Does a vocational education program prepare competent graduates for further academic programs?

Abstract

Purpose: This study examines whether students graduating from SSC-VOC perform better in diploma engineering programs. Design/methodology/approach: This study uses quantitative and qualitative methods to examine how secondary school certificate-vocational (SSC-VOC) graduates perform in their subsequent vocational programs. Findings: Despite having vocational training orientation, this study finds that graduates from SSC-VOC receive lower grades than their public counterparts by 0.109 cumulative grade points average (CGPA). Social implications: Findings imply that policymakers should increase teachers' numbers, salaries and laboratory facilities. In addition, collaboration between SSC-VOC institutions and polytechnics would allow them to offer a quality engineering education. In such a way, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programs prepare human resources to promote economic development and employment, expand production opportunities and improve employment quality. Originality/value: This is the first piece of work conducted in Bangladesh that has examined the quality of VET graduates for furthering their studies. This study added value by providing some pragmatic suggestions for practical implications. © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Keywords

Author Keywords

Vocational education socioeconomic status CGPA Diploma engineering

Index Keywords

Author Affiliations

Department of Foundations of Education, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology, Gazipur, Gazipur, Bangladesh

Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology, Gazipur, Gazipur, Bangladesh

Funding & Acknowledgements

University Grants Commission of Bangladesh, UGC

Institutional ethical review board statement: The University Grants Commission, Bangladesh, financed this study. The study was then conducted following the University of Engineering and Technology (DUET) declaration and approved by its ethics committee (protocol code 07012021 and 1 July 2021). After preparing the questionnaires and research guidelines, the research team submitted a formal application and necessary forms to the DUET Ethics Committee for Research on Humans (DECRH) dated June 15, 2021. The DECRH then engaged the Economic and Public Policy Research Group, DUET, for the evaluation since this research is related to the expertise of this particular group. It was approved on July 01, 2021, and we commenced the fieldwork immediately.

References 10 References

1 Agrawal, Tushar, Vocational education and training programs (VET): An Asian perspective, Asia-Pacific Journal of Cooperative Education, 14, 1, pp. 15-26, (2013)

2 Alam, Gazi Mahabubul, Roadblocks to university education for diploma engineers in Bangladesh, Higher Education, Skills and Work-based Learning, 11, 1, pp. 59-77, (2021)

3 Alam, Gazi Mahabubul, What makes a difference for further advancement of engineers: socioeconomic background or education programs?, Higher Education, 83, 6, pp. 1259-1278, (2022)

4 Statistical Yearbook of Bangladesh, (2021)

5 Bano, Naila, Emerging Challenges in Technical Vocational Education and Training of Pakistan in the Context of CPEC, Economies, 10, 7, (2022)

6 Bangladesh Bur Stat, (2017)

7 Blundell, Richard W., Human Capital Investment: The Returns from Education and Training to the Individual, the Firm and the Economy, Fiscal Studies, 20, 1, pp. 1-23, (1999)

8 New Hope for People with Low Incomes Two Year Results of A Program to Reduce Poverty and Reform Welfare, (1999)

9 Handbook of Comparative Studies on Community Colleges and Global Counterparts Springer International Handbooks of Education, (2017)

10 Revisiting Global Trends in Tvet Reflections on Theory and Practice, (2013)

Does a vocational education program prepare competent graduates for further academic programs?

How to Cite