Research findings concerning student participation in secondary career and technical education (CTE) have shown important differences that relate to the unit of analysis and the type of measures used. Those differences hide the complexity of CTE, depict an inadequate portrayal of students' participation in CTE, and hinder the possibility of having…

Public perception of agriculture represents a significant barrier in preparing people to enter the agricultural sector because careers in agriculture are outdated, low paying, or less desirable. However, emphasis on science has been shown to attract students to school-based agricultural education (SBAE) programs. Research has shown that offering…

With the increasing globalization of companies and the workforce, specifically within the agricultural industry, educators seek to prepare workers with technical and soft skills that will allow employability in multicultural environments. Using the lens of Transformative Learning Theory and Self Determination Theory, we examined how a study abroad…

In this study, we examined the requirements for career and technical education administrators across all 50 states. The decline in the number of states that require a specific career-technical administration certification/licensure to oversee secondary career and technical education (CTE) programs has continued for decades. Most states have moved…

Informal STEM education (ISE) programs are known to foster heightened student engagement due to leveling the student-teacher hierarchy, free choice, self-directed learning experiences, and hands-on pedagogies. ISE has also been shown to be effective in helping to prepare the K-12 STEM teacher workforce by fostering STEM teacher identity. The…

Throughout agricultural education's 100+ year history, teacher effectiveness/confidence has remained a consistent factor in student achievement. Furthermore, targeted professional development has commonly been used to improve teacher effectiveness/confidence. With 50% of educators exiting the profession within five years, finding ways to improve…

Due to China's three years of 'Zero COVID' containment policy, the vast majority of vocational and technological education (VTE) high school students could not participate in work-based learning, had to take classes online, and often were isolated from their families. Although the impact of the unprecedented disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic on…

This study describes the internal values that motivate non-traditional urban agriculture students to stay in the field and the external factors influencing the motivation of non-traditional urban agriculture students to remain in the field of agriculture. A phenomenological approach was employed to gather information on student motivation,…

Recently, apprenticeships have re-emerged as an effective means of preparing young people for the 21st-century workplace (Browning & Nickoli, 2017; OECD, 2018). Especially, community colleges have been actively implementing modern apprenticeships within their degree programs by offering degree apprenticeships (DAs). The purpose of this…

Community colleges are the leader in facilitating career and technical education (CTE) and workforce development (WD) programs. However, employers who hire recent graduates of these programs question the quality of the education provided. This qualitative study used a focus group comprised of manufacturing and engineering professionals in Florida…

Career and technical education (CTE) gives students access to skill development and greater economic opportunity, but challenges in the CTE system are pervasive for students of color, specifically Black and Latinx students. This study examines Black and Latinx high school student and teacher experiences with race in a profession-based learning…

Secondary career and technical education (CTE) provides high school students the opportunity to gain occupational skills for in-demand 21st century jobs linked to college and career readiness (CCR). All students, including those with a disability, can benefit from CTE. Secondary CTE is a predictor of positive post-school outcomes for students with…

While prior work has explored the relationship between career-focused educational programming on deviant and criminal behavior for incarcerated and delinquent individuals, there is little empirical evidence as to how career and technical education (CTE) participation in traditional high school settings may link to later interaction with the…

The commercial space industry is facing a shortage of qualified workers due to the aging and retirements of the workforce and the inability to find qualified candidates. To explore the training, educational experiences, and technical competencies of entry-level manufacturing engineers, the researcher interviewed eight manufacturing engineers at…

Promoting inclusive and equitable postsecondary learning environments is a global priority Postsecondary institutions, particularly community colleges' career and technical education (CTE) programs, are increasingly held accountable for achieving education-related sustainable development goals (SDGs) and are expected to provide knowledge of the…