School-based Vocational Education Research Articles

Chinese technical and vocational education and training, skill formation, and national development: A systematic review of educational policies

Vocational education and training have been widely found to be related to economic development. In China, a country with a collectivist ideology, this relationship is especially significant and is reflected in many vocational education policies. This study analyzed the relationship between national development and Chinese technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in a systematic review. The study screened 33 vocational education policies that depicted the government's expectation of promoting economic development. These policies were screened, coded, categorized, and connected based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis standards. Qualitative methods and the theoretical framework of Ashton and Green were used to analyze the policies. Six themes were generated to detail the Chinese TVET development form and its attempts to promote national development: the modern TVET system, school-based vocational education, the competency-oriented curriculum system, student incentives, employer incentives, and workplace-based skills training.

Duale und schulische Berufsausbildungen in Deutschland: Schritte zu einem umfassenden Verständnis von beruflicher Bildung

ZusammenfassungDie berufliche Ausbildung in Deutschland wird auch heute noch häufig mit der dualen Ausbildung gleichgesetzt. Schulische Berufsausbildungen können im doppelten Sinn als Ausbildungen zweiter Klasse gesehen werden: Sie werden in Öffentlichkeit und Wissenschaft seltener wahrgenommen; geraten sie aber in den Blick, so wird oftmals angenommen, dass die (überwiegend weiblichen) Personen, die solche Ausbildungen absolvieren, im Vergleich zu dual Ausgebildeten schlechtere Arbeitsmarktchancen haben. Der Beitrag skizziert zunächst duale Ausbildungen, Ausbildungen an Schulen des Gesundheitswesens sowie Ausbildungen an Berufsfachschulen (unter gesonderter Betrachtung der Erzieher:innen) im gesellschaftlich-historischen Kontext und zeigt, wie dieser Kontext letztlich auch mit unzureichender Forschung zu den schulischen Ausbildungen einhergeht. Mit Daten des Nationalen Bildungspanels (NEPS) werden anschließend die Chancen von Absolvent:innen der verschiedenen Ausbildungssegmente beim Übergang in den Arbeitsmarkt analysiert (Dauer bis zur ersten Beschäftigung, Merkmale des ersten Beschäftigungsverhältnisses sowie Arbeitslosigkeit nach der ersten Beschäftigung). Im Ergebnis zeigt sich, dass die (nicht bundesweit, sondern per Ländergesetzgebung geregelten) Ausbildungen an Berufsfachschulen tatsächlich mit etwas schlechteren Arbeitsmarktchancen verknüpft sind. Auffällig ist das Profil der Erzieher:innen, die besonders häufig befristet beschäftigt sind. Mit Blick auf den Beschäftigungsbedarf der Zukunft sind mehr öffentliche Aufmerksamkeit und mehr staatliches Engagement für die schulische Berufsbildung dringend erforderlich.

Second Chance in Vocational Education and Training of Adults in Slovakia: Second or Wasted Chance?

Context: The paper focuses on an analysis of school-based vocational education and training (VET) of adults in Slovakia against the background of the concept of second-chance education (hereafter SCE). The concept of SCE involves different conditions of education to those that adults faced during their initial education and were unable to meet. Adults primarily study part-time, where they are offered a mirror image of a reduced full-time programme rather than an alternative space for obtaining a degree. Approach: Several theoretical research methods were used in the paper. An analysis of available statistical data about adults in VET, secondary analysis of relevant literature, the authors' own findings from previous research, and a comparison of selected characteristics of VET of adults in Slovakia with the principles of second chance education allowed for the formulation of synthesised findings and recommendations on necessary changes in adult education in vocational education and training. Findings: The absence of SCE principles in the vocational education and training of adults in Slovakia is one of the reasons for insufficient participation of low-educated adults. Neither schools, nor the state or municipalities, nor employment offices have created a mechanism for acquiring and keeping adults in education. VET of adults does not fulfil a social integration function because it is mostly used by adults who are upgrading or supplementing their existing qualifications. A significant manifestation of the lack of interest in improving the situation of the low-educated in VET is, among other things, the absence of training programmes that would prepare teachers for a non-mainstream educational process with non-mainstream pupils. The measures, which would be aimed at increasing the participation of the low-educated adults in secondary education are absent. This situation results, among other things, in persistent regional disparities in adult participation in education, which deepen the marginalisation of entire regions and their populations. Conclusion: The VET of adults in Slovakia lacks the concept of second-chance education that would enable those who needed it the most to enter and obtain higher level of education. The implementation of the elements of the SCE concept in VET would allow for an increase in the participation and success of the most vulnerable groups of adults with the lowest education and socio-economic status.

