Fashion Industry Standards in Comparison to College Fashion Merchandising Competencies in Virginia

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

RESEARCH PROSPECTUS1

Research Problem1

Assumptions1

Theoretical Issues2

Literature Review2

Research Questions3

General Research Plan4

Anticipated Limitations6

Anticipated Benefits6

REFERENCES8

RESEARCH PROSPECTUS

Research Problem

Fashion merchandising is a mix of processes that a new fashion goes through before it becomes available to the consumers in large quantities after it moves further from the hands of the designer. Students who belong to the fashion sector face a number of problems in the workplace due to lack of certain competencies (Congressional Research Service, 2006). Therefore, it is important to identify the competencies such as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) competencies that the industry needs to integrate in the programs of fashion merchandising that will help the students to become successful in the workplace (Sterling, 2004). This research will try to compare the standards to the college competencies of fashion merchandising in Virginia.

This research study is important as it will help to fill the gap that exists in the literature.

Assumptions

This research study will be based on the below mentioned assumptions:

First, assumption for this research will be that the fashion industry incorporates more STEM competencies than those that are taught in the curriculums of fashion merchandising.

Second assumption for this research will be that fashion merchandising has a different application in the industry and the university.

Third assumption will be that the students of fashion merchandising require STEM competencies for understanding the overall concept of fashion merchandising that is in relation to the industry which enhances the opportunities of the workforce.

Theoretical Issues

Fashion merchandising involves marketing of fashions to the retail stores, wholesalers and boutiques. It is a mission of the fashion merchandiser to connect various fashions to the consumers and anticipate what the clients will be interested in (Congressional Research Service, 2006). fashion merchandising is not dependent on fashion alone, it entails a sense of knowledge and business marketing techniques and strategies (Sterling, 2004).

The theoretical framework supporting this study was based on social learning theory. Bandura (1977) described social learning theory as a way of learning from others. By working with both the fashion industry and fashion graduates we will learn by industry observation, modeling what STEM competencies are related to both industry standards and fashion programs, and reflecting on those STEM competencies.

Literature Review

The literature of this research will incorporate the relevant researches that have already been carried out the subject of fashion merchandising and the competencies that are required for a student to successfully enter in the workplace.

The emphasis on STEM education has been growing with the passage of time both internationally and nationally. The previous decade has observed sufficient literature that supports the improvement of the STEM education in the United States (Rogers & Portsmore, 2004). There have been researches that have highlighted the importance of the maintaining and developing a workforce that possesses STEM competencies. The globe relies on the STEM literacy and the data has illustrated a declining position globally in science and math achievement (Martinez, 2005).

The countries that have students that are STEM educated ...