Examining the problems encountered in furniture education in three different education programs (the case of Düzce)

Vocational and technical education is a type of education that is subject to intense debate due to its direct effects on the economic development and employment policies of countries. Especially in countries with a young workforce potential such as ours, the importance of vocational education is much more prominent. This study aims to determine the educational problems of students in educational institutions at different levels (secondary school, associate degree and undergraduate degree) that provide education on the furniture sector, which is a very important sector for the province of Düzce and provides employment to a large number of people, and to reveal their future expectations and perceptions of profession. In the study, data was obtained from students studying in furniture and decoration departments in vocational high schools at the secondary level, from students studying in furniture and decoration departments in colleges at the associate degree level, and from students studying in forestry industry engineering and woodwork industry engineering departments at the undergraduate level. In the study, a survey prepared by the researchers based on literature was used as a data acquisition tool. A total of 247 students from three different educational levels were reached within the scope of the study. When the obtained data were examined, it was determined that there were predominantly male students (89.1%) in the relevant departments. According to the participant students, the most effective factor in choosing the relevant departments is the guidance of their families. It was determined that as the level of education increases, the students' computer-aided design skills increase, but their production skills decrease, and these situations were statistically related. According to the participant students, as the level of education increases, there are improvements in course materials, but the lack of physical space increases, and it was determined that these situations are statistically significant. In the statistical evaluations, it was determined that the problems in the lack of good theoretical-practical harmony increase as the level of education increases. While the group that is most eager in terms of vocational learning according to the levels of education is associate degree students, the desire to learn the profession at the high school level is the lowest compared to other levels of education. However, it was determined that those who want to work in a job related to the department they graduated from are undergraduate and associate degree students at a higher rate.