ArticlePDF Available

Enhancing the Problem-Solving Skills of Vocational Students Through Skills Competition

Authors:

Abstract and Figures

Unlike general education, vocational education aims to nurture skilled people for various sectors in the society. The development of students’ problem analysis and problem-solving skills is crucial. As an important part of the vocational education system, skills competitions are considered a “booster” for improving the quality of teaching in vocational institutions. This paper examines the problem-solving skills of students in preparation for skills competition. First of all, we introduce China’s education policies and conduct a review of early scholars’ views, followed by a discussion on the specific problems faced in the design of the entry for skills competition and an exploration of the process of enhancing students’ problem-solving skills around these problems; we then propose several suggestions for vocational institutions to enhance their participation in skills competitions. Skills competitions provide a “special stage” for students in vocational institutions to show their abilities. The question of how this “stage” can be utilized to better improve students’ abilities is worth exploring in different fields.
9
Volume 6; Issue 12
Journal of Contemporary Educational Research, 2022, Volume 6, Issue 12
http://ojs.bbwpublisher.com/index.php/JCER
ISSN Online: 2208-8474
ISSN Print: 2208-8466
Enhancing the Problem-Solving Skills of
Vocational Students Through Skills Competition
Shang Wang1*, Fei Peng1, Mengjie Li2
1School of Automotive Engineering, Beijing Polytechnic, Beijing 100176, China
2School of Art & Design, Beijing Polytechnic, Beijing 100176, China
*Corresponding author: Shang Wang, wangshang@bpi.edu.cn
Copyright: © 2022 Author(s). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC
BY 4.0), permitting distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is cited.
Abstract: Unlike general education, vocational education aims to nurture skilled people for various sectors in the society. The
development of students’ problem analysis and problem-solving skills is crucial. As an important part of the vocational
education system, skills competitions are considered a “booster” for improving the quality of teaching in vocational
institutions. This paper examines the problem-solving skills of students in preparation for skills competition. First of all, we
introduce China’s education policies and conduct a review of early scholars’ views, followed by a discussion on the specific
problems faced in the design of the entry for skills competition and an exploration of the process of enhancing students’
problem-solving skills around these problems; we then propose several suggestions for vocational institutions to enhance their
participation in skills competitions. Skills competitions provide a “special stage” for students in vocational institutions t o
show their abilities. The question of how this “stage” can be utilized to better improve students’ abilities is worth exploring
in different fields.
Keywords: Skills competition; Problem-solving skills; Vocational students; Vocational colleges
Online publication: December 8, 2022
1. Introduction
Vocational education and general education are positioned differently, but they have equal importance.
Vocational education is positioned to nurture skilled and application-oriented talents for various industries
in the society. As the pace of industrial upgrading and economic restructuring continues to accelerate, the
demand for skilled personnel by various existing industries is increasing; additionally, the status and role
of vocational education is becoming more prominent [1].
At present, there are several shortcomings in the method of training vocational education talents, and
a gap exists between graduates and the job requirements set by enterprises. Companies value practical skills
and require their employees to be able to solve problems in the production line. The main teaching method
used by vocational institutions is the traditional classroom lecture method, which poses a challenge to the
development of students’ problem-solving skills. As an important part of vocational education, skills
competitions can promote the internal development of vocational institutions. As an important supplement
to traditional classroom, it is a strong impetus for the reform and innovation of the talent training model.
Taking the Mechanical Innovation Skills Competition as an example, students, under the guidance of their
instructors, are required to design and manufacture products on their own. Whether in the design and
manufacturing process or the product optimization process, students will inevitably encounter problems.
10
Volume 6; Issue 12
In April 2022, the Chinese government introduced the “Law on Vocational Education,” which
emphasizes the role of skills competitions in vocational education. The document states that vocational
institutions should provide a platform for technical skilled personnel to showcase their skills and compete
with each other and continue to train more high-quality skilled talents through skills competitions [2,3].
