Work

Digital Competence and Talent Training Effectiveness in Vocational Undergraduate Education: Evidence from a Faculty Survey in China

Year: 2026

Type: book-chapter

Abstract: This research investigates the influence of faculty digital competence on talent cultivation effectiveness within China's vocational undergraduate sector, contextualized by the country's evolving modern vocational education system.As digital transformation reshapes both industry demands and educational practices, understanding how teacher capabilities influence talent cultivation has become increasingly important.Leveraging survey responses from 298 instructors and employing structural equation modeling (SEM), the study empirically examines how educators' digital proficiencies shape outcomes in applied talent development.The analysis yields a robust, statistically significant positive effect of digital competence on training efficacy.Specifically, higher levels of digital competence are linked to improved student skill development, better alignment between training outcomes and labor market requirements, and enhanced overall educational performance.The measurement model exhibits robust psychometric properties: both Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability surpass established benchmarks, and fit indices confirm an acceptable to excellent model-data alignment.In doing so, the work contributes novel micro-level evidence on the centrality of instructor capabilities-particularly within the relatively underexamined landscape of vocational undergraduate education-thereby addressing a salient gap in current scholarship.It further extends existing studies on digital competence by highlighting its function as a key enabling capability that enhances the productivity and relevance of talent training.These insights carry substantial practical relevance: they highlight the imperative for institutions to place faculty digital literacy at the core of professional development initiatives, systematically embed digital tools into pedagogical practice, and strengthen curricular alignment with dynamic industry demands.

Source: Advances in economics, business and management research/Advances in Economics, Business and Management Research

DOI: 10.2991/978-94-6239-758-3_42

Authors: Huajun Zheng, Yuanlin Wu

Institutions: Guangzhou Vocational College of Science and Technology, Guangdong Mechanical & Electrical Polytechnic

Language: English

Topic: Digital literacy in education

Subfield: Education

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Quality education, Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: hybrid

OpenAlex ID: W7208817137