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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
Language: English
Authors: Yuan Bo Xue (ORCID 0009-0007-6773-258X), Boon Keat Ooi (ORCID 0000-0001-8002-1685)
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
FullText Text:
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An: EJ1506001
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PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
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  Data: 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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  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Yuan+Bo+Xue%22&quot;&gt;Yuan Bo Xue&lt;/searchLink&gt; (ORCID &lt;externalLink term=&quot;https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6773-258X&quot;&gt;0009-0007-6773-258X&lt;/externalLink&gt;)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Boon+Keat+Ooi%22&quot;&gt;Boon Keat Ooi&lt;/searchLink&gt; (ORCID &lt;externalLink term=&quot;https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8002-1685&quot;&gt;0000-0001-8002-1685&lt;/externalLink&gt;)
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  Data: 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
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  Data: 0040-0912&lt;br /&gt;1758-6127
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Purpose: This study critically examines how the quality of work-integrated learning (WIL) placements enhances Chinese technical-and-vocational-education (TVET) students&#39; 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 &#215; WIL on CSE). Findings: Higher-quality WIL significantly increased CSE (b = 0.439, β = 0.437, p &lt; 0.001); stronger CSE raised CAD (b = 0.512, β = 0.592, p &lt; 0.001); and CAD was the principal driver of employability (b = 0.728, β = 0.730, p &lt; 0.001). The serial indirect effect WIL → CSE → CAD → employability was 0.147 (95% CI [0.115, 0.185]) and fully absorbed WIL&#39;s direct influence. PRO strengthened the WIL → CSE path (interaction b = 0.197, p &lt; 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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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1506001
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1108/ET-09-2025-0705
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 21
        StartPage: 82
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Quality
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Work Based Learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Employment Potential
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      – SubjectFull: Career Choice
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Career Development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Personality Traits
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Career and Technical Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Vocational Adjustment
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      – SubjectFull: College Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mediation Theory
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: China
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    Titles:
      – TitleFull: 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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          Name:
            NameFull: Yuan Bo Xue
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            NameFull: Boon Keat Ooi
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              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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            – TitleFull: Education & Training
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