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China's Higher Vocational Education and Training (HVET) graduates' soft-skill gap: individual aspirations and structural constraints.

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Title: China's Higher Vocational Education and Training (HVET) graduates' soft-skill gap: individual aspirations and structural constraints.
Authors: Liu, Zihao1 (AUTHOR) liuhao_45654@163.com
Source: Research in Post-Compulsory Education. Dec2025, Vol. 30 Issue 4, p698-722. 25p.
Subject Terms: *Labeling theory, *Vocational interests, *Vocational education, *Alumnae & alumni, Soft skills, Theory of constraints
Geographic Terms: China, Xi'an Shi (China)
People: Bourdieu, Pierre, 1930-2002
Abstract: In an era of rapid technological advancement and increasingly complex workplace demands, soft skills, including communication, teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving, have become vital components of educational and career success worldwide. Similarly to vocational education systems globally, China's Higher Vocational Education and Training (HVET) continues to grapple with persistent soft-skill deficits among graduates, significantly hindering their transitions into university bridging programmes or the labour market. This study presents findings from a robust, 15-month longitudinal qualitative study conducted in Xi'an, involving semi-structured interviews with 26 HVET graduates from five institutions across diverse disciplinary backgrounds. This study introduces an innovative conceptual framework that integrates Labelling Theory, Bourdieu's notions of capital and habitus, and Appadurai's 'capacity to aspire', which collectively shed light on how structural stigma, resource constraints, and individual ambitions intersect to shape graduates' soft-skill outcomes. Findings reveal that societal stigma and negative labelling frequently marginalise HVET graduates, limiting their exposure to interactive and leadership-oriented opportunities crucial for refining soft skills. Despite graduates' robust aspirations to overcome vocational labels and actively pursue soft-skill growth, structural constraints, including institutional segregation, limited economic, cultural, and social capital, and internalised self-doubt, consistently undermine their development of soft skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Research in Post-Compulsory Education is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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PubType: Academic Journal
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  Data: China's Higher Vocational Education and Training (HVET) graduates' soft-skill gap: individual aspirations and structural constraints.
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  Data: In an era of rapid technological advancement and increasingly complex workplace demands, soft skills, including communication, teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving, have become vital components of educational and career success worldwide. Similarly to vocational education systems globally, China's Higher Vocational Education and Training (HVET) continues to grapple with persistent soft-skill deficits among graduates, significantly hindering their transitions into university bridging programmes or the labour market. This study presents findings from a robust, 15-month longitudinal qualitative study conducted in Xi'an, involving semi-structured interviews with 26 HVET graduates from five institutions across diverse disciplinary backgrounds. This study introduces an innovative conceptual framework that integrates Labelling Theory, Bourdieu's notions of capital and habitus, and Appadurai's 'capacity to aspire', which collectively shed light on how structural stigma, resource constraints, and individual ambitions intersect to shape graduates' soft-skill outcomes. Findings reveal that societal stigma and negative labelling frequently marginalise HVET graduates, limiting their exposure to interactive and leadership-oriented opportunities crucial for refining soft skills. Despite graduates' robust aspirations to overcome vocational labels and actively pursue soft-skill growth, structural constraints, including institutional segregation, limited economic, cultural, and social capital, and internalised self-doubt, consistently undermine their development of soft skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Research in Post-Compulsory Education is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.1080/13596748.2025.2550847
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 25
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      – SubjectFull: Labeling theory
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Vocational interests
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      – SubjectFull: Vocational education
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      – SubjectFull: Alumnae & alumni
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      – SubjectFull: Soft skills
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      – SubjectFull: Theory of constraints
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      – SubjectFull: China
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      – SubjectFull: Xi'an Shi (China)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Bourdieu, Pierre, 1930-2002
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      – TitleFull: China's Higher Vocational Education and Training (HVET) graduates' soft-skill gap: individual aspirations and structural constraints.
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              M: 12
              Text: Dec2025
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              Y: 2025
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