Students’ and staff perceptions of vocational education institution heads’ virtues

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Manuel Joaquín Fernández González ◽  
Tamāra Pīgozne ◽  
Svetlana Surikova ◽  
Ļubova Vasečko

Purpose The relevance of institution leaders’ personal qualities for providing quality education is widely recognized. The purpose of this paper is to explore vocational education and training (VET) institution leaders’ character features. The research question was twofold: What are the features of the character of the pedagogical leaders of three Latvian VET institutions according to students, teachers and institution board members? What are the differences between respondents’ groups regarding their perceptions of leaders’ virtues? Design/methodology/approach Six members of the institution board, five teachers and six students participated in structured qualitative interviews collected in 2013 in three high-quality VET institutions from different fields (tourism, sports and maritime education). Secondary analysis of latent content was used to explore respondents’ perceptions of leaders’ virtues, using software AQUAD 7 for qualitative data analysis. Findings The results revealed significant differences between students’ and staff (teachers’ and institution board members’) perceptions: the staff members appreciated particularly leaders’ performance virtues (“teamwork orientation”) and intellectual virtues (“critical thinking”), whereas, for students, heads’ moral virtues were more relevant, especially “magnanimity”. Respondents also showed concern about VET institution leaders’ civic virtues (“neighborliness,” “community awareness,” and “communicability”). Practical implications The results suggest that different perspectives, and in particular students’ voices, should be integrated in VET leaders’ assessment process and that their continuing professional development should also address their intellectual, moral and civic virtues. Originality/value This study represents an innovative methodological trial for investigating educational institution heads’ leadership from the lens of virtue ethics.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Theresa Chinyere Ogbuanya ◽  
Taiwo Olabanji Shodipe

Purpose With critical reviews of previous studies in workplace learning, this paper aims to investigate workplace learning for pre-service teachers’ practice and quality teaching and learning in technical vocational education and training: key to professional development. Design/methodology/approach The study adopted multistage sampling technique to select sample for the study. Empirical analysis was adopted to analyse the data collected from technical vocational education and training pre-service teachers. Findings The result of the study revealed that the constructs of social learning theory had a stronger linkage with the constructive teaching than traditional management. Originality/value This study emphasizes the need to adequately train pre-service teachers on instructional delivery processes, building strong relationship with learners and build the ability to organize and execute necessary actions required to successfully carry out a specific educational task in a particular context.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bert Schreurs ◽  
Angus Duff ◽  
Pascale M. Le Blanc ◽  
Thomas H. Stone

Purpose This article aims to provide prospective authors guidelines that will hopefully enable them to submit more competitive manuscripts to journals publishing careers research.Design/methodology/approach Based on their experience as an author, reviewer and editorial team member, the authors identify the main criteria that a quantitative study must meet to be considered for publication in international peer-reviewed journals covering career-related topics. They emphasize the importance of contributing to the careers literature and of designing the study in accordance with the research question.Findings Manuscripts are rejected because they are insufficiently innovative, and/or because sample, instruments and design are not appropriate to answer the research question at hand. Cross-sectional designs cannot be used to answer questions of mediation but should not be discarded automatically since they can be used to address other types of questions, including questions about nesting, clustering of individuals into subgroups, and to some extent, even causality.Originality/value The manuscript provides an insight into the decision-making process of reviewers and editorial board members and includes recommendations on the use of cross-sectional data.


2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 370-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tutan Ahmed ◽  
Raghabendra Chattopadhyay

Purpose – Measurement of returns to vocational education has always remained a matter of controversy (Psacharopoulos, 1994; Bennell and Segerstrom, 1998; Ziderman, 1997). Based upon the return evidence many World Bank projects were scrapped (Middleton and Ziderman, 1997, Bennell and Segerstrom, 1998). However, there is again a growing interest for Vocational Education in different countries as well as in international body like UNESCO (Debroy, 2009; King, 2009; McGrath, 2012). Unfortunately there is little justification for this growth from the returns to Vocational Education literature. India is one among the countries where fervent around vocational education and training (henceforth VET) is quite discernible at present. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – Standard Minerian, extended Mincerian and Heckman two-stage methods are used to measure returns to VET vis-à-vis returns to general education in Indian context while taking care of selection bias problem. It is measured at different levels of education since the characteristics of VET changes significantly at different levels of education. This work also considers different classifications of VET (Formal, Hereditary, On the Job). National Sample Survey (NSS) data which recently has included data on VET is used for this measurement. Findings – It shows that the returns to formal VET and On the Job training (OJT) are quite high in the primary level. There is a gradual decline in these returns when compared with general education at higher levels, namely, secondary and tertiary level. At tertiary level effect of formal VET or OJT on income becomes almost insignificant. On the other hand, hereditary training and other category of VET have significantly negative impact and insignificant impact on income, respectively. Research limitations/implications – This work suggests that the investment in VET in present context is justified however there is a requirement to focus on specific area within the VET for this investment. Investment in higher level of formal VET as well as in the OJT set up can provide better return to the individuals. However, NSS data does not provide income data for the self-employed persons. Hence, self-employed category remains outside the purview of this study. Practical implications – In general, formal VET and OJT are profitable for individual in wage employment. However, this profitability declines when the effect of the training is measured at a higher level of general education. Formal vocational training/OJT for the primary and secondary school dropouts are clearly profitable. However, OTJ seems to be providing a return similar to what is provided by formal training. A poor performance of formal VET indicates an institutional gap and reflects present cry from industry for “quality” manpower. Originality/value – To author’s knowledge there is no study on return evidence from various types of VET in Indian context. This study is a deviance from the existing literature on VET in following ways. First, this study suggests that investment in VET can be profitable. Second, many earlier works missed out to consider different types of VET and compare them with general education at different levels. Putting all types of VET into one basket and then analyzing returns has the risk to misleading the policies. Different VETs have completely different dynamics and hence it is required to treat them separately.


