Developing Indicators of Life and Career Skills of Vocational Student in Thailand Developing Indicators of Life and Career Skills of Vocational Student in Thailand

Abstract

The 21^st life and career skills are essential to the work of students particularly those vocational students. This research was aimed at developing and examining indicators of life and career skills of vocational students in Thailand. A sample of 300 high vocational certificate students was drawn by cluster sampling from 9 vocational education institutes.  Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis. Research results revealed that the life and career skills of vocational students in Thailand consist of 3 elements as follows. Element 1: Creativity and diversity contain 7 indicators including learning for self-development; creating work with efficiency; creative work, creative communication with others; bringing others’ differences to create and develop work; setting work goals; and prioritizing works. Element 2: Being good role model contains 3 indicators including providing encouragement to others at work; setting a good example at work to others; and solving problems at work. Element 3: Having operational skills, operational responsibilities, multi-available operations. The developed elements and indicators were fitted with empirical data. It is thus recommended that involved agencies should provide skills development policies; education institutions should arrange a learning environment; and instructors should manage the learning that supports creativity, collaborative work with others, and use of diverse work skills.