THE IMPACT OF UNDERSTANDING, SKILLS, SELF-EFFICACY, AND METACOGNITION (USEM) COURSES ON COLLEGE STUDENTS' EMPLOYABILITY AT Y VOCATIONAL COLLEGE IN YUNNAN, CHINA

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the current status and the relationships between the USEM course and college students' employability. To explore how the USEM course impacts students' employability and to compare differences in students' employability before and after participating in the USEM course. The research sample consisted of 356 students who participated in a USEM training course. A quantitative research design was adopted, combining a pre-test and post-test approach with correlational and regression analyses to explore both changes in students' USEM course and its effect on employability. Data were collected through structured questionnaires. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 27.0, including descriptive statistics, comparisons of mean scores, correlation analysis, regression analysis, and paired-samples t-tests. The results indicate that students' USEM course and employability significantly improved after participating in the USEM course. Furthermore, regression results show that the USEM course has a significant positive effect on college students' employability, with self-efficacy and metacognition playing particularly important roles. These findings suggest that the USEM training course is effective in enhancing both students' competence development and employability, and provide practical implications for vocational colleges in optimizing employability-oriented curriculum design.