2. Literature review
What is the role of skills competitions in promoting vocational education? Early scholars have carried out
research work in different fields. American scholar Liu [4] argue that participating in skills competitions is
a win-win situation for both students and teachers. He believes that teachers would be able to improve their
professional competence, and thus the quality of teaching, while students can consolidate and improve their
professional skills and enhance their overall quality. In a study, Japanese scholar Wan [5] used big data to
investigate the intrinsic relationship between vocational skills. His findings have provided a theoretical
basis for other vocational skills research fields, including vocational skill training, vocational skill mining,
and vocational skill identification. Wu [6] has conducted an in-depth analysis of the problems in digital
education and suggested the addition of a simulation operation competition module within the operating
system, where students would play games (compete with each other) to complete learning tasks, thus
improving the quality of teaching and learning. German scholar Green [7] has reformed the curriculum based
on the core skills theory. He has discovered that highlighting core skills in teaching enhances the integration
of academic and vocational learning through teaching experiments. Zheng [8] explained the importance of
cultivating applied senior talents from the perspective of the rapid development of the sports market and
analyzed the relationship between vocational skills competitions and the cultivation of applied talents. She
designed a new system for cultivating applied talents based on skills competition, thus providing a reference
for cultivating applied talents in sports economy management. Li [9] analyzed the importance of the “tiered
ladder” training mechanism in the context of vocational skills competition, taking secondary-level
electronics students as the research subject. Maia [10], a British scholar, believes that skills competitions can
improve the attractiveness of vocational education. He conducted 110 interviews with contestants from a
skills competition. Based on these data, he analyzed the potential contribution of skills competitions to
revitalizing British vocational education. In a study, Lv [11] analyzed the methods and ideas of industrial
product innovation practice based on a case of “industrial product digital design” in a senior vocational
skills competition. He believes that skills competition is important for curriculum reform and students’
innovation ability development.
3. Research logic
The previous section discusses the views of scholars, in which they all agree that skills competitions are
important and contribute to the enhancement of students’ abilities. However, there are only a few literary
works on the analysis of typical cases. This study analyzes the role of skills competitions in promoting
students’ problem-solving skills through their participation in the “Internet +” College Student Innovation
and Entrepreneurship Competition. The research logic is shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Research logic diagram
Description of China's
policy documents
Summary of scholars'
research
Introduction to the
logical structure of the
article
Main conclusions Analysis of students'
ability improvement
Introduction to skills
competition entry
11
Volume 6; Issue 12
First, the Chinese government’s education policy is described in this paper. Second, the perspectives
of scholars are reviewed. Third, the skills competition entry is presented, along with the problems faced by
students. Fourth, the ability improvement process of the students is analyzed with regard to the four
problems addressed. Suggestions are then made for vocational institutions to increase their participation in
skills competitions.
4. Skills competition entry
Five students from Beijing Polytechnic formed a team and participated in the “Internet +” College Student
Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition. Under the guidance of the research team, the participating
team preliminarily formed the “Unmanned Disaster Rescue Vehicle” (Figure 2) as an entry. The
application scenario of the entry is as follows: at the disaster scene, the unmanned rescue vehicle enters the
hazardous area to transport emergency rescue materials (such as medicines and rescue equipment).
battery pack
load platform
H-beam
Figure 2. Structure of the skills competition entry
It can be seen from the application scenario that the load capacity of the rescue vehicle is an important
parameter. As shown in Figure 2, the upper part of the rescue vehicle is a load platform, and below the
load platform is a battery pack. The load platform is separated from the battery pack by a load-bearing steel
beam. Obviously, an overweight load will cause severe bending deformation of the beam, pressing the
battery pack and causing an accident. The students’ creativity is evident from their work. However, many
factors need to be considered to complete the design and the production. The key, yet difficult aspect, of
the design is the safety of the work.
5. Promoting effect and analysis
5.1. Solving the problem of untestable situation
In order to ensure the reliability of the entry, the students wanted to carry out a three-point bending
mechanical experiment to test the bending resistance of the H-shaped steel beam (as shown in Figure 2).
However, the school did not have the corresponding mechanical experimental equipment or cutting device
to cut the H-beam according to the sample size requirements of the three-point bending test equipment.
Therefore, the idea of conducting the experiment could not be realized. In order to improve the safety and
stability of the entry, it is necessary to test the mechanical properties of the beam. How then to solve the
problem of not being able to conduct experiments? The students had to think of a solution. After searching
from various books to look for a solution, they proposed a solution, whereby simulation would be used to
simulate the deformation. This solution was approved by the instructors. The research team introduced the
basic theory and related software of finite element to the participating team. In order to establish a more
12
Volume 6; Issue 12
accurate model for bending performance simulation, a geometric model must be established.
