Vocational Education And Training Institutions Research Articles

ДОСВІД ФОРМУВАННЯ ОСВІТНЬОЇ СТАТИСТИКИ ОЕСР: ВАЖЛИВІСТЬ ДЛЯ РОЗВИТКУ ПРОФЕСІЙНОЇ (ПРОФЕСІЙНО-ТЕХНІЧНОЇ) ОСВІТИ В УКРАЇНІ

The article discusses certain issues related to the collection of statistical data in the field of vocational education and training (VET) in Ukraine. It was found that for the continuous monitoring of educational activities at all levels of education in general and the VET in particular, an insufficient amount of information is collected (especially regarding the financial aspect). For comparison, the example of the OECD is considered, as an organization with significant experience in the formation of informative educational indicators. The author found that the approach to the formation of educational indicators in the OECD countries differs significantly, meaning the calculation of all indicators is aimed at disclosing information about the receipt and expenditure of funds in VET institutions, their sources, and the structure of expenses by category and per student. That is, all indicators are calculated for the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of educational institutions. As a result, the indicators that highlight information about teachers are also primarily focused on disclosing information that is indirectly related to finances: expenses for teachers' wages by various sections, etc. The Ukrainian forms of VET institutions that are submitted to the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (primarily Forms No. 1, 2, and 3 of VET) are oriented more towards the calculation of the physical presence of teaching staff and students and their gradation by age, gender, involvement in the learning process, etc. It was concluded that such information is incomplete and does not make it possible to assess the effectiveness of the educational institution.

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Vocational education and training (VET) is an integral part of the Ukrainian educational system and an important component of the country�s reconstruction both now and in the long term, due to the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Given this, VET institutions in Ukraine should adapt to the unfavourable conditions of the ongoing russian-Ukrainian war and train qualified workers in accordance with the requirements of the current labor market. As a result of the martial law in Ukraine, starting on February 24, 2022, VET institutions subsequently switched to distance learning, and then, depending on the security situation in the certain region, provide educational services in three different formats (full-time, distance and mixed). By that time, Ukrainian students already had experienced distance learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the introduction of quarantine measures, so this was not a new challenge for most participants in the educational process. However, other problems that had existed in providing quality VET for some time before have crystallized. It is about the proper methodological support of the educational process, one of the main components of which is the availability of the required educational materials. The working hypothesis of this article is that one of the key factors influencing the provision of quality educational services in the VET system is the availability and accessibility of training materials (textbooks), which should be up-to-date, reflect the current needs of society and take into account the needs of the business sector. To test this hypothesis, the article analyzes in detail the survey covering 25 Regional Educational and Methodological Centers of Vocational Education in Ukraine, which was conducted by the authors in 2020. The study found, among other things, that it was an imbalance between the available number of textbooks and the real need for quality educational literature in a number of professions; nearly 50% of vocational training textbooks were outdated and did not reflect trends and changes in the relevant sectors; some textbooks were published in russian in the Soviet era etc. However, in recent years, the situation with the provision of materials for VET education and its accessibility has improved significantly, and today the vast majority of educational materials are available online and are concentrated on several electronic platforms. In order to facilitate and increase the efficiency of further use of educational literature, the authors propose to create a unified e-platform for VET, which will host training materials (textbooks) not only in Ukrainian, but also English-language resources that have proven to be of high quality, in particular, from EU countries.

Vocational Education and Training (VET) School Autonomy and Accountability: An analytical framework to contribute on moving forward VET policies and system in Ukraine

In the last years, the evolution of decentralization in education in Ukraine, whether in the field of general education or vocational education and training (VET), has created effective political will and good synergies to address systemic reforms. However, the steadily decreasing number of VET institutions, students -and teachers- testify to the need to further reform the VET system. In the context of its effort to make the VET system both more attractive for students and the labour market through decentralization, Ukraine is facing the challenge of advancing VET school autonomy and accountability regarding managerial, financial and pedagogical functions. Increasing vocational school autonomy has been considered a key policy driver for decentralization process. School autonomy (managerial, financial, and pedagogical autonomy) might enable schools to support on such ambitious goal. The European Training Foundation (ETF) working very closely with Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (2019-2020) explored-in pilot basis-how to make possible moving towards VET school autonomy and accountability in Ukraine, from a governance perspective of the VET system. The analytical framework is a result of desk research, focus groups in three Ukrainian regions (Poltava, Kharkov and Odessa). Further, it helped to implement national survey-online- in 24 Ukrainian regions Key outcome is an Analytical Framework for VET School Autonomy and Accountability. The purpose of such tool has been to provide a clear description of the suggested distribution of tasks among stakeholders at the different levels of the education system (practitioners and policy makers). This might support the decision-making authorities, i. e. first and foremost the Ministry of Education and Science) in their efforts to advance VET school autonomy and accountability in Ukraine to advance in policy agendas and continue improving effectiveness -and efficiency of VET system.

