional literacy of students of professional educational organizations.

Innovative pedagogy of competence based training in horticulture: case stuy of TVET Education in Kenya

Horticulture is the fastest growing sub-sector in Kenya. It contributes the most towards the envisioned poverty reduction, and overall food security. It is generally a labour-intensive industry with high demand of skilled workers, trained supervisors and professional managers. Most Agricultural Technical and Vocational Education Training colleges (ATVETs) have a very general focus and there is lack of specialized and competent workforce in horticulture. The training is classroom and institutional centred with limited access to necessary resources and facilities, and limited interactions with industry and world of work. In this project, a consortium of partners worked with selected ATVETs to close the skills gaps using a non-traditional pedagogy of competency based training in horticulture. This was by strengthening the capacity of the ATVETs through a strong collaboration and linkages between the education institutions and the private sector to enable practical learning and innovation in the horticulture sector. The project integrated the curriculum for horticulture, water and climate to suit the needs of the students and the labour market, and tailored it to the local context. Each of the participating colleges invested in hands-on training through dedicated agricultural innovation hubs and creating strong links with the local stakeholders. To compliment curricula developed by the Curriculum Development Assessment and Certificate Council (CDACC), training manuals were developed for selected courses. In addition tutors were trained to enhance their capacity in design, delivery and evaluation of competence based education. Problem based learning in the Kenyan context as well as joint learning sessions between Kenyan and Dutch students were the other non-traditional pedagogy methodologies that were explored. The project increased interactions between the ATVET, industry and partners in horticulture within Kenya and in the Netherlands. The ATVETs created more local partnerships relevant to their training and practical work. The students were the primary beneficiaries through enhanced quality teaching. These benefits have been cascaded to the surrounding communities and the impact is expected to be sustainable.

Exploring the mental health of Australian construction apprentices: a dual-continuum approach

Purpose This study aims to use the dual-continuum model of mental health to explore mental health in Australian construction apprentices from the perspective of key stakeholders in the apprenticeship model. In particular, this study explored how construction apprentices, Vocational Education and Training (VET) teachers, industry employers and mental health workers understood the construct of mental health, factors associated with the dimension of psychological distress/symptoms of mental illness, and factors associated with the dimension of mental wellbeing. Design/methodology/approach This study used an exploratory qualitative research design. Data from 36 semi-structured interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Participants comprised 19 Australian construction apprentices, 5 VET teachers, 7 industry employers and 5 mental health workers. Findings In total, 14 themes were generated from the data set. Participants across stakeholder groups reported a limited understanding about mental health. Participants cited a range of negative personal, workplace and industry factors associated with psychological distress/symptoms of mental illness, but only reported a few factors associated with mental wellbeing. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first to use the dual-continuum model of mental health to explore the mental health of Australian construction apprentices, and to explore the factors associated with both dimensions of this model from the perspective of key stakeholders in the Australian construction apprenticeship model.

MUDIG transforms global vocational education by enhancing engagement

This research introduces MUDIG (Mobile Understanding Digital Graphic) learning media, designed to enhance class X students' comprehension of Graphic Design at Diponegoro Vocational School, Sidoarjo. Utilizing the Research and Development (R&D) methodology with the Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation (ADDIE) model, the study aimed to address the lack of engaging learning materials in vocational education. Results from a small-scale trial showed positive student responses, with an average assessment of 86.6%, alongside high suitability ratings from expert validation. Student feedback emphasized increased interest, motivation, and understanding of the subject matter. These findings underscore the potential of innovative media like MUDIG to improve teaching and learning outcomes in vocational education, suggesting avenues for further exploration and implementation in broader classroom contexts. Highlight: MUDIG enhances Graphic Design learning in vocational education. Students respond positively, showing increased interest and comprehension. R&D methodology, ADDIE model ensure structured development and evaluation. Keyword: MUDIG, Graphic Design, Vocational Education, R&D Methodology, ADDIE Model

Modern technologies in the development of higher education teachers’ professional competence

The relevance of the research. The current stage of the historical development of the world community is characterized by the acceleration of scientific, technical and social progress, the large-scale dissemination of new ideas and technologies. Therefore, the reproduction of knowledge carriedout on an innovative basis is relevant and has an increasing impact on the rate of economic growth. The problem statement. The modern education system is gradually beginning to fully use theresources of the competency-based approach. In vocational education this approach is the conceptual basis for the implementation of an innovation system. The problem of the research is to identify the features of the formation of professional competence of higher education teachers. The purpose of the article is to substantiate modern technologies for developing the professional competence of vocational education teachers to increase their readiness to train future specialists on innovative principles. The research methods used are theoretical analysis of scientific literature on the research problem; study of regulatory documents in the field of education; analysis and synthesis; systematization and generalization; survey. The results and key conclusions. The need for continuous professional development of teachers based on innovative principles and updating of the problem under consideration has been identified. The use of modern pedagogical technologies of distance learning, project-based learning and production technologies for the formation of professional competence of higher education teachers, as well as modern forms of training future qualified specialists, have been justified.