5.2. Solving the problem of establishing a geometric model
In order to exercise the students’ problem analysis and drawing abilities, the task of establishing a geometric
model was assigned to the students by the research team. The students looked up various relevant materials
during their spare time and came up with specific dimensions for the beam. Subsequently, they drew a
geometric model diagram, as shown in Figures 3 and 4 (the diagrams were drawn by the students). The
geometric models drawn by the students were approved by the instructors. On this basis, the finite element
model was built and computed on the server.
L
H
D
S
Figure 3. Geometric model of the H-beam bending test
Figure 4. Cross-section of the H-beam
5.3. Solving the problem of data analysis
It is necessary for students to possess basic data analysis ability. Skills competitions provide students with
the opportunity to collate and analyze data. What data should be obtained through simulation technology,
and how to set specific parameters? Therefore, students are required to plan. The data to be measured are
as follows:
(1) the stress distribution of the beam corresponding to each reduction amount and the maximum stress value;
(2) the pressure value of the load platform (self-weight is not considered) corresponding to each reduction
amount.
The instructors carried out the modeling and simulation work. Through simulation, a lot of data were
obtained. The students were required to process and analyze these data, including the maximum Mises
stress values corresponding to different depressions (as shown in Figure 5). In order to complete these data
processing tasks, the students learned the Origin software by themselves and made drawings in strict
accordance with the requirements of the paper.
13
Volume 6; Issue 12
Figure 5. Maximum Mises stress values corresponding to different depressions
5.4. Solving the problem of less content in the declaration
As mentioned earlier, analyzing the problem is important, but solving it is even more critical. At the
beginning, when preparing to write the declaration, the students had no idea how to start. Under the
guidance of the instructors, the students came up with an overall plan. They divided the declaration into
several parts, in which each part was analyzed according to the following questions: “What are the problems
faced?”, “What is the solution?”, “What are the supporting figures and data?”, and “What are the main
conclusions?”. With such an overall plan, the students completed the application. The colors in the stress
nephogram (as shown in Figure 6) were the highlights of the declaration. The redder the color, the larger
the stress, while the bluer the color, the smaller the stress.
Figure 6. Stress nephogram of bending deformation of H-beam
6. Conclusions
The current professional talent training system of vocational colleges has several shortcomings, and a gap
exists between skilled talents and the job requirements set by enterprises. Vocational skills competitions
are a major reform and conceptual innovation of the vocational education system. It is necessary for students
in vocational colleges to participate in skill competitions. However, it is inappropriate for schools to
overemphasize the importance of obtaining award certificates; instead, teachers should attach importance
to the process of improving students’ ability to analyze and solve problems.
14
Volume 6; Issue 12
Funding
This research was supported by the project of China Vocational Education Association (Project Number:
ZJS2022YB024) and the project of Innovation and Development Center of Ideological and Political Work
(Beijing Polytechnic), Ministry of Education (Project Number: 2022X305-SXZC).
Disclosure statement
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Author contributions
S.W. and F.P. conceived the idea of the study and wrote the first draft of the paper. M.L. revised the article’s
format.
References
[1] Wang S, 2019, Significance, Characteristics and Implementation Measures of the Implementation Plan
of National Vocational Education Reform. Journal of Shijiazhuang Vocational and Technical College,
31(3): 4–10. http://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1009-4873.2019.03.002
[2] Meng K, Hao Z, 2022, The New Vocational Education Law: Significance, Characteristics and
Breakthrough. Vocational and Technical Education, 43(15): 20–24. http://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1008-
3219.2022.15.005.
[3] Liu X, 2022, Analysis of the “Good Law” Characteristics of the New Vocational Education Law from
the Perspective of Policy Analysis. Vocational and Technical Education, 43(22): 6–10.
http://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1008-3219.2022.22.002
[4] Liu C-B, Gao X-Q, Gao H-X, et al., 2017, Analysis of the Significance of Skills Competition Based
on Civil Engineering Specialty Group at Vocational Colleges for Training Highly-Skilled Individuals.