School-Based Improvement in VET: “The 1,000 Schools in Vocational Education and Training Project”

Vocational education and training (VET) faces a significant transformation after the 2000s, due to the widespread use of automation and artificial intelligence-based production technologies. VET also have other struggles including higher student flow to academic track and higher rate of socioeconomically disadvantaged students in VET institutions. In this context, it is of great importance to improve the school climate of VET institutions. The “1,000 Schools in Vocational Education and Training Project” was initiated by the Ministry of National Education (MoNE) in order to extending the paradigm shift in recent years in VET. This study aims to evaluate how school-based improvements are made across Turkey in the project. The project, which is the largest-scale programme for the improvement of Turkish VET system, covered approximately 25% of VET high schools in Turkey. Within the scope of the project, 1,000 disadvantaged schools based on education indicators were selected. As a part of multi-stage support; more than one hundred thousand students attended academic support programs, and more than four hundred thousand students attended psychosocial support and coping with addiction trainings. The number of participants in pedagogical and leadership skill programme for teachers and school administrators has exceeded three hundred thousand. Parents’ participation in open secondary schools, open high schools and vocational courses was encouraged, and more than 11 thousand parents were ensured to attend these trainings. Within the improving of schools’ physical infrastructure, new laboratories and libraries were established and workshops in schools. The project proofs that the school climate can be improved via multi-stage support and it has become a practical model the "10,000 Schools in Primary Education Project".

Girls in trades: tokenism and sexual harassment inside the VET classroom

ABSTRACT When women enter occupations that have historically and traditionally been the realm of men, they face a multitude of barriers that make their experience difficult and that contribute to a gender-segregated workforce. Vocational Education and Training (VET) is the entryway to employment in the skilled trades, and VET providers have a role in introducing students to the industry, in the formation of occupational identity and occupational behaviours, establishing workplace cultures and standards of professionalism. Furthermore, VET has a moral and legal obligation to provide a safe classroom for all students. This paper reflects on the role of VET in perpetuating gender segregation in the skilled trades in Australia. We report on a qualitative research project with tradeswomen, apprentices, industry and government representatives that found that significant barriers confront tradeswomen apprentices in VET institutions. The study found that VET has the capacity to normalise the tokenism of women and contribute to gender harassment. We argue that a VET classroom environment where gender inequalities and harassment are normalised, and a gender biased apprenticeship system, contribute to gender segregation in the skilled trades.

ҐЕНДЕРНО ЧУТЛИВЕ ОСВІТНЄ СЕРЕДОВИЩЕ В ЗАКЛАДАХ ПРОФЕСІЙНОЇ (ПРОФЕСІЙНО-ТЕХНІЧНОЇ) ОСВІТИ: ДОСВІД РОЗВИНУТИХ КРАЇН ТА МОЖЛИВОСТІ ДЛЯ УКРАЇНИ

The educational environment in the system of vocational education and training (VET), as a component of the global education system, should be gender-sensitive without any manifestations of gender bias and discrimination. The article identifies that such factors as national, regional or local management of VET institutions, labor market requirements, involvement of social partners, etc. reduce gender imbalance and contribute to the formation of a gender-sensitive educational environment. A review of best practices in education systems in Australia, the USA, Finland, Germany and Ireland showed that government projects are underway to create a gender-sensitive educational environment in VET institutions. The online platforms of these projects contain toolkits, examples of good practices, tips, useful links, examples of gender-neutral curricula, best teaching methods, teaching aids, elements of gender-sensitive speech, portfolio of professions, etc. In Ukraine, gender equality issues are also given some attention in VET institutions. Management and employees are aware of the importance of gender equality for the development of VET institutions and work continues to overcome stereotypes in career guidance work. However, there is currently no institutional framework or mechanisms for gender equality in domestic VET. In addition, there is no designated person for gender policy. According to the research results, primary steps for the development of a gender-sensitive educational environment in Ukrainian VET institutions are proposed, namely: the development of organizational frameworks and mechanisms for ensuring gender equality; regular training of teaching staff in the promotion of gender equality and the elimination of stereotypes in vocational guidance work; ensuring universal access to classrooms, workshops and laboratories, sports halls, locker rooms and other facilities of the VET institutions for free access by all without segregation, etc. The main direction of further research is the creation of methodological bases for the formation of an inclusive and gender-sensitive educational environment in VET institutions.