The effect of workplace vs school-based vocational education on youth unemployment: Evidence from France

We conducted a field experiment in France which shows that employers exhibit little preference when deciding whom to invite for job interviews: unemployed apprentices or vocational students, both of whom have earned the same diploma. By merging the results of this experiment with a search and matching model which accounts for the selection of apprentices retained by their training firms, we provide a framework to understand the ways in which apprenticeship influences youth employment. Our results indicate that the main positive impact on employment comes from retaining apprentices within their training company, while the productivity gap compared to vocational students remains minimal when the same skills can be acquired through the academic path or apprenticeship.

School-to-Work Transitions under Unequal Conditions: A Regionalised Perspective on the ‘Discouraged Worker’ Hypothesis

Against the background of considerable regional disparities, we test the “discouraged worker” hypothesis, which postulates that poor regional socioeconomic conditions foster students’ aspirations for more education, ultimately leading to an extension of their educational careers. Our two dependent variables are (i) whether students aspire to prolong their general school careers or enter vocational training and (ii) whether they in fact prolong their school careers. To that end, we link regional-level data to individual-level data from the German National Educational Panel Study (NEPS). To describe regional conditions adequately, we illustrate geographical patterns in socioeconomic conditions relevant for school-to-work transitions (e.g., labour market conditions and availability of vocational training opportunities). We compare two operationalisations of regional areas: (i) administrative districts and (ii) public transport areas. Our results show that students are more likely to aspire to prolong their general school careers in socioeconomically deprived regions. Moreover, the effects are stronger when school-based vocational training opportunities are scarce. The effects on actual transitions vary according to the school track attended and the availability of educational alternatives in the general school system. Finally, the operationalisation of regions varies regarding effect sizes and corresponding levels of statistical significance.

Motivation to Become a Vocational Teacher As a Second Career: A Mixed Method Study

AbstractWithin the school-based vocational education and training system, so-called hybrid teachers, i.e. who both work in a vocational school and a business, can add value to the quality of VET as well as can solve ageing and the threat of shortages among VET teachers. In this research, the motivation of becoming a VET teacher as a second career and its perception by participants were examined using a mixed-method explanatory sequential study design. In the first phase, 114 VET teachers from 33 VET institutions in Lithuania were surveyed using the Factors Influencing Teaching (FIT) Choice scale. In the second phase, five vocational teachers were interviewed. The qualitative results supported and complemented the results of quantitative research by emphasizing the importance of intrinsic motivation to teach and explained in-depth the components of antecedent socialisation and perceptions of teaching. The results were discussed considering similar studies on second-career teachers conducted in other countries.

Similar or Different Training Cultures? German and Chinese Companies in Their Home and Host Countries

For internationally producing companies, training and recruiting skilled workers is particularly challenging. At various international locations, companies often encounter a “skills ecosystem” that differs to a greater or lesser extent from that of the home country. This article considers this problem and examines German companies in Germany and China and, conversely, Chinese companies in China and Germany. Specifically, it examines (1) how the training cultures of companies differ between the home country and abroad, (2) which influencing factors determine the training cultures realized in each case, and (3) what influence the respective nationally prevailing skills ecosystems specifically exert. The findings from these four perspectives document that German companies in Germany use the formal vocational training system of dual training, whereas German companies in China are strongly influenced by the local training culture of in-company learning. Moreover, Chinese companies in China also use this training, and only cooperate to a limited extent with the formal school-based vocational education and training system. These findings show that Chinese companies in Germany do not adopt the dual training system used in Germany. This article analyses these results and discusses the reasons behind them, drawing of a distinction between institutional logic and internal logic.

