Purpose: The purpose of this research is to investigate sustainable strategies for skills development that is specific to the youth of South Africa. International and South African data are statistically analysed and quantified to provide inputs for the systems dynamics (SD)-based predictive skills model. The skills model simulates the impact of…

This article considers the intersection between two major themes in university policy: the improvement of participation by rural and regional communities and the dimension of graduate employability. It argues that work-integrated learning has the potential to address both themes, but that the development of an apprenticeship model for prestige…

Increased value is placed on students having real-world learning experiences. Application classes such as Digital Marketing provide the opportunity for students to achieve this experience. Employers place value with employees having both hard skills and soft skills. To support learning both hard and soft skills, the Enterprise Marketing Variation…

In the current context of COVID-19 and the limited availability of physical workplace settings for work-integrated learning (WIL), this study explores the intervention of a WIL pedagogical strategy in order to support career development learning during the pandemic. The innovative Entrepreneurial Mindset (EM) reflective model introduced at a…

"Research Messages 2021" highlights the diverse range of research activities undertaken over the past year by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER). In 2021, research was shaped both by the VET (vocational education and training) reform agenda, and issues emerging from the pandemic. The 2021 national VET research…

Students with significant disabilities typically experience poor postschool employment outcomes. However, when provided opportunities to work and engage within their communities, they can gain necessary work-specific and workplace social skills to improve outcomes. This article outlines a six-step model for community-based employment programs…

Experiential learning (EL) projects require planning, patience, and commitment on the part of the organizing and facilitating instructors. Language, culture, time zone, and institutional diversity exacerbates the inherent difficulties in conducting virtual, international EL projects. This manuscript discusses an ongoing multi-country project…

Extensive studies have been done on employability and the factors that lead to employability. Previous studies have focused on career development programs, internships, work experience programs, soft-skill development programs, and even university admission criteria which can be considered external factors to university student learning…

In today's competitive job market, students who lack real-world experience face major obstacles. Many professional positions require previous experience; therefore, relevant work experience is a key attribute that any entry-level family and consumer Sciences (FCS) professional can offer a potential employer. Internships provide one of the…

Despite the development of employability skills being firmly entrenched in higher education's strategic agenda worldwide; recent graduates' standards in certain skills are not meeting industry expectations. This paper presents and tests a model of undergraduate competence in employability skills. It highlights those factors which impact on…

In the realm of reconfiguring Chinese vocational education and training (VET) the country is collaborating with Germany which provides guidance and support for the development of a dual system in China. The article outlines the circumstances that need to be considered in such a policy transfer and possible scenarios for the development of a modern…

The work activity center (WAC) has been severely criticized in recent times for its inability to provide clients with an adequate work component. The paper addresses these problems by proposing a new model which can be utilized by WAC. (Author)

The manual describes a vocational training model using work stations within regular businesses or industry to help disabled persons adjust to employment. The work station in industry approach is explained to be more cost effective than sheltered workshops which limit the trainee as well as the agency and industry. Vocational goals are said to be…

This report is concerned with the relationship between income and schooling. A theoretical model explores the role of schooling as an informational or screening device with an expected profit maximization framework. The issue revolves around the extent to which formal schooling serves to augment worker productivity and, thus, social product, as…

Intended for use by individuals responsible for establishing and directing youth school/work programs, this manual presents the following ten functions important in any youth school/work program: enrollee entry, enrollee orientation; employer entry; employer orientation; matching and alignment; program monitoring; counseling; supportive services;…