Vietnamese Students’ Perception and Loyalty towards an Image of Vocational Education and Training

Abstract

Stakeholders’ perceptions towards a career in vocational education and training (VET) in Vietnam negate the country’s industrial development plan. During the last 15 years, the Vietnamese Governments investment in to the sector increased annually. However, parents and their children still pursue the goal of higher education via the mainstream rather than a career path way using the vocational education and training system. Although stereotypical views of vocational students are being challenged, Confucian ideology maintains some influence over stakeholders’ educational decisions leading to the sustained popularity of higher education. This study explores the perceptions of students on the image of and their loyalty towards vocational education and training. A sample of 300 lower secondary school, 300 upper secondary school, and 300 vocational students was drawn from across the Northern and Southern regions of Vietnam. A survey questionnaire was used to collect data and mean analysis conducted to explore the data. The findings indicate that agreement with statements about facilities and equipment, teacher’s ability, curriculum, and soft skills are the clearest indicators of enhanced perceptions about the image of vocational education and training. Encouragement from parents appears most influential to positively affecting lower secondary students’ loyalty. Unexpected was that vocational students had less interesting continuing in vocational education and training compared to lower and upper secondary school students inclination towards a career in VET. First-hand experience seemingly leads to diminished perceptions and loyalty towards vocational education.

Parental Perspectives towards the Vocational Education Training Sector in Vietnam

“…Currently, in Vietnam, there are not many studies according to the international format exploring key stakeholders' perceptions towards VET sector. There was a research to investigate the students' perception towards VET sector (Dang & Hathaway, 2014). This paper would like to add one more view from parental perspectives on the VET system.…”

“…In the first phase, quantitative survey questionnaire data were analysed statistically by SPSS software version 19 to explore current students' perception of the VET image that was represented by seven dimensions, namely: entry requirements, facilities and equipment, teachers' ability, recognition of qualifications, career and job potential, quality of curriculum, social values and soft skills. The findings of the first phase indicated that students' positive perceptions of the VET image included facilities and equipment, teachers' ability, quality of curriculum, and social values and soft skills (Dang &Hathaway, 2014). The results also revealed the dimensions of quality of curriculum and entry requirements impacted significantly on students' intention to pursue the vocational education training programs.…”

“…Since the introduction of the 'DoiMoi' or 'Open Door' policy in 1986, Vietnam has promoted itself as a friend to all other countries in the world. Not only in developing countries like Vietnam but also in developed countries such as the United States and European countries with the exception of Germany, vocational education and training has a low image, especially from the perspective of parents (Dang & Hathaway, 2014). Parental perception has a strong influence on a child's career choice (Reese, 2001).…”