ПОПУЛЯРИЗАЦІЯ ПРОФЕСІЙНОЇ (ПРОФЕСІЙНО-ТЕХНІЧНОЇ) ОСВІТИ СЕРЕД МОЛОДІ: ЄВРОПЕЙСЬКИЙ ДОСВІД ТА КРОКИ З ЇЇ ПІДВИЩЕННЯ В УКРАЇНІ

Because of the full-scale invasion of the russian federation, Ukraine has suffered and will suffer significant damage to infrastructure, the rehabilitation of which will require highly qualified personnel, especially skilled workers. Despite the high demand in the labor market for skilled workers in Ukraine, only 15% of youth among the 9th-grade graduates of general secondary education institutions choose vocational education and training (VET) institutions. Such a discouraging trend is explained by the low popularization of VET among the youth of Ukraine, caused by the imperfect system of vocational guidance and professional counselling of student youth. The article is aimed at studying the best practices of EU countries on the popularization of VET among young people and describing steps to increase it in Ukraine. In our view, the popularization of VET is an opportunity to encourage young people and adults to choose VET by offering them high-quality qualifications that open up career prospects and a decent salary. The best practices in countries such as Serbia, Croatia, the Czech Republic and Slovenia, where the proportion of high school students preferring VET is highest, shows that effective career guidance and counselling systems exist in these countries, using an individual approach to each individual. Since 2021, the government of Ukraine launched a large-scale campaign to popularize VET, aimed at increasing the attractiveness of VET and changing the approach to career guidance among schoolchildren, as a result of which in 2021 compared to the previous year, the number of students enrolled in VET has increased. Also, a positive trend is this year's increase in the number of regional applications for the training of workers and specialists in regions remote from the combat zone. However, the low popularization of VET among young people remains a challenge. The main ways to address this problem are the introduction of effective career guidance and counselling system; the establishment of regional career guidance centres; the introduction of a career counsellor in VET institutions; maximum involvement of business in the popularization of labor professions, etc. During the period of martial law in Ukraine, the VET will play a strategic role in providing our country with labor force.

PROBLEMS OF IMPROVING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES OF LEADERS OF THE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION SYSTEM

In this article it is written about institutional leaders in vocational education and training (VET) refer to those who are appointed or employed in a recognised leadership position to oversee VET programmes and institutions and who have responsibility for the goals set by the organisation that offers VET programmes.

Who participates in vocational education and training in India? An analysis of socio-economic determinants

ABSTRACT India’s expectation of a demographic dividend owing to an increase in the working age population necessitated government measures aimed at skilling youth. Considerable emphasis was therefore placed on skill development policies and programmes, including revamping formal vocational education and training (VET) institutions that provide skills to students completing secondary schooling and opting vocational training. Although the number of VET institutions in India more than doubled in the last decade, their underutilisation calls for an analysis of underlying reasons. This paper analyses socio-economic factors influencing participation in VET using data from nationally representative survey on education. Findings of a multinomial logit analysis in the paper suggest that students in upper secondary VET institutions tend to belong to socially disadvantaged households, and that students in vocational courses are more likely to be male, urban, and from households whose principal occupation is blue-collar. Children from households belonging to higher socio-economic status and pursuing white-collar jobs are more likely to participate in general and professional education as compared to VET because of higher status assigned to the former in the society. These findings call for fine-tuning of current polices of promotion of VET in India.

