Vocational training (VT) allows young people to receive specialized training in a short period and enter the labor market with a qualification. However, VT is often seen as an unglamorous educational route, despite the fact that there are few admission requirements and that it prepares students for jobs with good conditions. Furthermore, the characteristics of VT students have been poorly documented empirically. To fill this gap, this study first examined the achievement profiles of 368 VT students based on three criteria: academic performance, academic persistence, and behavioral engagement. A two-step classification provided four groups: three profiles of students who persisted and successfully completed their training program and a fourth profile of students who withdrew from their program. The motivational and individual characteristics of the students from each profile were then examined based on six variables: motivation (self-efficacy and task value [importance, interest, cost, and perceived utility value of the training program]), gender, and age. The results showed that the profiles differed based on all the characteristics examined except student gender. Overall, the data contribute to better understanding the characteristics of VT students, which may guide teaching practices to better ensure the success of these students. © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.
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