DEVELOPMENT MODEL OF MODERN APPRENTICESHIP IN HIGHER VOCATIONAL COLLEGES IN GUANGDONG PROVINCE

Abstract

This study aims to develop a model for establishing a modern apprenticeship system in higher vocational colleges in Guangdong Province, China. The research objectives are: 1) to identify the exploratory factors of modern apprenticeship in higher vocational colleges in Guangdong Province using factor analysis; and 2) to propose a development model for modern apprenticeship in these colleges. The study employed a sequential explanatory mixed‑methods design. For the quantitative phase, we selected a stratified random sample of 500 administrators and teachers from 63 higher vocational colleges across Guangdong Province. The research instrument was a 120‑item, five‑point Likert‑scale questionnaire, validated by five experts (IOC = 0.80–1.00) and demonstrating high reliability (Cronbach's α = 0.98). We analyzed quantitative data using descriptive statistics and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with principal axis factoring and Varimax rotation. EFA extracted five critical factors that collectively explained 63.957% of the total variance: 1) Policy and Institutional Environment (PIE), 2) Apprentice Professional Identity and Engagement (APIE), 3) Institutional Support and Collaboration (ISC), 4) Enterprise Training Quality and Support (ETQS), and 5) Regional Economic and Industrial Support (REIS). These factors form an ecosystem model in which REIS and PIE constitute the external macro‑environment, ISC and ETQS serve as the implementation pillars, and APIE lies at the central core. The study concludes that sustainable development requires coordinated efforts among government, institutions, and enterprises, and offers recommendations for implementation, policy, and future research.