Measuring Quality in Indian VET Institutions: Development Steps Towards a Framework Adapted to the National Context

Purpose: Purpose: The quality of vocational education and training (VET) processes plays an important role in international education policies and research. In India, issues of quality came into focus in recent years due to an increased demand for skilled workers, and continuing challenges in the area of quality of VET. Existing quality assurance mechanisms of VET in India are characterised by a lack of comprehensiveness and uniform standards. This paper addresses the contextualised development of an Indian-specific approach for quality measurement. It centres on following research question: Which quality areas, criteria and related indicators are of relevance for measuring quality comprehensively? Approach: Design-based research substantiates the research objective, which is to develop a model that is theoretically and technically sound, as well as adapted to the national context. The question of how to create "cultural-fit" was essential for the research process illustrated in this paper. Starting point for the development of the approach was to build a structured review, and following analysis, with reference to existing models and approaches to quality management. The initial search examined national and international academic sources for quality management in business and education, as well as governmental sources for quality management strategies in VET. A significant number of models were selected, based on inclusion criteria, and these models were aggregated to provide a source for a first own conception of an approach. Results: Quality dimensions and criteria were collected and identified with reference to distribution across models. In total, seven major quality areas are identified, namely Institutional Sphere and Context; Personnel; Educational Planning, Provision and Assessment; Learning and Teaching; Leadership and School Management; Industry Linkage and Learner Achievements. In addition, 40 quality criteria are determined under these major quality fields, and relevant quantitative and qualitative sub-indicators for measurement are derived. Conclusion: The actual results will be a basis for the following pilot-based implementation in India. The model can provide meaningful feedback and data-based recommendations for continuous improvement of the Indian VET system and may furthermore provide for a reflected and contextually adapted implementation in other countries.

Teacher concerns about competency-based mathematics education in a rural Australian VET institution

ABSTRACT Within vocational education and training (VET), mathematics learning is often complicated by students’ problematic prior mathematics education experiences and associated low confidence and limited prerequisite knowledge. Teachers have insights into students’ mathematics learning needs and appropriate curriculum and assessment responses, but their views are often neglected within VET policy contexts. To better understand the challenges of mathematics education within VET programmes in Australia, we focused on three vocational qualifications within a rural VET institution in Victoria, chosen to vary the visibility of mathematics content, learning environment, and curriculum philosophy. Despite this diversity, teachers from each qualification made similar criticisms of the ways their institution implements mathematics curricula. They described how a behaviourist approach to competency-based education (CBE) constrains their capacity to respond to students’ needs, with adverse effects on students’ mathematics learning. We argue that the assessment and reporting regimes that currently govern education within Australian VET institutions contribute to negative experiences for already disadvantaged mathematics learners. We suggest that the disconnect that teachers described between students’ needs and the approach to curriculum and assessment speaks to a larger inconsistency between the social inclusion aims of Australian VET and the way that CBE is implemented.

Current status of interaction between vet institutions and enterprises

Introduction. The implementation of work-based learning in the process of joint vocational instruction by enterprises and VET (vocational education and training) institutions is the most important focus of the educational policy in developed countries. In the Russian Federation, over the past decade, such kind of partnership has been developing both through spontaneous self-organisation and purposefully in the form of several government projects. VET education policy was focused mainly on implementing the World Skills championship movement in the domestic field. As a result, no fundamental changes in institutional and economic structure were implemented to make apprenticeship training compelling for enterprises. Nevertheless, no full-fledged accumulation of information on the dynamics of the development of various forms of work-based learning was carried out to prevent the decent assessment of the current state of apprenticeship training in the Russian Federation and to conduct a comparative international analysis.The present article aimsto determine the current status of interaction between enterprises and VET institutions, fulfil the lack of quantitative information on the topic, and test the hypothesis that under the current institutional conditions the interaction frequency and intensity between enterprises and VET institutions in the Russian Federation lag behind similar international indicators.Methodology and research methods. In the course of the research, the methods of socio-historical analysis, the instruments of theoretical and methodological analysis, hypothesis building, assessment and generalisation methods were applied. The empirical part of the present research was formed by the methods of secondary analysis of the Russian and foreign studies on the development of the VET and its interaction with the labour market. In addition, the method of comparative and retrospective analysis of statistical data from Russian and international studies was employed. Finally, the method of questionnaire survey and the method of content analysis of websites of educational institutions and enterprises were used. The study involved 603 VET institutions from 29 constituent entities of the Russian Federation.Results and scientific novelty. One of the most significant research findings is a systemic description of the current status of the partnership between VET institutions and enterprises in the Russian Federation. Main directions and forms of interaction between VET institutions and enterprises in Russia at the end of the second decade of the XXI century were outlined (curricula development, internship for students, and participation in education results assessment). The prospects for the development of partnership between VET institutions and enterprises and the influencing factors (economic and institutional) were determined. The particular Russian characteristics of the interaction between the VET system and the labour market were identified and described as an inharmonious partnership with the employer’s active articulation of a request for a high-quality human resource without proportionate participation in its instruction. The quantitative assessment of current interaction between enterprises and VET institutions in Russia allowed comparative analysis with the indicators of foreign countries to be conducted. In our country, the authors revealed a lower level of enterprises investments (especially financial ones) in the students’ human capital development.Practical significance. The sociological toolkit and schemes of dynamic and comparative analysis developed in the course of the research can be used in further research on the education system and on the related issues. The research findings can be applied while planning and implementing educational policy measures.

