Bridging gaps in vocational education and training systems in Norway

Abstract

ABSTRACT More than half of the youth in upper-secondary education in Norway choose programmes in vocational education and training. There is a larger risk of marginalisation in VET than in other educational programmes. One challenge facing VET is the mismatch between students’ vocational education and the companies` need for apprenticeships. It is found that a great number of students lack apprenticeship after the second year in school, another matter of concern is the related risk of marginalisation connected to students’ social backgrounds. We explore how a local vocational education and training (VET) system in Norway addresses the risk of marginalisation. With a focus on marginalisation and Luhmann’s system theory lens, we understand that a local VET is divided into several more or less autopoietic subsystems which communicate different meanings regarding the risk of marginalisation. We investigate how marginalisation is addressed within different subsystems in VET, by using a case study that includes interviews with important stakeholders at an upper-secondary school, a training agency, and companies. The results from the case study reveal that different rationalities may lead to difficulties in constructing integration between education and the labour market. However, through communication, ideas can be translated and overbridge system differentiation and mutual communication regarding how marginalisation can be decreased.