Creating pathways to enhance college to work transition using COMET competence diagnostic model to assess and develop occupational competence and commitment in technical vocational education and training (TVET)

This paper sets out to examine the levels of occupational competence and the impact thereof on [technical vocational education and training] TVET student readiness for transition to the world of work in the conceptual-age. Holistic problem solving underpinned by creative thinking, shaped in an apprenticeship/dual TVET delivery, is a key element in this study. Central to the debate around high youth unemployment is the issue of student occupational competence levels to access the opportunities created by government policies and strategies. This challenge is addressed by analysing the impact of a reflective, conceptual thinking, work-based learning approach. Concepts such as novice to expert paradigm, conceptual thinking and functional to holistic competence serve as catalysts to improve articulation of students to the workplace. [Competence Development and Assessment in TVET] COMET psychometric measurement applied in this study provides solid empirical evidence regarding a lack of holistic problem solving skills needed for college-to-work transition.