2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 357-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto A.P. Cattaneo ◽  
Elena Boldrini

Purpose Starting from the identification of some theoretically driven instructional principles, this paper presents a set of empirical cases based on strategies to learn from errors. The purpose of this paper is to provide first evidence about the feasibility and the effectiveness for learning of video-enhanced error-based strategies in vocational education and training. Design/methodology/approach Four different cases are presented. All of them share the same design-based research perspective, in which teachers and researchers co-designed an (iterative) intervention in the field. Two cases are preliminary investigations, while the other two profit from a quasi-experimental design with at least one experimental condition based on error treatment and a control group. Findings The four cases show the effectiveness of learning from error (and from error analysis). More specifically, they show the validity and flexible adoption of the specific instructional principles derived from the literature review: the use of inductive strategies and in particular, of worked-out examples; the reference to a concrete, possibly personal, experience for the analysis task; the use of prompted writing to elicit self-explanations and reflection; and the use of video for recording and annotating the situation to be analysed. Research limitations/implications The four cases constitute only a starting point for further research into the use of errors for procedural learning. Moreover, the cases presented are focused on learning in the domain of procedural knowledge and not in that of declarative knowledge. Further studies in the vocational education and training sector might serve this research area. Practical implications The paper provides concrete indications and directions to implement effective instructional strategies for procedural learning from errors, especially within vocational education. Social implications Errors are often identified with and attributed to (individual) failures. In both learning institutions and the workplace, this can engender an intolerant and closed climate towards mistakes, preventing real professional development and personal growth. Interventions on learning from errors in schools and workplaces can play a role in changing such a culture and in creating a tolerant and positive attitude towards them. Originality/value The majority of studies about learning from errors are focused on disciplinary learning in academic contexts. The present set of cases contributed to filling in the gap related to initial vocational education, because they deal with learning from errors in dual vocational training in the field of procedural knowledge development. Moreover, a specific contribution of the presented cases relies on the use of video annotation as a support that specifically enhances error analysis within working procedures.


2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Bohne ◽  
Friedhelm Eicker ◽  
Gesine Haseloff

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a vocational scientific constructivist concept meant for shaping competence-based and networked teaching and learning in vocational education and training (VET). Design/methodology/approach VET must enable learners to shape work within the context of conceptions based on the development of society. Refresher trainings cannot realise this. Concepts need a shaping competence-based and networked approach. Teaching and learning networks, learning projects and digital media are the keys to this approach. Findings The focus of the planned concept lies on shaping competence-based teaching and learning. This can be realised with innovative teaching and learning networks. Digital media can support this. The planned concept will be justified. The systematic planning of an exemplary learning project will be discussed. Practical implications This paper lays the ground to evaluate the relevance and range of shaping competence-based and networked teaching and learning. Originality/value The concept was (co-)developed by the University of Rostock. It was tested in first learning projects. These experiences are taken into account. The aim is to emphasise that the intended approach is a justified educational strategy in colleges, companies and other places of learning dealing with VET.


