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What Research Should Vocational Education Colleges Conduct? An Empirical Study Using Data Envelopment Analysis

Author

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  • Yue Chen

    (Department of Education Management, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
    Shanghai Art and Design Academy, Shanghai 201808, China)

  • Yuantao Jiang

    (School of Economics and Management, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, China)

  • Aibing Zheng

    (School of Economics and Management, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, China)

  • Yunzhu Yue

    (Shanghai Art and Design Academy, Shanghai 201808, China)

  • Zhi-Hua Hu

    (Logistics Research Center, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, China)

Abstract

Higher vocational education (HVE) aims to cultivate high-quality technical and skilled talents so that the educated have the professional ethics, scientific culture, professional knowledge, technical skills, and other comprehensive professional qualities and action abilities required for engaging in a specific profession to achieve sustainable career development. Two problems related to critical management strategies for sustainable development activated this study: Should HVE colleges conduct academic research? What types of research should HVE colleges do? This article attempts to empirically study the second question while affirming the answer to the first question. HVE colleges focus on talent cultivation, which does not mean they will never engage in academic research. The key is to decide and evaluate the research types for HVE colleges. First, a survey was conducted on the current status and practical needs of HVE colleges globally and especially in China, and it was found that there is a mutually beneficial relationship between teaching and research in HVE colleges. Then, the positioning of HVE colleges for academic research was analyzed from three aspects—research type, performance assessment, and combination comparison—and three types of research positioning were proposed, i.e., applied research type, educational research type, and comprehensive research type. Then, three assessment index systems of academic research positioning types were designed from two input and output levels, and a research performance assessment model was established using data envelopment analysis (DEA). Finally, taking 22 vocational colleges in Shanghai as examples, a comparative study was conducted on the assessment results of three research types to determine the research types of different HVE colleges. Based on their educational history and academic research resources, HVE colleges can choose their research types. The HVE management department can guide HVE colleges to conduct differentiated academic research and support teaching and talent cultivation through input–output analysis for sustainable educational and teacher development.

Suggested Citation

  • Yue Chen & Yuantao Jiang & Aibing Zheng & Yunzhu Yue & Zhi-Hua Hu, 2023. "What Research Should Vocational Education Colleges Conduct? An Empirical Study Using Data Envelopment Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-18, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:12:p:9220-:d:1165740
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Riikka Hofmann & Claudia Pik Ki Chu & Alison Twiner & Jan D. Vermunt, 2024. "Patterns in Clinical Leadership Learning: Understanding the Quality of Learning about Leadership to Support Sustainable Transformation in Healthcare Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-20, May.

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