Quality of Work-Integrated Learning and Employability in Henan TVET: Serial Mediation via Career Self-Efficacy and Adaptability, Moderated by Proactive Personality
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| Title: | Quality of Work-Integrated Learning and Employability in Henan TVET: Serial Mediation via Career Self-Efficacy and Adaptability, Moderated by Proactive Personality |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Yuan Bo Xue (ORCID |
| Source: | Education & Training. 2026 68(10):82-102. |
| Availability: | Emerald Publishing Limited. Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA, UK. Tel: +44-1274-777700; Fax: +44-1274-785201; e-mail: emerald@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emerald.com/insight |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 21 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research Tests/Questionnaires |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Foreign Countries, Educational Quality, Work Based Learning, Employment Potential, Career Choice, Career Development, Personality Traits, Career and Technical Education, Vocational Adjustment, College Students, Mediation Theory |
| Geographic Terms: | China |
| DOI: | 10.1108/ET-09-2025-0705 |
| ISSN: | 0040-0912 1758-6127 |
| Abstract: | Purpose: This study critically examines how the quality of work-integrated learning (WIL) placements enhances Chinese technical-and-vocational-education (TVET) students' employability and for whom the benefits are greatest, by testing a social-cognitive-career-theory model that links WIL to employability through career self-efficacy (CSE) and career adaptability (CAD) and examines proactive personality (PRO) as a boundary condition. Design/methodology/approach: Survey data were collected from 477 final-year students at public TVET colleges in Henan Province. Validated Chinese instruments captured WIL quality (15 items), CSE (8 items), CAD (12 items), PRO (10 items) and self-perceived employability (8 items). PROCESS Model 59 with 5,000 bias-corrected bootstraps estimated a first-stage moderated serial-mediation structure (WIL → CSE →? CAD → employability; PRO × WIL on CSE). Findings: Higher-quality WIL significantly increased CSE (b = 0.439, β = 0.437, p < 0.001); stronger CSE raised CAD (b = 0.512, β = 0.592, p < 0.001); and CAD was the principal driver of employability (b = 0.728, β = 0.730, p < 0.001). The serial indirect effect WIL → CSE → CAD → employability was 0.147 (95% CI [0.115, 0.185]) and fully absorbed WIL's direct influence. PRO strengthened the WIL → CSE path (interaction b = 0.197, p < 0.001); the slope rose from 0.182 at low PRO (16th percentile) to 0.685 at high PRO (84th percentile). Originality/value: This is the first multi-college Chinese TVET investigation to validate the Placement Quality Measure in Chinese TVET, to model serial mediation via self-efficacy and adaptability, and to uncover proactive personality as a boundary condition, integrating motivational, self-regulatory and dispositional explanations of WIL-driven employability. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1506001 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Purpose: This study critically examines how the quality of work-integrated learning (WIL) placements enhances Chinese technical-and-vocational-education (TVET) students' employability and for whom the benefits are greatest, by testing a social-cognitive-career-theory model that links WIL to employability through career self-efficacy (CSE) and career adaptability (CAD) and examines proactive personality (PRO) as a boundary condition. Design/methodology/approach: Survey data were collected from 477 final-year students at public TVET colleges in Henan Province. Validated Chinese instruments captured WIL quality (15 items), CSE (8 items), CAD (12 items), PRO (10 items) and self-perceived employability (8 items). PROCESS Model 59 with 5,000 bias-corrected bootstraps estimated a first-stage moderated serial-mediation structure (WIL → CSE →? CAD → employability; PRO × WIL on CSE). Findings: Higher-quality WIL significantly increased CSE (b = 0.439, β = 0.437, p < 0.001); stronger CSE raised CAD (b = 0.512, β = 0.592, p < 0.001); and CAD was the principal driver of employability (b = 0.728, β = 0.730, p < 0.001). The serial indirect effect WIL → CSE → CAD → employability was 0.147 (95% CI [0.115, 0.185]) and fully absorbed WIL's direct influence. PRO strengthened the WIL → CSE path (interaction b = 0.197, p < 0.001); the slope rose from 0.182 at low PRO (16th percentile) to 0.685 at high PRO (84th percentile). Originality/value: This is the first multi-college Chinese TVET investigation to validate the Placement Quality Measure in Chinese TVET, to model serial mediation via self-efficacy and adaptability, and to uncover proactive personality as a boundary condition, integrating motivational, self-regulatory and dispositional explanations of WIL-driven employability. |
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| ISSN: | 0040-0912 1758-6127 |
| DOI: | 10.1108/ET-09-2025-0705 |