Implementation of dual vocational education and training in Spain: the case of the Basque Country

ABSTRACT School-based vocational education and training (VET) systems are undergoing important changes with a view to strengthening their work-based learning component and, overall, their relationships with the local production environment. This paper looks at the introduction of dual VET in the Basque Country within the Spanish and European contexts. Based on an analysis of existing official information and literature as well as qualitative research carried out by the authors, the distinctive characteristics of the Basque system are documented and studied. It is shown that there has been a continuity in the ideas and relationships which have configured its trajectory from the early 1980s onwards, and that new instruments and elements of the system have been developed in the region even before those elements were fully formalised at national level in Spain.

The new localism, social reproduction, and reform of school-based vocational education in the state of Victoria, Australia

ABSTRACT Concerns about the poor outcomes from school-based vocational education, which is heavily concentrated in schools serving disadvantaged communities, has led the State Government of Victoria, Australia, to implement major reforms, including abolishing the Victoria Certificate of Applied Learning. Instead, from 2023, learning in vocational education will be recognised as a vocational major within Victorian Certificate of Education (which is used to regulate admission of school leavers into higher education). This article draws on the new localism and field theory literatures to position the reforms as an attempt improve the provision of school-based vocational education through localising delivery of SBVE to meet demand for skill in the local labour market. Improving the matching process is seen to lead to a range of positive outcomes for students. The paper provides an assessment of the likely impact of the reforms, with a focus on the building trades, and argues that while aspects of the reforms may help some students, they are unlikely deliver the changes needed to create productive pathways to quality work for all.

The Development of Informal Competences Between the End of Compulsory School and Early Adulthood

AbstractThis study investigates whether the informal competencies effort, exertion, perseverance and volition develop differently among youth who enter firm- or school-based vocational education and training or general education tracks, which offer distinct socialisation environments. The results show that the analysed competencies increase considerably after entry into vocational education and training. Young people in general education show a delayed development and only increase their informal competencies after the age of 18 years.

The Effect of Workplace vs School-Based Vocational Education on Youth Unemployment: Evidence from France

The Effect of Workplace vs School-Based Vocational Education on Youth Unemployment: Evidence from France

Researching and shaping local sustainable food systems–development of a learning module

This article presents a learning module that was developed within the framework of an international Erasmus+ project and in cooperation with 20 prospective teachers. The learning module enables learners of school-based vocational education to intensively deal with the food system(s) of their region. The comprehensive learning materials and lesson plans are made freely available.

The Role of Vocational Education in the Development of The Viticulture and Oenology Sector of Georgia

Today, the viticulture and oenology sector in Georgia has a fair potential for development. According to the statistical data, the income from the wine production is growing year by year for the country. Maintaining the growing potential of productivity in the viticulture and oenology sector is linked to the stable quality of grape and wine. The skilled workforce represents one of the essential components for ensuring production of high-quality products. Vocational trainings can provide both, the prospective and existing employees of the viticulture and oenology sector with the possibility to develop necessary skills. Moreover, each country has its own unique cultural, economic and social aspects that have to be taken into consideration in the process of assessing and reforming the country's educational potential. Numerous countries rely on the "mixed systems" that combine different types of work-based learning, including school-based vocational education and dual vocational education programs. However, in view of international best practice, dual programs are considered to be the best mode of instruction for vocational programs in the direction of viticulture and oenology. Introduction of work-based learning with the so called dual vocational education programs by the state in recent years, can be considered as a step forward in this direction. Also, the state offers short-term vocational education programs within the framework of close cooperation with the private sector. The viticulture and oenology sector is the first, together with the tourism sector, to be recognized as a priority by the state, therefore the training of students with dual vocational education programs has been piloted. In summary, for a vocational student, dual vocational education programs involve pursuing studies at a vocational education institution, where a student takes a theoretical course on a future profession, as well as a practical course necessary for acquiring practical and technical skills for the profession. This form of teaching provides more opportunities for deepening the public-private partnerships in education. On the one hand, it helps to reduce budgetary expenditures of the state and, on the other hand, allows the system to receive additional financial as well as intangible benefits. The interest of the private sector to participate in the educational process is multifaceted. However, one of the main reasons for the interest is possibility to hire experienced workforce in the future. Increasing the private sector involvement and delegating responsibilities to the private sector by the state represents a good opportunity to train/retrain qualified staff. This factor can be considered as a prerequisite for matching workforce demand and supply on the labor market. Training of highly qualified staff guarantees reduction of unemployment and poverty and ensures sustainable economic development of the country. Keywords: vocational education, dual vocational education programs, work-based learning, viticulture and oenology sector.

