A comparison of competencies required by the woodworking industry and those taught in industrial vocational senior high schools, as perceived by former students and teachers of woodworking in Taiwan, Republic of Chin

This study was designed to investigate the competencies required by the woodworking industry and to compare these competencies with those taught in industrial vocational senior high schools in Taiwan, as perceived by former students and teachers of woodworking. The research involved an evaluation research procedure for analyzing the curricula of woodworking departments in schools.;The questionnaire method of data collection was used. An instrument was designed and divided into four parts eliciting information about individuals, opinions about woodworking skills and knowledge, and comments or suggestions about changes in program content. Three woodworking related occupations, namely cabinet making, interior decorating, and carpentry, were studied. Members of each and teachers in woodworking departments were surveyed regarding skills and knowledge expectations relevant to their own jobs. The sample consisted of 76 teachers in woodworking departments, and 70 supervisors and 159 skilled workers in the three woodworking occupations.;The study findings were five fold. (1) There are significant differences in opinion regarding the necessity of skills in woodworking drafting and computer applications among cabinet makers, interior decorators, and carpenters. (2) There are also significant differences of opinion regarding the necessity of knowledge of woodworking tools and machines; materials and layout; furniture design, structure, and finishing; production estimation; shop layout and management; interior decoration; and mold engineering. (3) There are no significant differences in terms of the woodworking skills and knowledge, as perceived by teachers, supervisors, and skilled workers. (4) Engineering drawing skills were emphasized more in schools than required by woodworking related occupations, but woodworking workshop (II) (III) skills, model making, and overall knowledge were less emphasized in schools than required by the occupations. (5) Carpenters felt that skills and knowledge were generally more necessary than did either cabinet makers or interior decorators. Moreover, skill and knowledge pairs were more highly correlated for cabinet makers and interior decorators than carpenters.;The following recommendations were made: (1) Woodworking programs in schools should be separated into two/three divisions, viz., cabinet making/interior decorating, and carpentry. (2) Engineering drawing skills should be deemphasized, but woodworking workshop (II) (III) skills, model making skills, production estimation knowledge, and shop layout and management knowledge should be emphasized in the school curriculum to meet the needs of woodworking related industries. (3) A flexible educational system and a coordinated vocational training system should be established. Future research should be directed at identifying the competencies of woodworkers in Taiwan in the next five to ten years.