Wei Li, Tianran Ni, Yi Zhang, Daan Wang and Salvador Parrado
This study aims to examine the effects of vocational training programs for people with disabilities on their income.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the effects of vocational training programs for people with disabilities on their income.
Design/methodology/approach
It conducted a multinomial regression analysis of 10,469 survey responses from 31 provincial administrative areas in mainland China.
Findings
It finds the following antecedents all influence the trainees’ self-reported income, including their perception of the quality of the program, the training subject, the degree of consistency between their current job and this subject, their employment sector, their motivation and access to training resources and the geographical location of the program.
Research limitations/implications
The findings are not representative of people with disabilities across mainland China because the respondents were not randomly sampled.
Practical implications
The findings suggest that to increase the income of people with disabilities, the training can be designed according to the needs of employers by teaching subjects relevant to the needs of the labor market, reaching out to motivated trainees and enhancing the quality of training. Training institutions, employers and governments are recommended to work together to integrate class-based learning with workplace-based learning and practices. More training resources can be devoted to the self-employed people with disabilities or those who operate in the informal sector and are in less-developed areas.
Social implications
The improvement of employment opportunities and income of people with disabilities supports the safeguarding of their social economic rights and the building of an inclusive society.
Originality/value
Few studies have empirically explored and explained the effects of vocational training programs on people with disabilities’ income. This article fills this gap by assessing the performance of China's vocational training programs funded by the Federation of Disabled Persons at all levels.
Details
Keywords
Yongkun Wang, Tianran Ma, Wenchao Tian, Junjue Ye, Xing Wang and Xiangjun Jiang
The purpose of this paper is to prepare novel electroactive shape memory nanocomposites based on graphene and study the thermomechanical property and shape memory behavior of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to prepare novel electroactive shape memory nanocomposites based on graphene and study the thermomechanical property and shape memory behavior of nanocomposites.
Design/methodology/approach
Graphene was dispersed in N,N-dimethylformamide, and the mixture was spooned into epoxy-cyanate ester mixtures to form graphene/epoxy-cyanate ester nanocomposites. The nanocomposites were deformed under 150°C, and shape recovery test was conducted under an electric voltage of 20-100 V.
Findings
Graphene is used to improve the shape recovery behavior and performance of shape-memory polymers (SMPs) for enhanced electrical actuation effectiveness. With increment of graphene content, the shape recovery speed of nanocomposites increases significantly.
Research limitations/implications
A simple way for fabricating electro-activated SMP nanocomposites has been developed by using graphene.
Originality/value
The outcome of this study will help to fabricate the SMP nanocomposites with high electrical actuation effectiveness and improve the shape recovery speed of the nanocomposites.