To Promote The TVET System Reform With The "Macro TVET Conception"

To promote the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) system reform with the "macro TVET conception" has practical significance to the reform and development of Chinese TVET in the period of a social transformation. The study on TVET system reform from the angle of "macro TVET conception" is not only the impending requirement of Chinese TVET reform, but also in accordance with the international trend and tendency in the development of TVET. The paper applies a variety of research methods including literature analysis, empirical study, interdisciplinary study and comparative study. Based on a comprehensive analysis and full understanding of the current research results, the paper has proposed a series of original ideas and conclusions surrounding several closely related topics.First of all, the paper discusses a number of foundational concepts and theoretical issues concerning the development, connotation and types of TVET, the implicit meaning, structure and function of a TVET system, the meaning, evolvement, characteristics and subject of TVET concepts, the relationship between TVET concepts and systems, as well as the link between TVET concepts and system changes.This study points out that the TVET refers to the education which stresses on the improvement of individual vocational qualities. Consequently, it has an explicit vocational feature and should place vocational knowledge, skills and attitude in the core of its education contents.There are a broad and a narrow definition in regard to the TVET system. The broad definition refers to a standardized TVET system which is established voluntarily and is required to be abided by all social members. It is the intermediary to adjust the relationship between TVET institutions and other benefit related parties including the TVET administration organizations, other relevant bodies and individuals as well as various relationships inside TVET organizations. In other words, it is the guarantee of the quality of skill training and at the same time a crucial factor to restrain the development of TVET. The narrow sense of TVET system refers to the TVET policy, laws and regulations, the set-up and authority limits of TVET organizations which are framed by the government in accordance with the specific social condition and other situations in order to organize, guide, and supervise the TVET activities. Moreover, the study points out that the evolvement and change of TVET system will for certain contain a reform to the system, which is an indispensable part in the process of change. The path-dependence exists in the TVET system change. The initial system choice has a profound influence on the later TVET system. The reason for such a path-dependence is because a similar dependence also exists in people' s ideas and concepts about TVET. These ideas and concepts have a strong impact on the arrangement of TVET system and the existing arrangement in return strengthens ideas and concepts.Since the reform and development of TVET are usually the result of social forces, any reform and progress have a profound social background. Therefore, the paper presents a thorough analysis of social and economic conditions facing the Chinese TVET reform and development, and a careful study on the requirements and challenges posed by the social and economic development to the labor force and TVET. Based on an in-depth analysis of the employment situation and features of a social transformation period, the advance of knowledge economy and its characteristics in the process of industrialization, as well as the display and traits of the speeding up globalization, the paper presents a systematic summarization of requirements and challenges confronting the existing TVET system. This is the social reason to promote a reform to Chinese TVET system with the "macro TVET conception". Relevant research results would provide significant background and foundation for the follow-up study of this topic.On the basis of the above analysis and discussion, the author of the paper investigates a variety of theoretical issues of the "macro TVET conception", pointing out that its ideological origin is Huang Yanpei's TVET-ism and the root for the current absence of an effective TVET system is the prevailing "micro TVET conception". The theoretical foundation, elementary viewpoints, essential connotations and functions of the "macro TVET conception" are being discussed. The paper indicates that the so-called "micro TVET conception" is the result of several false presuppositions. To be more specific, the common contempt for and confined definition of TVET lead to an equivalence between TVET and the vocational education in vocational schools. This kind of narrow concept has induced people to believe that the separated supervision of each level of TVET would result in an effective administration of the whole situation and that the TVET should only be carried out within its own circle. In a word, the "micro TVET conception" is a narrow educational concept characterized with exclusionism, unilateralism, decentralization, singularity, and confinement. On the contrary, with the "macro TVET conception" , emphasis is placed upon the overall planning, coordination, communication and connection between TVET and other elements including the social and economic development, other types of education, industry and enterprises, other benefit related parties, and sub systems of TVET. It is a broad concept of comprehensiveness, totality, openness, coordination, and lifelong features.In the end, the paper proposes a number of reform strategies concerning the existing Chinese TVET system, which include a re-structure of TVET authorities, adjustment of TVET administration functions, set-up of a social dialogue mechanism, extended participation of profit related parties, synthesis of TVET resources, promotion of TVET group development, adult TVET reform directed by individual career development, and a reform to relevant systems in answer to the education globalization. Relevant policies and measures are hence put forward. Using the employment difficulty of higher vocational education graduates as the case study, the paper presents several strategies in regard to the solution of the problem.The dissertation is divided into seven parts, including the Preface, Chapter One: a study of basic issues, Chapter Two: an analysis of social causes, Chapter Three: an approach to the macro TVET conception, Chapter Four: major system reform, Chapter Five: case study and Conclusion. The original ideas and conclusion of the paper would not only deepen the foundational theoretical study of TVET, but also promote the maturation and development of Chinese TVET. Although there are still a number of imperfection and deficiency, it is justified to believe that the paper has a certain degree of practical significance in offering some guidance to the reform and development of Chinese TVET.