Perceived educational usefulness of a virtual-reality work situation depends on the spatial human-environment relation

Virtual reality (VR) may be useful for situating school-based vocational education in work-life by simulating a work situation such that learners viewing this VR work situation are located inside it. The reason for this assumption is that VR can fully spatially include its viewer. Research on the utility of viewer-including VR work situations for learners has, therefore, already started. However, no study has yet investigated their utility for teachers. This is particularly relevant for work situations involving environmental planning, as VR is expected to facilitate such a task. We, therefore, asked horticultural teachers to assess the educational usefulness of a VR work situation when they were located outside and inside it. For this purpose, we enabled them to plan a basic garden in the VR work situation when its environment was spatially excluding them and when it was including them. We found the teachers to perceive the viewer-including VR work situation as more useful for their teaching than its viewer-excluding version. This suggests that the perceived educational usefulness of a VR work situation depends on the spatial relation of its viewer and environment, that is, the spatial human-environment relation it involves.

Wage Differentials And Educational Attainment In Germany. How Do Job Profiles Affect Earnings?

This paper presents the results of an empirical analysis on the issue of wage differentials occurring within education levels. The main purpose of the research is to investigate the extent to which job profiles, classified as routine and non-routine tasks can explain wage differentials within educational levels in Germany. Systematization of the literary sources and approaches for solving the problem of wage differentials indicates that in line with technological advancement witnessed over the past decades, earnings are largely determined by the nature of tasks carried out within the workplace. The relevance of this scientific problem decision is that educational systems have to keep up with advancing digitization and the rapidly changing labour market requirements. Investigation of the impact job profiles have on earnings, in the paper is carried out in the following logical sequence: firstly, a brief overview on previous research in the field is given, followed by an outline of the dataset analysed, proposed hypotheses, applied methodology and results concluding with a discussion. Methodological tools of the research methods were descriptive statistics along with OLS regression techniques. Based on German cross-sectional employee survey data from 2018 two hypotheses are tested by classifying 23 selected work activities into routine and non-routine tasks linked to the highest education level attained. In accordance with the German education system four educational levels are specified: no occupational degree, in-company or school-based vocational training, advanced vocational training degree and university degree. The results indicate that non-routine activities are on average remunerated at a higher rate compared to routine activities and non-routine analytical work is paid at a higher rate than non-routine craftmanship. Additionally, higher wages for computer assisted work activities is found. The OLS regression model results confirm both hypotheses implying increasing returns to educational attainments resulting in larger hourly pay and higher pay for those performing non-routine tasks. Pursuant to the traditional Mincer human capital approach on returns to schooling the research empirically confirms higher wages for employees completing advanced vocational training and those holding a university degree. The results of the research can be useful for policymakers in the education sector, fostering and improving analytical, data literacy and organizational skills.

