＂Half-a-Day＂ Syndrome： A Mode of Internalization of Vocational and Technical Education by the Youths in the 20th Century Nigeria

This research focused on ＂half-a-day＂ as a mode of internalizing vocational and technical education by the youths in Nigeria. It traced the origin of ＂half-a-day＂ linking it with the ingenuity of the youths to make the formal education that they have acquired operational. It also discussed the traditional education with its apprenticeship system as being modified through the ＂half-a-day＂ syndrome. The study is historical and descriptive therefore, social survey method was employed using unscheduled interview and consulting relevant literature. It was discovered that, apart from the failure of the educational system due to lack of proper infrastructure, the youths, especially those from the lower class, have reasoned that the salaries from the white-collar jobs may not be enough to sustain them. It is, therefore, recommended, among others, that： Government can institutionalise the ＂half-a-day＂ as a form of summer school and certify both the centres of learning and learners.

Building Warships and Nurturing Technical Talent at the Foochow Navy Yard during the Self-Strengthening Movement

In 1866, after the Opium Wars, the Chinese official Zuo Zongtang established the Foochow Navy Yard, which aimed to facilitate the independent construction of modern warships. French advisers, engineers, teachers, and craftsmen were hired, and a series of French schools for naval construction, drawing, and apprenticeship were set up. Previous studies have nearly exhausted the historical material on the Foochow Navy Yard, but few of them give an exact evaluation on its shipbuilding and educational levels. This paper traces the French sources on the shipbuilding technology and educational system at the Foochow Navy Yard and conducts a comparative study. With the guidance and assistance of foreigners, the Foochow Navy Yard gained the ability to assemble ships and imitate engines, while it remained necessary to import design drawings and structural components. The most outstanding students that the navy yard nurtured may have reached the level of école Polytechnique graduates, but the quality of students was hard to maintain. The backwardness of its conceptualization and the lack of financial and political support also contributed to its decline.

Practitioner Perspectives on the Current Status of Agriculture Education in the United States

For modern nations, a healthy agricultural sector provides the necessary foundation for the economic growth and social progress that enhance their citizens’ quality of life. Historically, agriculture education has been a dynamic and growing facet of career and technical education in the United States. Currently, however, public policy and support for agriculture education is negatively impacted by a national attitude that devalues agriculture education and perceives it as less desirable than a four-year college degree. This paper considers the history, scope, and current status of agriculture education in the context of increasing worldwide demand for agricultural products and rapidly changing technology.

Crossing the Rivers by Touching the Stones:Alternative Approaches in Technical and Vocational Education and Training From the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Korea

Purpose:This study aims to answer the following questions:(1)Why have attempts to transplant Western vocational education models failed?(2)Is there anything we can learn from the experiences of Eastern Asian countries when developing their own vocational education models?Design/Approach/Methods:This study reviews the history of transplanting Western skill formation schemes into developing countries,an often-failed die-hard practice supported by both bilateral and multilateral donors.Findings:Our findings suggest that developing countries should design their technical and vocational education and training systems based on their unique cultural,sociological,and economic contexts.It offers two alternative pathways based on the experiences of the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Korea.Originality/Value:These East Asian examples could broaden the perspectives of policymakers in developing countries aspiring to develop functional skill formation schemes.

A Study on Gender Differences in Learning Motivation of Chinese Language Learners

The purpose of this study is to investigate students’ motivation and gender differences in learning Chinese as a foreign language between female students and male students from Korea. Furthermore, this method denotes that students’ motivation was measured through a self-report questionnaire based on Gardner′s Social Psychological Model. The questionnaire contained close-ended questions to provide both quantitative and qualitative information. These findings suggest that students were highly motivated toward learning English. There are significant differences found between genders. This was particularly the case for the female students who showed significantly higher instrumental motivation in learning English. The present study examined gender-based differences in motivation. We will make a quantitative analysis to investigate and discuss the gender differences in language motivation found in the questionnaire carried out with Korean students learning Chinese as L2 in this University. The results have shown that female students have stronger motivation than male students. Female students tend to show greater integrative motivation using a wider range of learning strategies;to show more comprehensive learning motivation and positive attitude in language learning;to show a higher interest in both Chinese language and Chinese culture. To shed light on language learning motivation according to gender difference, questions about L2 motivation are worthy of empirical investigation.

The Belt and Road Initiative and Technical and Vocational Education and Training(TVET)in Kenya:The Kenya-China TVET Project

This study explores the impact of China’s Belt and Road Initiative on improving vocational education quality and employment rates in Kenya through a collaborative educational program known as the Kenya-China Technical and Vocational Education and Training(TVET)project.The opinions and narratives of teachers and students with vibrant knowledge of the project were analyzed through the theoretical lenses of globalization and vocationalism.The results show that the Kenya-China TVET Project has improved Kenyan TVET classrooms with modern equipment to meet industrial standards and allowed essential skills to be developed through various collaborative opportunities with Chinese corporations.Despite minor challenges and obstacles,early evidence suggests benefits brought by the project including increased self-employment,a growth in Kenya’s manufacturing,and more mutual understanding between the two countries.

Research on Correlation between Employees＇ Heterogeneity Characteristics and R＆D Investment

Using all Chinese firms listed on the stock exchanges during 2007-2012, we examined the influence of employees＇ heterogeneity characteristics on R＆D investment. The empirical result showed that employees＇ educational level and R＆D investment is a significant positive correlation. We also proved the number of technical employee has a positive effect on R＆D.