Understanding student decision-making about VET as a pathway: an Australian study

ABSTRACT Although vocational education and training (VET) can lead to lucrative and fulfilling careers and plays a vital role in skilling workers for contemporary workplaces, it continues to have a low status in schools, among parents, and in the wider community. Many countries are now seeking to enhance the status of VET to increase its uptake by school leavers. The study reported here investigated factors that shape students’ decisions about post-school options and their views about promoting VET as a viable post-school option. Interview and survey data from 176 students from 11 schools and three VET institutions located in metropolitan and regional communities are discussed here. Their decision-making is influenced mainly by the information they received from familiars (i.e. parents, teachers, and friends). They suggest more detailed information about the utility and status of VET and occupations it serves may assist young people to consider it as a viable option.

УДОСКОНАЛЕННЯ ПРОФЕСІЙНИХ НАВИЧОК ТА ПІДВИЩЕННЯ КВАЛІФІКАЦІЙ ВИКЛАДАЧІВ ПРОФЕСІЙНОЇ ОСВІТИ ЯК ВАЖЛИВА СКЛАДОВА ІМПЛЕМЕНТАЦІЇ ОСВІТНЬОЇ РЕФОРМИ В ПОЛЬЩІ

The article attempts to discuss the problems of training and retraining of VET (vocational education and training) teachers in Poland in the process of implementing important educational reforms. The authors stress the special role of VET in society as compared to other levels of education, which main task is to provide a quality education that meets the needs of the modern labor market. The study used research methods, techniques and tools such as document verification, interview techniques and VET monitoring. The problems described in the article offer solutions that improve the work of teachers as well as the content of vocational disciplines. The results of the monitoring study involving first-level industrial and vocational schools in the Lubusz Voivodeship show the importance of teachers’ cooperation with the local labor market in order to improve the curricula according to employers' expectations. The training and retraining of teachers have been found to be an important factor in preparing students for professional tasks. In view of this, the authors proposed a model for the relationship between the educational system and the local labor market. At the same time, it is recommended that individual professional development plans be drawn up for teachers of vocational disciplines. The article presents measures that are the starting point for finding further solutions to support teachers by creating individual professional development plans that enhance professional activity according to the long-term local development programs. There is thus a need to improve the quality of teaching in VET institutions in accordance with the needs of employers and within existing educational programs.

Understanding student decision-making about VET as a pathway: an Australian study

ABSTRACT Although vocational education and training (VET) can lead to lucrative and fulfilling careers and plays a vital role in skilling workers for contemporary workplaces, it continues to have a low status in schools, among parents and in the wider community. Many countries are now seeking to enhance the status of VET to increase its uptake by school-leavers. The study reported here investigated factors that shape students’ decisions about post-school options and their views about promoting VET as a viable post-school option. Interview and survey data from 176 students from 11 schools and three VET institutions located in metropolitan and regional communities are analysed and discussed. Their decision-making is influenced mainly by the information they received from familiars (parents, teachers and friends). They suggest more detailed information about the utility and status of VET and the occupations it serves may assist young people to consider it as a viable option.