Utilization of technology-enhance learning tools among vocational and technical education teachers in Nigerian tertiary institutions

The study determined training needs of teachers and issues in the utilization of Technology-enhanced Learning tools in Vocational and Technical Education in Nigerian tertiary institutions. Five research questions and one hypothesis guided the study. The sample for the study is 318 teachers from six tertiary institutions that offer majority of Vocational and Technical Education programmes in Nigeria. Instrument for data collection was developed by the researchers and was validated by five experts in Vocational and Technical Education. The overall reliability index of the instrument is 0.81. Results from collected data revealed that the teachers require training to enable them use Technology-enhanced Learning tools for instructional delivery; the current mode of instructional delivery in institutions is face-to-face approach; many institutions have Information and Communication Technology center and institution wide internet which are not effectively utilized for instructional delivery, among numerous other findings. Among the recommendations is that teachers should be given access to the available Technology-enhanced Learning facilities in their institutions to enable them learn how to use them at their own free times. It was concluded that most VTE teachers are eager to deploy Technology-enhanced Learning tools for instructional delivery but some institutional supports they need, especially trainings are inadequate.

Teaching Management System for Higher Vocational and Technical Education Using Wasserstein Generative Adversarial Network Optimized by Fire Hawk Optimization

The vocational education system is currently undergoing purposeful reform and innovation, recognizing the importance of vocational training in the entire educational framework. Assessing and improving teaching quality in vocational education is critical, and addressing this challenge necessitates. The utilize of AI technology, primarily deep learning, is particularly effective in addressing the diverse and sophisticated aspects of evaluating and improving teaching quality. In this research work, Teaching Management System for Higher Vocational and Technical Education Using Wasserstein Generative Adversarial Network Optimized by Fire Hawk Optimization (TMS-WGAN-FHO) is proposed. The input data are gathered from School database (Educational data),then, input data are pre-processed using Square Root Cubature Kalman Filter for cleaning data. Then, pre-processed data are given to Wasserstein Generative Adversarial Network (WGAN) for evaluating and improving the teaching quality for Higher Vocational and Technical Education. In general, WGAN does not express some adoption of optimization strategies for determining optimal parameters to evaluating, improving quality of teaching management system. Hence Fire Hawk Optimization Algorithm (FHOA) is proposed to optimize WGAN classifier which precisely evaluates the teaching quality Higher Vocational and Technical Education. The proposed TMS-WGAN-FHO method is implemented in MATLAB, and it assessed with several performance metrics likes accuracy, cross validation scores, recall, F1-score, ROC. The results show TMS-WGAN-FHO attains 25.8%, 28.5%, and 21.6% higher Accuracy, 15.1%, 17.2%, and 32.8%higher Precision, 27.5%, 24.6% and 22.3% higher Recall are analysed with existing methods such as, evaluation of the vocational education teaching reform's quality using deep learning (EVE-TRQ-DL), art higher vocational education curriculum design incorporating AI-aided virtual reality technology (AHVE-DIAI-VRT), integrating big data analysis with higher vocational education approaches to educate entrepreneurship and innovation (IBDA-HVE-EEV) methods respectively.

Energy Efficiency through Solar Panelled Mobile Workshop for Vocational Education Teaching Factory

Energy efficiency needs to be fundamental norm in education. Vocational education which focuses on tangible outputs of knowledge and science should be taking part in creating sustainable and responsible outcomes. This paper presented a model of adapting the energy efficiency foundation into application of technology and knowledge. As vocational education becomes a widely sought-after alternative for hands-on and output-based education, application of such model is at most importance. A strong and impactful vocational institution requires good and independent teaching factory (TEFA). A TEFA becomes a backbone for practicum and production at the same time. A good TEFA is expensive to create and maintain. Therefore, many vocational schools become ineffective and new and more This paper presented a new model for vocational school teaching factory program (TEFA) based on smart energy management. The model was introduced by SMK Negeri 1 Pringgabaya, a vocational school in East Lombok, Indonesia. A TEFA active learning process and entrepreneurial application by designing solar energy carts an as annex to the mobile workshop. In this present study, the model used an integrated experimental approach between output-based education and a smart energy management. Such model also displayed more equitable vocational outcomes through entrepreneurial aspects of commercialization. The results showed a model of mobile workshop aimed at providing services to motorcycle owners while the solar paneled carts provided electricity for both the mechanics and the customers. Added value was identified because customers could charge their mobile phones for free and enjoy cheap or complimentary beverages. The solar paneled mobile workshop did not only gain revenue but also actively promoted itself through social media platforms. It was concluded that the model provided a more equitable value for the sustainable TEFA.

