Career-training mentorship intervention via the Dreyfus model: Implication for career behaviors and practical skills acquisition in vocational electronic technology

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.

Comparative study of accompaniment programs for undergraduate degree students in Spanish universities

Introduction

In the last decade, higher education has undergone a transformation in different areas. The most recent and impactful one may have been the need to keep it updated during the COVID-19 pandemic and to be able to teach remotely and affect university life as little as possible. Another significant change is the emergence of personal attention, accompaniment, or mentoring programs, which have become the prevalent leitmotif in many universities.

Methods

This study compares the different programs at 60 Spanish universities. The relevant information collected during this research is related to the existence of an accompaniment program, and in this program, which plays the role of mentor, or what year is it for. Other information collected from the search is related to the type of mentoring programs, whether they are regulated, have a formal program, or are linked to specific courses. Finally, the assessment procedures are also indicated in case any evaluation is used. After the analysis developed during this research, the mentor-mentee program implemented at the Francisco de Vitoria University is detailed, highlighting differences from other programs, its advantages, and students' benefits.

Results

The number of accompaniment and mentoring programs offered by Spanish universities continues to rise. In Spanish universities, some accompaniment and mentoring programs offer different and specific mentoring activities designed to enhance and further the kind of education and preparation institutions of higher learning should ideally provide. Accompaniment processes generally have a longer duration in private universities than in public universities, offering a wider range of programs for both current and incoming students and those with specific needs, such as international students.

Discussion

The authors found that not many studies have highlighted the value of the accompaniment, and even fewer have conducted comparative analyses of the diverse realities across various universities. Mentoring programs will have the potential to be part of a university's strategy to help students succeed when the shortcomings of mentoring programs. This study opens new avenues for research into the ideal profile of mentors to best accompany university students.

Fostering Academic Major Satisfaction, Career Curiosity, and Job Search Behaviors Among Electrical/Electronic Technology Education Undergraduates

This study investigates the effect of practical skills-based career training intervention in electrical/electronic works on graduating students’ academic major satisfaction, career curiosity, and self-defeating job search behaviors (SDJSBs). We employed the quasi-experimental design, with a three-wave longitudinal survey. The participants were 101 electrical/electronic technology education undergraduates from two publicly owned universities in Nigeria. Our intervention procedures were guided by the tenets of social cognitive career theory and the theory of planned behavior. The findings revealed significant positive increase in the students’ satisfaction with their academic major, and career curiosity, as well as significant decrease in SDJSBs (viz., procrastination, impulsiveness, and failure to network). We also found mediating effects of learning self-efficacy and perseverance of effort on academic major satisfaction, career curiosity, and SDJSBs.