Humanity and Social Science: Proceedings of the International Conference on Humanity and Social
Science (ICHSS2016), 130–136. https://doi.org/10.1142/9789813208506_0019
[5] Wan J, Chen BB, Si H, 2017, Mining and Measurement of Vocational Skills and Their Association
Rules based on Big Data. Proceedings of the International Conference on Digital Technology in
Education, 59–63. https://doi.org/10.1145/3134847.3134858
[6] Wu B, Li Y, 2018, Design of Evaluation System for Digital Education Operational Skill Competition
based on Block Chain. 2018 IEEE 15th International Conference on E-business Engineering (ICEBE),
102–109. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICEBE.2018.00025
[7] Green A, 1998, Core Skills, Key Skills and General Culture: in Search of the Common Foundation in
Vocational Education. Evaluation & Research in Education, 12(1): 23–43. https://doi.org/10.1080/095
00799808666929
[8] Zheng M, 2022, Research on the Cultivation of Applied Top Talents of Sports Economic Management
Specialty based on Vocational Skills Competition. Jiangsu Business Theory, 2022(08): 117-120.
https://doi.org/10.13395/j.cnki.issn.1009-0061.2022.08.008
[9] Li S, 2021, The Research on the “Hierarchical Ladder” Training of Vocational Ability of Students in
Electronic Major of Secondary Vocational School Based on the Professional Skills Competition. The
Guide of Science & Education, 2021(13): 39–41. https://doi.org/10.16400/j.cnki.kjdk.2021.13.013
15
Volume 6; Issue 12
[10] Chankseliani M, James Relly S, Laczik A, 2016, Overcoming Vocational Prejudice: How can Skills
Competitions Improve the Attractiveness of Vocational Education and Training in the UK? British
Educational Research Journal, 42(4): 582-599. https://doi.org/10.1002/berj.3218
[11] Lu W, Li J, 2019, Research on the Application of Innovation Practice in the Digital Design of Industrial
Products in the Higher Vocational Skills Competition. Journal of Qingdao Ocean Shipping Mariners
College, 40(3): 51–56 + 74. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.2095-3747.2019.03.012
Publisher’s note
Bio-Byword Scientific Publishing remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
... Implementing skill-based education can be a feasible approach to assist individuals with distinctive learning needs in acquiring novel proficiencies. According to Wang et al. (2022), vocational education is strategically positioned to develop skilled and practical individuals across various industries. The increasing pace of industrial upgrading and economic restructuring leads to a growing demand for skilled personnel. ...
... According to Chankseliani et al. (2016) empirical investigation, skills competitions can potentially increase the attractiveness of vocational education. Wang et al. (2022) have provided evidence to suggest that vocational skills competitions represent a significant reform and conceptual innovation within the vocational education system. The WorldSkills Competition is a globally renowned skills competition that attracts diverse participants from various regions and intends to assess an individual's proficiency in a particular field. ...
Article
Full-text available
Malaysia is one of the 85 member nations competing in the WorldSkills Competition, which unites two-thirds of the world’s population. The WorldSkills mission is to encourage and assist 100 million young people in advancing their skills by 2030. This study investigated how teacher (special education teacher), the community (instructor), and expert, train an intellectually disabled student for the National Floristry Competition. As a precursor for the WorldSkills Competition, this study examined their experiences and difficulties in training intellectually disabled student for this competition. This study uses a purposive sampling method with three participants rather than a random one. Based on a case study research design, it employs ethnographic participant observation and in-depth interviews, among other techniques. The study determined that student with special needs should participate in international skill competitions as early as possible. The Malaysian floristry industry has significant untapped potential, and students with intellectual disabilities can access it if they receive ongoing guidance and training. To be successful in the WorldSkills Competition, Malaysia must overcome financial, time, and knowledge limitations. This study illustrates the difficulties and lessons learned in preparing an intellectually disabled student for the national floristry competition. These empirical investigations result in a deeper understanding and are crucial to academicians as the path for future planning and generating future young talents for the WorldSkills Competition.
... A number of researches highlight varied benefits of vocational skills competitions for empowering students. Wang et al. [3] found that competitions strengthened problem-solving via application of multidisciplinary knowledge to industry-aligned issues. The competitions also facilitate vocational education development. ...
... Liu and Wan [7] delineated flaws uncovered through competition, thus exposing shortcomings in augmenting food testing training. Scholars emphasize simulation roles for preparation [8] and contextual design applications [3] . Diverse assessment methods were explored. ...
