Music major students' perception toward Chinese higher education curriculum in employability preparation
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-1-2024
Abstract
PurposeWith a focus on undergraduate music major students in China, the study sought to examine how higher music education institutions prepare professional knowledge, professional skills and soft skills in relevance to music students' employability.Design/methodology/approachThe quantitative survey engaged 359 music students from five music institutions in Western China to report their perceptions toward music curriculum related to employability. The current study examined whether their perception varied based on their gender, location, school, educational background and professional option purpose.FindingsPerception differences in the music curriculum were observed across gender, schools, educational background and professional option purpose. School differences were the most significant among all five factors, followed by professional option purpose, educational background and gender. The location difference was insignificant among the five factors. There were insufficient opportunities for community and industrial engagement in higher music education.Originality/valueThe current study provides an insight into the higher music education curriculum for employability preparation in current China. This is one of the limited empirical studies in Western China to investigate music students' perceptions of professional knowledge and skills and the soft skill line with employability. The findings can serve as a reference for prospective employees in the music industry, policymaking and curriculum design and future research.
Keywords
Employability, Higher music education, Professional knowledge and skills, Soft skills
Divisions
music
Publication Title
Education and Training
Volume
66
Issue
1
Publisher
Emerald
Publisher Location
Floor 5, Northspring 21-23 Wellington Street, Leeds, W YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND