• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.129-146
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• 2014

This study is a fundamental research in the field of home economics education to enforce vocational competencies. It was carried out in the purpose of examining the recent economical and social environmental changes and its management system related to the vocational training in the field of home economics education. It seeks change in direction in relation to the National Competency Standard(NCS) based on revisions in the educational system. The method of study was mostly through reference and data analysis, professional advisory and public hearing. The main research results are as follows. First, the main environmental change factors in relation to vocational training have been integrated to the changes in; population structure, gender related economic activities, generation composition, communications technology, and innovation of living technique. These change factors are forecasting innovations in related industries, lifestyle changes, demand for manpower and changes in capabilities required for each specific profession. Second, according to the analysis of current home economics education training, vocational home educations high school accounts for 9.4% of the total number of specialized high schools, where 8 standard departments are specialized in and characterized into 137 different department names. Despite differences among departments, overall employment rate of graduates were measured 44.7%, which rates above the entrance rate of 41.9%. These numbers show great change since 2010(overall employment rate 16.9%, entrance rate 75.2%), a meaningful outcome resulting from changes in policy from the previous employment-centered education system. Third, NCS based on high school vocational home economics education system revision and investigations in change of direction in vocational home economics, this study attempts to provide background for revision from the development of NCS. It also provides proposals for restructuring division of current classification and departments of home economics education, and propositions for further future research.