Article
Full-text available
This paper analyzes key challenges faced by vocational college students when participating in national skills competitions. It identifies problems like limited resources, insufficient training, lack of mentorship, academic workload constraints, and inadequate equipment. Targeted solutions are proposed, including improving resource access, providing structured skill training, implementing expert mentorship programs, offering flexible schedules, and upgrading experimental equipment. Implementing these recommendations through a collaborative effort among stakeholders can significantly empower vocational students to excel in skills competitions by enabling access to resources, building practical skills, obtaining guidance, managing time effectively, and gaining hands-on experience.
... The national vocational skills competition, as a publiclyorganized and nationwide vocational skills competition, is initiated by the Ministry of Education and jointly organized with relevant departments of the State Council, industries, and social organizations. This competition has demonstrated significant effects in promoting the quality of technical and skilled talent cultivation, verifying teaching achievements, and leading educational and teaching reforms [1][2]. At the same time, it plays a positive role in deepening the implementation of the comprehensive educational model integrating jobs, courses, competitions, and certifications. ...
Article
Full-text available
With the increasing emphasis placed by the country on vocational education, it has become a key focus for vocational colleges to encourage their students to participate in national vocational skills competitions, through which they can enhance their professional qualities, theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and employability. The big data technology major of Jiangsu Maritime Institute has analyzed the knowledge and skill points required in big data application development skills competitions, and has constructed a project-driven hybrid teaching approach based on the Chaoxing Cloud Course Platform, which utilizes a SPOC (Small Private Online Course) approach. By aligning with the workflows and tasks of big data technology-related job positions, the major integrates skills competition projects into its curriculum, realizing a learner-centered, integrated online and offline learning approach. Through teaching practice, this teaching method has achieved good results, improving the quality of teaching and students' learning enthusiasm, and providing new methods and perspectives for the reform of big data technology professional courses in higher vocational education.
... Academic achievement was measured by grade rank, class rank, English proficiency test, scholarship, vocational qualification certificate and vocational skill competition (Rodríguez-Hernández et al., 2020;Wang et al., 2022;Wittman, 2022). The study used 1-5 to represent the top 20% to the bottom 20% of grade and class ranks. ...
Article
Full-text available
Background Higher vocational education is an essential part of the higher education system that complements conventional education. In the context of information and communication technology (ICT) development and academic competition, more and more literature has proved the importance of ICT use in educational development (academic achievement and mental health) and the relationship between information literacy and the educational development of higher vocational students. Objectives Based on one of the most extensive surveys of higher vocational students, the study combined the Opportunity‐Propensity (O‐P) framework and ecological model to explore the direct effects of different types of ICT use on educational development and the indirect effects from psychological and social factors. Methods The data involved 28,956 students from seven higher vocational colleges. The class fixed effect and causal mediation analysis models verified the results. Results and Conclusion The results found differential effects of different types of ICT use on academic achievement and mental health. Information literacy ability can improve the academic achievement of higher vocational students, but at the cost of mental health. ICT use not only directly impacts the academic achievement and mental health, but also has an indirect impact through psychological factors represented by self‐efficacy and technostress and social factors represented by social support. Implications This study promotes integrating and expanding the O‐P framework and ecological model, enriching the relevant research in ICT use and educational development. Meanwhile, it also provides practical suggestions for realizing rational interventions in ICT use and improving the educational development level of higher vocational students.
... Innovation skills equip students with the requisite skills and mindset to tackle complex problems, adapt to technological advancements, and contribute to economic growth. Nevertheless, there are several challenges in the cultivation of students' innovation skills in vocational colleges that hinder the nurturing of future talents [3,4] . This paper aims to shed light on the problems encountered in the cultivation of students' innovation ability in vocational colleges and propose viable countermeasures from the perspective of skills competition. ...
Article
Full-text available
The cultivation of students’ innovation skills in vocational colleges is of paramount importance in preparing them to excel in the everchanging and competitive world. However, there are several challenges that impede the development of students’ innovation skills. This paper addresses these challenges from the perspective of skills competition and proposes practical countermeasures. These suggestions include incorporating skills competition into the curriculum, provision of teacher training on innovation skills, encouraging industry partnerships, and fostering a culture of innovation within vocational colleges. Through the implementation of these measures, an environment that nurtures students’ practical abilities, creativity, and innovation skills can be created. This research contributes to the existing body of knowledge on innovation education in vocational colleges and offers practical strategies for enhancing the cultivation of students’ innovation ability.
