Determining the effectiveness of practical training for students of universities of technology in Taiwan: Empirical findings using a structural equation model

The main purpose of technical and vocational education is to cultivate personnel who have both theoretical knowledge and practical experience. The practical training experience should help students focus on their career choices. Therefore, this study surveyed the students who participated in the interactive activities of three universities of technology in 2002 and used a structural equation model to understand the determinants affecting practical training for students. The effectiveness of practical training includes the advance of professional competencies and the advance of employability. The major empirical findings of the study are as follows. Of the various determinants, the factors related to the quality of training courses, the human relationship aspect and the environment for gaining practical training, as, expected, are found to have a significantly positive influence on the advance of professional competencies for students. T he quality of training courses and the environment for gaining practical training have a significantly positive influence on the advance of employability for students; somewhat unexpectedly, the quality of teachers is found to have no significant influence on both.