Sino-German cooperation in vocational teacher training: A macro-micro-macro analysis of good intentions and unintended outcomes in China

Abstract

In this paper, we use the exemplary case of Sino-German cooperation to develop teacher training for technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in order to demonstrate both incongruent understandings of TVET systems in intercontinental cooperation and missing links between macrolevel objectives and micro level actions. To illustrate these problems, we use Coleman's boat model. Using this model, we conceptualize the objectives of an intercontinental cooperation project for TVET teacher training at the macrolevel and contrast these objectives with four different student types (enterprise-oriented students, TVET researcher-oriented students, TVET teacher-avoiding students, and TVET teacher-oriented students) who used their opportunities within this project to enhance their own educational endeavors. These endeavors were not necessarily in line with the objectives and eventually caused the termination of the undergraduate TVET teacher training program. As a result, only students of the fourth type decided to become TVET teachers, but mostly at the tertiary level in higher TVET colleges. Reasons for choosing a different career path include the attractiveness of other professional fields. For the TVET teacher training, we therefore recommend curricular modifications and raising students' awareness of the importance of TVET and its teachers in society.