2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 213-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stan Lester

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to review three international frameworks, including the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED), in relation to one country’s higher professional and vocational education system. Design/methodology/approach The frameworks were examined in the context of English higher work-related education, and areas of mismatch identified. These were investigated to identify the extent to which they were due to weaknesses in the national system or to limiting assumptions contained in the frameworks. Findings Assumptions based on stages of education are problematic in the context of lifelong higher and professional education, while more open, lifelong-learning oriented assumptions can be too skeletal to aid comparisons between systems of initial vocational education and training. Particular problems are identified with assumptions contained in the ISCED that do not reflect the reality of professional education. Practical implications International frameworks need to take account of patterns of learning that take place outside of formal institutions and throughout life, but which lead to equivalent outcomes. Nevertheless, it is not adequate to substitute assumptions based only on the level of achievement. Social implications The assumptions underpinning the ISCED in particular mean that equivalent achievements in different systems can be classified differently, leading to under-reporting of individual achievements, a lack of comparability in international statistics, and potential for policy distortion. Originality/value The paper builds on the work of Hippach-Schneider et al. by providing additional evidence, from a different national context, for issues relating to the ISCED in the context of higher professional and vocational education, and extends this analysis to the two major European frameworks.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 68-90
Author(s):  
Stein Rafoss ◽  
Hilde Witsø

This article is about the importance of collaboration in the development of teacher professionalism, and we have asked the research question: How can group collaboration between vocational education and training (VET) students contribute to the development of their teacher professionalism? The data basis is interviews with ten VET students in practical pedagogical education for vocational teachers that we conducted in the winter of 2020. In addition, we studied all internship documents that the ten students produced during the internship period. The students are in practical training at their own school with their own students and collaborate with each other to strengthen their own teacher role. We have applied Dale’s (1989, 1993, 2001) theory of teacher professionalism. To analyse collaboration, we used the theories of Hegel (1999), Honneth (2008, 2009), Barth (1994) and De Hei et al. (2018). We found that this internship made it possible for students to talk and reflect on didactic questions related to Dale’s three areas of expertise.


Author(s):  
L. Sergeieva

The article presents results of research which is implemented according to the thematic plan of research of the Department of Public Service and Management of the Central Institute of Postgraduate Pedagogical Education of SHES "University of Educational Management on the topic: "Scientific and methodological bases of increasing the efficiency of public-private management of continuous education under the conditions of social transformation in Ukraine" (state registration number № ДР 0116U007183). The author's position is the need to introduce logistics as one of the most successful management mechanisms that enable the synchronization of the educational system`s elements of the educational institution and reduce the risk of ineffective use of educational resources. It is proven that the ideology of changes in the field of vocational education and training are replaced by the consolidated purpose, tasks, development paths and key components of modern vocational education. The components of qualitative vocational education and indicators of competitiveness of educational services are presented.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 178
Author(s):  
Astrid Wiriadidjaja ◽  
Lelly Andriasanti ◽  
Andrea Jane

To reduce the unemployment rate, Indonesia has focused since 2007 on the development of Vocational Education and Training (VET). VET is one of solutions that would enhance human resources quality in Indonesia, which has 262 million people. However, the number of unemployed graduates from vocational education is still high until 2019. It means there is something wrong in Indonesia’s current VET system. Meanwhile in Germany, VET is a pillar of national education which is based on a dual system. This system is successful in Germany. As one of the biggest donor countries in promoting VET, Germany tries to introduce a dual education system through bilateral relations with developing countries such as Indonesia. Indonesia seems to need to try to develop VET base on dual education system through cooperation with Germany. Thus, the research question of this article is “why does Indonesia need to make a co-operation with Germany in developing VET based on a dual education system?’ To answer the research question, this paper uses qualitative method which results in the following conclusion: Cooperation with Germany would open the opportunity for abundant human resources in Indonesia to fulfill a huge labor demand in Germany particularly and Europe in general. Moreover, the cooperation makes Indonesia gain support in developing the VET system in this country and get transfer of knowledge and technology from Germany as a developed country


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shoko Yamada ◽  
Christian S. Otchia

PurposeThis article focuses on the perception gaps between teachers and students of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) related to garment production and the reasons behind such gaps. Garment production is the priority sector for the Ethiopian government, which plans to make it the driver of export-oriented growth. At the same time, it is among the programs that demonstrate the lowest employment rates.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire was developed by the authors. It was completed by 162 students and 53 teachers in garment-related programs of seven TVET colleges in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia.FindingsThe findings show that while teachers tend to highlight the importance of practical skills, students desire broader coverage of practical and managerial skills and entrepreneurship. The expectations differ not only based on the person's recognition of labor market conditions but also by the conviction of the efficacy of the education and training system itself. Teachers tend to be persistent on conventional approaches of teaching, while the advanced training on new approaches based on the competency-based training (CBT) significantly impacts on their attitude. Meanwhile, students' perceptions are largely based on their job aspirations and motivations for schooling.Practical implicationsThe authors’ findings may serve to improve the relevance of the Ethiopian Occupation Standards.Originality/valueThe unique feature of this study is that the authors measure skills from multiple dimensions. While the authors examine participants' perceptions of occupation-specific skills, they also analyze the relationships of these perceptions with attitudinal and cognitive skills.


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