Employers' Perceptions of Graduate Competencies and Future Trends in Higher Vocational Education in China

Autor/in	Velde, Christine
Titel	Employers' Perceptions of Graduate Competencies and Future Trends in Higher Vocational Education in China
Quelle	In: Journal of Vocational Education and Training, 61 (2009) 1, S.35-51 (17 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1363-6820
Schlagwörter	Curriculum Research; Free Enterprise System; Educational Change; Foreign Countries; Vocational Education; Administrator Attitudes; Trend Analysis; Occupational Surveys; College Outcomes Assessment; Educational Indicators; Minimum Competency Testing; Minimum Competencies; Comparative Education; Politics of Education; China (Shanghai) + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Curriculum; Research; Curriculumreform; Lehrplan; Forschung; Freie Wirtschaft; Bildungsreform; Ausland; Ausbildung; Berufsbildung; Trendanalyse; Berufsanalyse; Educational indicato; Bildungsindikator; Fundamentum; Mindestwissen; Vergleichende Erziehungswissenschaft; Educational policy; Bildungspolitik
Abstract	The Chinese economy is now a major driver of growth in the world economy. As a consequence, significant reforms were introduced which impacted on its educational systems. China is facing unprecedented pressure to produce skilled individuals to meet the demands of this rapid growth. China is in the unique position of operating in a dual system, within a market economy on the one hand, and within the remnants of a command-control bureaucratic system on the other. This curriculum research/review was undertaken at an international design and business higher vocational college located in central Shanghai during 2005/2006. The purpose of the research was to align graduate outcomes better with employer demand, and to seek employers' perceptions about future trends. The sample included key stakeholders of the college, that is: employers; students and graduates; and academic staff. A survey design was used which sought both qualitative and quantitative information from the sample. This article will focus on employers' perspectives of graduate outcomes and future trends. Employers perceived positive attitudes and behaviours, for example, working cooperatively with others; being responsible and adaptable; the ability to resolve conflict; communicating effectively in oral and written English; and a strong commitment to learning continuously, as extremely important qualities in graduates. Some of the more "appropriate attitudes and abilities" such as "being responsible and adaptable" were perceived by researchers as being consistent with a command-control system, rather than a market economy. The research literature illustrates that there is a widening divide between how foreign-owned enterprises and State or private Chinese organisations use the education system. Employers also possess low expectations of the types of skills new employees would possess at the higher vocational education entry level. (Contains 1 table and 3 figures.) (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10