Role Clarification and Functional Deepening of counselors in Vocational Undergraduate Education: Implementation Strategies from a Student Development Theory Perspective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71411/jassp.2025.60Keywords:
Vocational undergraduate education, Counsellor roles, Role clarification, Functional deepening, Student development theoryAbstract
The distinctiveness of vocational undergraduate education and the heterogeneity of student populations necessitate targeted adjustments to educational models, student affairs priorities, and institutional strategies in vocational institutions. Building on student development theory (SDT), this paper explores the role positioning and functional deepening of counselors in vocational undergraduate colleges. counselors should assume multifaceted roles as career planning navigators, practical education facilitators, mental health advocates, industry-education integration coordinators, and campus culture architects. Functional deepening strategies are advanced through integrated ideological-political education and vocational literacy, career planning and employment guidance, psychosocially supported experiential learning, information technology empowerment, and home-school collaboration. Implementation frameworks include policy/institutional support, professional development systems, cross-disciplinary partnerships, and global benchmarking to foster holistic student development.
References
Yang, X. B. (2022). Reflections on talent cultivation models in vocational undergraduate education. Research in Higher Education of Engineering, 1, 127-132.
Li, P. (2023). Challenges and breakthroughs in role positioning of vocational undergraduate college counselors. University, 22, 177-180.
Wu, H. J. (2021). Vocational mobility of vocational college counselors: Dilemmas and solutions. Vocational and Technical Education, 42(5), 60-65.
Ma, D. H., & Chen, M. (2007). Student development theory in U.S. higher education: Key issues and implications. Modern Education Science, 5, 132-136.
Wang, F. C. (2016). Freshman education in Chinese universities from a student development theory perspective. Journal of Jianghan University (Social Sciences Edition), 33(1), 89-92+127.
Liao, J. Q. (2017). Innovative strategies for counselors in newly established undergraduate colleges: A student development theory perspective. Journal of Chengdu Normal University, 33(6), 6-9.
Lv, K. R., & Long, Y. F. (2024). Integrating career planning education and ideological-political education in vocational undergraduate colleges: A case study of counsellor roles. Education Guide, 5, 79-81.
Li, L. Y. (2024). counselors' guiding role in university career planning. In Proceedings of the 2023 Life Education Symposium (Vol. 2, pp. 1-4). Shandong Vocational University.
Wang, T. H., & Cheng, L. Q. (2024). Policy evolution and future adjustments in talent cultivation orientation of Chinese vocational education. Education and Vocation, 9, 98-104.
Zhuang, M. L. (2024). Fundamental principles and implementation pathways of practical education in the new era. Teaching Reference of Middle School Politics, 28, 7-10.
Lin, Y. N. (2023). Competency development of vocational college counselors: Ideal states, realistic challenges, and improvement paths from an industry-university collaboration perspective. Education and Vocation, 2, 101-105.
Fan, W. L. (2021). Guiding professional success concepts among applied undergraduate students: A case study of accounting graduates. Accountant, 24, 103-106.
Zhang, S. W., & Niu, L. R. (2016). Comparative study on practical competency cultivation models for Chinese and international undergraduates. Chinese Adult Education, 16, 73-76.
Li, X. Y., Dong, D., Yang, J., et al. (2017). Impact of loneliness on depression among college students: Mediating roles of social support and internet addiction. Psychological Research, 10(6), 78-85.
Shi, X. J., Wu, S. W., & Dong, L. (2023). Effect of psychological capital on employment anxiety in college students: The mediating role of self-management. China Journal of Health Psychology, 31(10), 1558-1564.
Kang, Y. Y., & Zhou, B. Y. (2024). Era requirements, challenges, and breakthrough paths for vocational college counsellor team development. Education and Vocation, 2, 85-89.
Jiang, T. Y. (2019). Professionalization and specialization of U.S. university counselors: Implications for China. Studies in Ideological and Political Education, 35(4), 146-149.
Weng, T. T. (2016). Characteristics of Japanese university student affairs management and implications for China. Journal of Higher Education Research, 9, 13-14.
Yu, Y., & Han, Z. Y. (2020). Guided cultivation and whole-person education: Insights from Singaporean higher education models for international student management in China. University Education, 3, 187-189.
Additional Files
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Peisen Hou, Yang Hui, Zhixiong Wang (Author)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.