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A Study on the Core Competencies of Vocational Automotive Maintenance Students amidst the Construction of a Skill-Centric Society

Author(s)

Liuliu Sheng*

Affiliation(s)

Department of Student Affairs, Taizhou Vocational & Technical College, Taizhou, Zhejiang, China *Corresponding Author

Abstract

This study investigated the developmental characteristics of professional core competencies among vocational automotive repair students. A quantitative analysis was conducted using a Core Competencies Self-Assessment Questionnaire, administered to a sample of 300 students from two vocational colleges in Taizhou City. The dataset for analysis comprised 271 valid responses, yielding a response rate of 90.33. The findings revealed significant gender-based disparities. Independent samples t-tests indicated that male students significantly outperformed their female counterparts in both practical ability (t = -2.483, p < .05) and job creativity (t = -2.397, p < .05). Although male students exhibited marginally higher mean scores in the remaining competency domains, these differences were not statistically significant. Concerning variations across academic years, a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) demonstrated that none of the ten core competencies exhibited statistically significant differences based on grade level. However, an analysis of mean score trends indicated that the highest levels of practical ability and problem-solving skills typically manifested in either the foundational or final years, suggesting a potential adaptive adjustment phase during the intermediate years of the program.

Keywords

Core Competencies; Automotive Technology; Vocational Colleges; Skills-Based Society

References

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