A Theoretical Analysis And Case Study On Vocational Education Collectivization

Currently, there is a lack of progress in the School-Enterprise Cooperation system, an incomplete vocational education system, and a scattering and separation of educational resources. In this environment, seeking a proper model is the key to the further development of vocational education. As a crucial aspect of educational progress in China, vocational education groups springing up across the country serve to connect colleges, enterprises, institutions, agencies and government offices by establishing connections among group members and sharing resources within the group to promote cooperation between colleges and enterprises and improve the standard of vocational education so as to train competent professionals for industry and better serve society.As vocational education groups have developed throughout the past decade, there have been positive results from the joint intensive efforts of group members, but stagnation of progress due to the intrinsically loose relationships between members of such groups has also occurred.This thesis mainly focuses on the theoretical research that is occurring on vocational education groups with an eye to solving the current problems occurring in their operation. It includes analysis of relevant class-based and individual psychosocial influences, an examination of the underlying philosophies and bases of both domestic and overseas vocational education groups, and a consideration of vocational education groups in light of appropriate economic, political, organizational, demographic, and system theory. Utilizing such approaches as theory analysis, comparison analysis and case study, this thesis examines the most significant research in the historic development of such groups, their organizational properties and features, their functional models and operation mechanisms, and incorporates necessary case analysis to indicate provisional solutions to the difficult problems faced by vocational education groups. Finally, it proposes a compromise model in which vocational education groups reach current educational targets through power transfer.Chapter One introduces the research by exploring the socioeconomic background of vocational education, summarizing the current situation, establishing the significance of this research and its key concepts, and justifying its approach to that research.Chapter Two analyzes the creation and development of vocational education groups by discussing its individual and class indicators and influences with a special focus on the latter from the view of economics, politics, demography, and educational policies. It concludes that vocational education groups should be the product of social transformation during the current Chinese economic transition.Chapter Three focuses on comparative research. The part collects the practice and experience of vocational education from Germany, the Netherlands, Australia and India, concluding that multi-departmental cooperation is globally normative. National policy initiatives are the key to promoting the sharing of educational resources and the creation of core educational products through cooperative school operation.Chapter Four introduces the crucial function of trans-group cooperation in vocational education groups. This part defines the concept of trans-group cooperation and analyses its meaning and characteristics as it takes place between educational institutions, educational institutions and businesses, and local and international educational institutions. It is concluded that the four main functions of vocational education groups are connecting all levels of education, sharing vocational education resources (including the interaction between eastern and western provinces in China), exploring new models of school-enterprise cooperation and study-practice training, and the establishment of branding in vocational education.Chapter Five focuses on vocational education groups as non-corporate organizations. This part points out that the organizational and operational structure of vocational education groups is unique based on relevant corporate and political theory.Chapter Six discusses the current problems that stem from the typically loose relationship between members of vocational education groups. The six problems analyzed are suboptimal growth of vocational education groups, problems arising from the non-corporate nature of the vocational education groups, the low efficiency of such groups caused by the contractual relationships between their members, the market-orientation vs. public-orientation dilemma, the over-designing of the functions of the vocational education groups and the lack of a common culture within the vocational education groups.Chapter Seven focuses on current studies of the operation model of vocational education groups. This part analyses power transfer among members and power transfer from the national education administration to local education groups. On the basis of this analysis, the fundamental elements of the operation model are examined, including the allocation of resources, program administration, incentivizing and competitive mechanisms and performance evaluations.Chapter Eight is a case study examining the practices and experiences of the Shanghai Vocational Education Group for Transportation & Logistics. The study reflects on the current difficulties and problems faced by this group, echoing the important issues mentioned in the previous theoretical studies.The thesis ends with a summary of important conclusions, identifying the main avenues for innovation as well as some organizational deficiencies and opportunities for further research.