Dual Apprenticeships in Spain – Catalonia: The Firms’ Perspective

This article analyzes the motives for firms providing apprenticeship training in Catalonia and the reasons why other firms do not provide such training. In light of the recent introduction of dual apprenticeships in the formal education system in Spain, a country with a traditionally school-based vocational education and training (VET) system, Catalonia constitutes a relevant case for analyzing firms’ training motives in newly established training systems. We analyzed the statements of about 800 Spanish companies in Catalonia who participated in the study. These included both companies that provide training and those that do not. The results show that companies perceive dual training more as an activity to ensure the supply of skilled workers in the future and less as a means to profit from the apprentices’ productivity. Large firms are especially able to better integrate initial training in their continuous training process and to make use of positive synergies. The reasons for the absence of training have more to do with a lack of knowledge about the dual apprenticeship program than with a fear of losing investments in human capital. The results of this article provide relevant contributions to the discussion about the implementation of dual apprenticeship systems in countries with a different framework of conditions as opposed to those countries with established dual apprenticeship systems. Moreover, they provide relevant insights for the development of policies to foster firms’ provision of dual apprenticeships.

A tale of two reforms: Institutional change in vocational education and training in Norway and Sweden in the 1990s

Political reforms of the 1990s ushered in sweeping socio-economic changes in the Nordic countries, including radical changes in their vocational education and training systems. However, the reforms led to a school-based vocational education and training system with a strong orientation towards higher education in Sweden, and a hybrid system with a stronger apprenticeship component in Norway. Drawing on comparative literature about institutional change in education systems, the aim of this article is to consider why such different vocational education and training systems emerged in countries that shared numerous commonalities following political reforms with similar neoliberal agendas. Our findings, based on secondary data analyses, show that national education reforms played a key role in transforming vocational education and training systems to promote greater flexibility and lifelong learning in line with societal changes. They also show that differences in the roles played by the social partners in Sweden and Norway in the reform processes, in conjunction with differences in political priorities, have led to major differences despite the similarities of national histories and attitudes.

The influence of parents’ social capital on their children’s transition to vocational training in Germany

This study investigates the up-to-now strongly underexplored role of parents’ social capital in the school-to-work transition of adolescents. We base our empirical analyses on unique longitudinal largescale data from the German National Educational Panel Study. Parents’ social capital is measured with a position generator. Results show that adolescents with lower secondary education have better chances of finding an apprenticeship in a company if their parents know many persons with lower-status occupations for which vocational training is sufficient. This is especially the case for parents’ social contacts that have occupations in which many adolescents with lower secondary education are being trained in a company. The contrary is true for adolescents whose parents know many persons with higher-status occupations. Parents’ social networks do not show any effects on the quality of these apprenticeships or on the probability of entering school-based vocational training. Overall, our results indicate that parents’ social networks are important for a smooth school-to-work transition of their children. Moreover, our analyses confirm the idea that social capital is goal and labour market segment specific.

Educational change and innovative teaching practice: a study of the impact of reforms on the work of lecturers in vocational education and training in England and Germany

This paper focuses on the connection between system-wide reform in vocational education and training and the implementation of these reforms in learning and teaching processes. The study that is the subject of this paper conducted interviews with teachers in school-based vocational education in England and Germany. These interviews generated data on how teachers perceive reforms and in which ways they adapt their teaching as a result of reforms. This paper concentrates on the question in how far the interpretation of reforms by teachers leads to innovative processes at classroom level. The comparative design of the study aimed at identifying differences in innovative practice of teachers in Germany and England. It is concluded that the comparatively stable situation that German teachers € nd themselves in allow them to engage more actively in, and reflect more freely on, innovative practices than is possible for teachers in England. In contrast, innovative activities of teachers in England are often focused on the management of new teaching contents and the preparation for the teaching of a constantly changing portfolio of qualifications.

How Does Life Satisfaction Change During the Transition from School to Work? A Study of Ninth and Tenth-Grade School-Leavers in Germany

We analyze how life satisfaction changes when adolescents leave school and enter the German vocational and educational training (VET) system. We draw on data from the German National Educational Panel Study (NEPS, Starting Cohort 4) and apply fixed effect regression models. Our findings suggest that leaving school and entering the VET system is associated with an increase in life satisfaction—regardless of the occupational status (i.e., whether the individual is in dual or school-based vocational training or in a vocational preparation program). Moreover, our results provide evidence that adolescents are “happy” to leave school; that having high self-esteem leads to a smaller increase in life satisfaction, and that reaching or failing one’s educational aspirations does not explain changes in life satisfaction.