Educational Policy Actions by the Ministry of National Education in the times of COVID-19 Pandemic in Turkey

Countries struggle with the new situations due to COVID-19 pandemic around the world, and educational authorities strive for meeting the educational needs of students by using different online portals and distance education solutions. Billions of students and millions of educators are affected by school closures and other restrictions. In this study, I review the educational policy actions in Turkey by Ministry of National Education (MoNE) to maintain educational services, and to meet the needs of society with the productions of educational institutions in COVID-19 pandemic days. With school closures in Turkey, MoNE strengthened the infrastructure of digital educational portal, Educational Informatics Network (EBA) and collaborated with Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) to establish an effective distance education system. Vocational education and training (VET) institutions have made great contributions to meet the needs of the society via its potential in production and adaptation. To cope with the negative psychological effects of COVID-19, MoNE established a psychosocial support system involving specific helpline and guides. Consequently, MoNE quickly established an extensive distance education environment which supports students academically and socially, developed psychosocial support system, and used VET institutions to produce the needed materials and equipment in pandemic days.

Third Teacher goes Raumwerkstatt - participatory planning processes to redesign physical learning spaces

The transdisciplinary research project Lehrraum_digital[Lecture Room_digital] at the TU Dresden concentrated on developing and testing participatory methods and instruments to plan and design physical teaching and learning environments for vocational education and training (VET) considering the progressive digitalization of education. This paper presents case studies that were carried out at VET institutions in 2017 as the main part of the project. A special workshop format called Raumwerkstattis the primary focus of the paper. The workshop was developed within the project Lehrraum_digitaland, with regard to the relevance of physical learning environments in VET, it was conducted in the form of case studies with trainees and apprentices.

Focal points of VET teacher training: a comparison of VET teacher education in the USA and Switzerland

ABSTRACT With their work at the interface between the education system and labour market, VET teachers contribute to the efficacy and quality of the future workforce. This article compares the structures of teacher education in the framework of vocational education and training (VET) in the United States and in Switzerland and aims to contribute to the international understanding of VET teacher training. The insight into two different ways of preparing VET teachers leads to a display of particular aspects of the two systems as well as of similarities. The comparison focuses on characteristics such as VET institutions as workplaces, teacher/trainer- profiles that are needed in these institutions, required qualification to work in the institutions, training institutions for teachers and contents of teacher training programmes.

Students’ and staff perceptions of vocational education institution heads’ virtues

Purpose The relevance of institution leaders’ personal qualities for providing quality education is widely recognized. The purpose of this paper is to explore vocational education and training (VET) institution leaders’ character features. The research question was twofold: What are the features of the character of the pedagogical leaders of three Latvian VET institutions according to students, teachers and institution board members? What are the differences between respondents’ groups regarding their perceptions of leaders’ virtues? Design/methodology/approach Six members of the institution board, five teachers and six students participated in structured qualitative interviews collected in 2013 in three high-quality VET institutions from different fields (tourism, sports and maritime education). Secondary analysis of latent content was used to explore respondents’ perceptions of leaders’ virtues, using software AQUAD 7 for qualitative data analysis. Findings The results revealed significant differences between students’ and staff (teachers’ and institution board members’) perceptions: the staff members appreciated particularly leaders’ performance virtues (“teamwork orientation”) and intellectual virtues (“critical thinking”), whereas, for students, heads’ moral virtues were more relevant, especially “magnanimity”. Respondents also showed concern about VET institution leaders’ civic virtues (“neighborliness,” “community awareness,” and “communicability”). Practical implications The results suggest that different perspectives, and in particular students’ voices, should be integrated in VET leaders’ assessment process and that their continuing professional development should also address their intellectual, moral and civic virtues. Originality/value This study represents an innovative methodological trial for investigating educational institution heads’ leadership from the lens of virtue ethics.

Three dimensions of institutional contention: efficiency, equality and governance in Danish vocational education and training reform

Abstract This article develops a new analytical framework to account for institutional change in vocational education and training (VET) systems. Trajectories of institutional change are typically explained using one of two perspectives on institutional contention. First, the Varieties of Capitalism-approach highlights positive efficiency effects from coordination between companies on skill formation. Second, a historical institutionalist approach focuses on positive political feedback effects from the governance of VET institutions. We propose adding a third dimension of institutional contention related to what role VET should play in fostering greater socio-economic equality. Employing this three-dimensional framework enables a more fine-grained analysis of gradual forms of institutional change and greater appreciation of the ways in which political struggles over the configuration of the three dimensions drive institutional reform. The argument is supported by analyzing the trajectory of institutional change in the Danish VET system in the post-war period.