Labor Market Entry an d Job Performance of Vocational Education and Training Institute Gradu ates:
Researcher-in-charge: Lee N am Chul
engaged in income-generating bu sinesses. In general, younger gradu ates are the ones preparing for employment.
b) Graduates Major Selection and Job Experience during Their Undergraduate Years
The m ost comm on m otives of junior colleges an d polytechnic colleges graduates for selecting school an d major are their interest an d aptitu de. In terms of the type of school, polytechnic colleges are preferred to junior colleges. This is simply because graduates perceive polytechnic colleges to offer better an d more opportunities for employment. More than 60% of the respon dents are engaged in paid w ork during their un dergraduate years. On the other hand, 66.4% is involved in w ork other than extracurricular teaching.
c) Major and Certification
About 73% of the recent gradu ates of vocational education an d training institutes possessed a certification (s), most of whom were information technology(IT) and natural sciences majors. Graduates of polytechnic colleges have more qualification certifications than those of junior colleges. In addition, national technical qu alifications rank the highest among gradu ates of both junior colleges and polytechnic colleges. Specifically, the m ost common certification is that from the information and communication field .
More than 87.5% of the respondents believe that the qualification certificate and major are exactly matched. Similarly, 42% believes that their qu alification certificates have sign identifiably enhanced their job performance. Notew orthy is the fact that national technical qualifications are the most valued an d perceived as a critical factor for job perform ance and promotion .
d) Transition from School to Work
Less than 45% of the respon dents are employed for longer than 13 months at one company. On the other hand, m ore than 77% has changed occupations twice. In general, the respon dents has taken one month to less than three
e) Job Education an d On-the-Job Training Perform ance
More than 70% of the respon dents do not have any plans of enrolling at a vocational education an d training institute. In determining the importance of education an d training, most of the respon dents believe that informal learning from company seniors or colleagues is critical in improving the skill an d technique required for their current jobs.
f) Job Satisfaction an d Job Perform ance
Most of the respon dents are content with their current jobs. Graduates held technique at their present companies and the degree of job satisfaction w as highly correlated. Similarly, there is a high correlation betw een the degree of interest an d job satisfaction, the gradu ates aptitu de, and job perform ance.
Notew orthy is the fact that most respondents felt that their present jobs are too routinized an d repetitive.
g) Perception of Businesses on Graduates of Junior Colleges an d Polytechnic Colleges
Businesses perceptions of graduates of junior colleges and polytechnic colleges as employees vary. In case graduates of junior colleges an d polytechnic colleges whether by in dustrial classification, or by bu siness size, 70.5% of the observed cases is the situation in which vacant positions take place. The m ost decisive hiring factor considered by bu sinesses is the relevant major of prospective employees, regardless of whether they came from junior colleges or polytechnic colleges. On the other hand, in du stries have urgent need for skilled technical ser vices and simple technical services. In addition, the gradu ates of junior colleges tended to be more competent employees than those of polytechnic colleges.
3. Policy Proposals
a) Creation of a Con duciv e Environm ent for Learning in Businesses
In general, personal learning and training from seniors or colleagues within a
w orkplace contribute more to the improvement of job performance (skill or expertise) compared to an official vocational education and training. Thus, it is necessary to create a conducive environment for learning within businesses.
b) D eliberation of Employ ee Marketability through Market Experience
Due to the lack of inform ation on the transition from school to the labor market, graduates of junior colleges an d polytechnic colleges frequently changed their jobs. As such, they show some common orientations related to occupation such as relatively shorter continuou s services, insecure con dition of employment, an d employee marketability that is highly sensitive to economic fluctu ations.
Thu s, there is a need to improve employee marketability through market experience, by utilizing field experience during undergraduate stu dies.
c) Fostering the D evelopm ent of Job Competence and Enlarging of Continuing Education Opportunities
Intellectuals in a know ledge-based economy and society are equipped w ith comm on sense, general knowledge, and professional un derstanding. They are competent people w ith consolidated talents an d creative ability to solve emerging various social problems. These intellectuals are nurtured and m ade, rather than born . Thu s, establishment of w orld-class businesses require competent people with creative potential, assertive people that can cope with difficult changes, and balanced people w ith general ability an d professional competence. After stu dents of junior college an d polytechnic colleges were learned the naturing professional competence, they should atten d at the upper level education to prove their competence.
d) Upholding an d D eveloping Social Identity of V ocational Education an d Training Institutes by N urturing Professional Competence
Businesses consider the relevant m ajor of prospective employees as a critical hiring factor. In terms of educational purpose, junior colleges focus on the fostering of professional workforce. In comparison, polytechnic colleges concentrate on the cultivation