... Moreover, participating in these competitions allows students to gain valuable experience in teamwork, time management, and communication [2] . Additionally, skills competitions serve as a platform for students to network with professionals and potential employers, increasing their chances of finding employment after graduation [3] . Therefore, it is imperative for schools to pay attention to the cultivation of students' craftsmanship spirit if they wish to succeed in these competitions. ...
Article
Full-text available
The spirit of craftsmanship is gaining increasing attention from both society and the education community. Along with professional knowledge, continuous research, and innovation have become decisive factors in determining the quality of products. In this context, vocational colleges strive to cultivate high-quality skilled talents, making the cultivation of craftsmanship spirit a crucial component of vocational education. This study explores the cultivation path of craftsmanship spirit through the lens of skills competitions, with a special emphasis on developing students’ perseverance. The research conclusions of this article hold significant reference value for the implementation of vocational education policies.
... In recent years, vocational colleges have increasingly recognized the importance of innovative skills competitions as a means to prepare students for the dynamic demands of the workforce [1,2] . However, these competitions often face numerous challenges that hinder their effectiveness in nurturing students' innovative abilities [3] . This paper aims to explore the problems faced by vocational colleges in preparing for innovative skills competitions and propose countermeasures to address these issues. ...
Article
Full-text available
This study investigates the challenges encountered by vocational colleges when preparing for innovative skills competitions and proposes effective countermeasures. It highlights issues concerning students’ motivation, limited financial resources and hardware, teacher capacity limitations, inadequate reward systems, and curriculum misalignment. Through meticulous research and analysis, this paper presents practical recommendations to mitigate these challenges. Suggestions encompass strategies to enhance students’ motivation, increase financial support, provide professional development opportunities for teachers, revamp the reward system, and align the curriculum with competition requirements. By implementing these measures, vocational colleges can cultivate active student participation, elevate teaching quality, bridge the gap between education and industry demands, and equip students for success in innovative skills competitions.
... Innovations in teaching models for vocational college courses require active exploration and experimentation. Mechanics is a crucial and rapidly evolving field that plays a vital role in various industries [1,2] . Mechanics courses are essential in the education of mechanical engineering students, providing them with a solid foundation in theoretical knowledge and practical skills. ...
Article
Full-text available
Mechanics course in vocational colleges faces challenges such as a lack of physical equipment, insufficient hands-on experience, difficulty in visualizing abstract concepts, and cost and safety concerns associated with physical experiments. This paper explores the application of finite element technology (FET) in overcoming these challenges and improving mechanics course teaching in vocational colleges. FET is a simulation-based method that can provide extensive hands-on experience, enhance visualization of abstract concepts, and offer a cost-effective and safe learning environment. The effectiveness of FET-based mechanics education has been demonstrated in numerous studies, and the outlook for FET-based mechanics education in vocational colleges is promising.
... On one hand, it can help students understand the professional knowledge more deeply in practice, especially the mechanical structure of the vehicle and the functions of each equipment. On the other hand, the students can exercise their operational, communication, and teamwork skills [4] . ...
Article
Full-text available
A skills competition is an activity that showcases students’ skills, practical ability, and innovation in the form of a competition. Skills competitions not only allow students to showcase their professional and practical skills but also cultivate their innovation skills and enhance their interest in learning. This paper reviews the research results of previous scholars and proposes that skills competitions play an important role in enhancing professional knowledge learning. The benefits of skills competition participation in learning are studied from four dimensions. Six targeted suggestions are then proposed to enhance the effectiveness of skills competition preparation. The research results of this paper can be used as a reference for the preparation of the skills competition.
... For instance, students of vehicle maintenance majors can benefit significantly from participating in vehicle maintenance competitions. On one hand, they can better understand the mechanical structure and functions of each equipment; on the other hand, they can exercise their practical, communication, and teamwork skills [3] . ...
