Managing under pressure: the management of vocational education in the British, Dutch and French systems

Abstract

Drawing on the literature of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and France, and on research work in progress, this article reviews approaches to managing further education colleges, Regionale Opleidingen Centra and lycées professionnels. It suggests that, although the surrounding systems are very different, there are similarities between the pressures bearing on managers, and some similarities in responses and key issues. In each country there has been a move towards greater autonomy, at least in some respects, at institutional level, combined with greater expectations of performance. The article identifies three areas as of particular importance: the manager's role as an educator, managing boundaries and personal leadership.