Employment Guidance to Improve Job Placement for Students of Guangdong Electronic Commercial Technician College
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56868/jadhur.v5i1.330Keywords:
Employment Guidance, Job Placement, Technical Disciplines, Vocational Education, Guangdong Electronic Commercial Technician CollegeAbstract
In Guangdong province, China, manufacturing economy is fast-evolving, thus, students from vocational Mechatronics fields need employment guidance that matches job requirements in real life and supports from school to work. However, guidance in many technical colleges remains fragmented and insufficient. This mixed-method study investigated employment guidance problems and needs among Mechatronics students at Guangdong Electronic Commercial Technician College. Quantitative data were collected using structured questionnaires from 296 students by stratified random sampling and 65 teachers. Instrument quality was confirmed by expert review (IOC) and reliability testing. Descriptive statistics were used. Qualitative data came from semi-structured interviews with three vocational experts and five outstanding students, analyzed via content analysis. Students rated overall employment guidance problems as high , especially content–job mismatch. Teachers also perceived high-level problems, with teacher competence as the most salient issue. Students reported high guidance needs overall , prioritizing job-finding skills training and internship/practical opportunities. Interview results reinforced concerns about outdated guidance, weak continuity across years, limited personalization, and insufficient internship quality. In conclusion, the study proposes an integrated employment guidance system including updated industry-aligned content, skills training, strengthened school–enterprise cooperation, and capacity building for guidance teachers.
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