Article
Full-text available
The improvement of the teachers’ quality will lead to the improvement of school education. With the continuous progress and development of modern society, the requirements of skills competition in vocational colleges are also increasing. Young teachers can improve themselves by guiding students to participate in skills competition. This changes the teachers’ teaching philosophy and allows them to master new technologies and techniques. Besides, skills competitions also enriches curriculum resources while improving teaching quality. In this paper, we reviewed research papers and outlined the positive effects of guiding students to participate in skills competition on the growth of young teachers. Several targeted suggestions are then put forward with the goal of facilitating the transformation of the teachers’ teaching philosophy, enhancing their professional development, and ensuring their rapid growth.
Article
Full-text available
Raising the attractiveness of vocational education and training (VET) has been on the UK as well as the European agenda for some time, primarily for economic and social development reasons. However, little is known about the role of skills competitions in improving the attractiveness of VET. This study uses data from 110 interviews with WorldSkills competitors and their associates to examine the potential contributions of skills competitions to revitalise VET in the UK. Adopting the enhancement strategy we propose that the experiences of young people who have been internationally recognised for excellence in their respective vocations are inspiring for others. Such experiences have the potential to refocus the attention from a deficit model of VET to the level of excellence that can be achieved through competitions. However, the enhancement strategy in and of itself is not enough to raise the attractiveness of VET. To do so requires consistent policy efforts oriented on spreading excellence throughout the entire VET sector. The ultimate disruption of the policy cycle that perpetuates the existing vocational/academic divide may be achieved through a systemic approach that builds upon the examples of vocational excellence.
Conference Paper
In recent years, researches on vocational skills are very extensive, most of them concentrated on vocational skills training, effect of vocational skill competition, vocational education and vocational skill identification and so on. But, there is very little research on the inner relationship among vocational skill based on big data. To address the issue, from LinkedIn we first collect tens of thousands of member profiles with vocational skills as empirical data. And then, we dig out high-frequency vocational skills and apply correlation analysis method to explore correlation characteristics of vocational skills. According to our studying, we figure out that there exist a large number of association rules, some of which have very high degrees of confidence, lift, and support. This research reveals the intrinsic association among different vocational skills. These relationships can reflect the general behavior and cognitive rules of human beings. We hope that our research results can provide a theoretical base for other research areas of vocational skills, such as vocational skill training, vocational skill mining, and identification of vocational skills.
Significance, Characteristics and Implementation Measures of the Implementation Plan of National Vocational Education Reform
  • S Wang
Wang S, 2019, Significance, Characteristics and Implementation Measures of the Implementation Plan of National Vocational Education Reform. Journal of Shijiazhuang Vocational and Technical College, 31(3): 4-10. http://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1009-4873.2019.03.002
The New Vocational Education Law: Significance, Characteristics and Breakthrough. Vocational and Technical Education
  • K Meng
  • Z Hao
Meng K, Hao Z, 2022, The New Vocational Education Law: Significance, Characteristics and Breakthrough. Vocational and Technical Education, 43(15): 20-24. http://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1008-3219.2022.15.005.
Characteristics of the New Vocational Education Law from the Perspective of Policy Analysis. Vocational and Technical Education
  • X Liu
Liu X, 2022, Analysis of the "Good Law" Characteristics of the New Vocational Education Law from the Perspective of Policy Analysis. Vocational and Technical Education, 43(22): 6-10. http://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1008-3219.2022.22.002
Core Skills, Key Skills and General Culture: in Search of the Common Foundation in Vocational Education
  • A Green
Green A, 1998, Core Skills, Key Skills and General Culture: in Search of the Common Foundation in Vocational Education. Evaluation & Research in Education, 12(1): 23-43. https://doi.org/10.1080/095
Research on the Cultivation of Applied Top Talents of Sports Economic Management Specialty based on Vocational Skills Competition
  • M Zheng
Zheng M, 2022, Research on the Cultivation of Applied Top Talents of Sports Economic Management Specialty based on Vocational Skills Competition. Jiangsu Business Theory, 2022(08): 117-120. https://doi.org/10.13395/j.cnki.issn.1009-0061.2022.08.008
Training of Vocational Ability of Students in Electronic Major of Secondary Vocational School Based on the Professional Skills Competition. The Guide of Science & Education
  • S Li
Li S, 2021, The Research on the "Hierarchical Ladder" Training of Vocational Ability of Students in Electronic Major of Secondary Vocational School Based on the Professional Skills Competition. The Guide of Science & Education, 2021(13): 39-41. https://doi.org/10.16400/j.cnki.kjdk.2021.13.013