Leveraging multistakeholder partnerships in technical, vocational education, and training

The present study examines the argument of placing greater emphasis on partnerships between stakeholders and vocational training. The current challenges of unemployment are too dire to be left to one stakeholder or country to resolve, and therefore, multistakeholder partnerships become necessary to tackle these multifaceted problems of practice across borders. The present study is necessary because there is need to illuminate the issues about partnerships for promoting innovation, industrial and infrastructural development through global and multistakeholder partnerships in technical and vocational education training. Evidence gathered from this assessment will inform the improvement of existing on-the-job training, enable institutions to scale-up successful models of partnerships and foster the development of vocational practices that are more adaptable to work ethic and the dynamic world of work.

디지털전환 시대의 직업훈련 교･강사 역량체계 개발 연구

The purpose of this study is to derive common core competencies of vocational training teachers and instructors and develop a competency framework that reflects changes in industrial and occupational trends due to digital transformation. The research procedure is carried out in three stages. In the initial phase, a preliminary competency framework for training instructors was developed through an analysis of prior research. Subsequently, validation was conducted via an expert Delphi survey, leading to the presentation of a competency framework for vocational training instructors. The research findings delineated five major competency domains comprising fundamental competencies, teaching, learning, and assessment competencies, learner support competencies, administrative competencies, and organizational management competencies. Across these five main domains, 23 sub-competencies were identified, each accompanied by operational definitions. This study establishes the groundwork for the development of competency assessment tools, incorporating contemporary demands such as AI and digital competencies within the framework for vocational training instructors. Future efforts should concentrate on aligning competency assessment tools with educational programs to enhance competencies based on this research. Additionally, ongoing updates to the competency framework are recommended for further investigation.

MODERN PEDAGOGICAL TECHNOLOGIES AND THEIR APPLICATION IN THE WORK OF TEACHERS OF A VOCATIONAL (VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL) EDUCATION INSTITUTION

The article theoretically substantiates and experimentally verified modern pedagogical technologies and their application in the work of teachers of professional (vocational and technical) education institutions. The main goal of an article is to perform an analysis of modern pedagogical technologies and their application in the work of teachers of the institution vocational and technical education. To achieve the goal, theoretical analysis of scientific works, synthesis, comparison, and generalization of approaches to the definition of theoretical aspects of modern pedagogical technologies and their application in the work of teachers of professional (vocational-technical) education institutions were used. It has been established that many learning technologies have been developed today, which prompts theoretical generalization, analysis, classification and selection of optimal methods of their use. The process of using traditional and introducing new (innovative) learning technologies proceeds spontaneously. In the procedure of their selection and implementation in the educational process, there are contradictions between: new goals of education and old ways of presenting and learning knowledge; growing volumes of information that need to be transferred to education seekers and the limited amount of study time; the urgent need for pedagogical innovations in the educational process and the insufficient development of the methodology of using new pedagogical technologies in education. The presence of these contradictions determines the need to study the effectiveness of using innovative pedagogical technologies. As a result of our research, it has been proven that the focus of attention of the pedagogical community is on vocational education institutions, which are designed to provide the labor market with qualified workers who are able to successfully work with the most modern production technologies. For this purpose, the regulatory and legal framework is dynamically updated: legal regulation of the functioning of the vocational education system, all its levels and subsystems, the activities of educational institutions of various types and forms of ownership, and the organization of various forms of education is ensured.

Does Australia’s competency-based training meet the mental health training needs of enrolled nurses?

ABSTRACT Australia’s demand for nurses is exponentially increasing as we are faced with a global pandemic, an ageing population, and an increase in chronic health conditions and mental health issues. This presents a significant challenge for the healthcare system by increasing the absolute number of people needing care. The Enrolled Nursing course can train nurses in 18-24 months and offers a solution to the nursing shortage. This training in Australia is delivered by the Vocational Education Training (VET) system utilizing a competency-based training approach (CBT). However, CBT is often criticised for failing to deliver the essential skills of communication. critical thinking, and clinical reasoning that are fundamental to mental health nursing. This discussion paper explores the current VET system in Australia to determine if it can adequately train Enrolled Nurses with the skills to work with mental health consumers and suggests that simulation-based education using Simulated Persons could provide one solution.