Vocational Education And Training Teachers Research Articles

Thresholds for dis/trust: exploring the impact of standards-based reforms on the process of being and becoming a VET teacher in England and Austria

PurposeThis paper seeks to illustrate how interventionist education reforms shape dis/trust-building processes and their impact on teacher professionalism in vocational education and training (VET) across national contexts. Using trust as the object of analysis, we discuss the affective mechanisms of becoming a professional in a standards-based neoliberal environment.Design/methodology/approachThrough an analysis of VET teacher narratives in England and Austria, the paper draws attention to the ways in which policy instrumentalism has created a culture of distrust in VET. Drawing upon foundational work on system trust developed by Niklas Luhmann, we illustrate how conditions for trust sit at symbolic thresholds, which set the conditions for professional recognition within VET.FindingsOur analysis revealed that attempts to standardise VET strategy are fuelled by the need for existential security and predictability, leading to tensions in the cultivation of system trust. Conditions for professional recognition across both contexts were based on practices of documentation and subordination, narrowly defining modes of legitimate self-expression in organisations. This constitutes a crisis of trust in VET teacher professionalism, which undermines pedagogical autonomy and integrity.Practical implicationsWe seek to highlight the impact that reduced trust in the governance of VET can have on issues associated with teacher motivation, well-being and retention. The consideration of trust is therefore essential both for policy design and implementation in VET organisations.Originality/valueThe application of trust theory offers a distinctive lens through which to understand the impact of accountability, performativity and governance processes upon teacher subjectivity within VET across national contexts.

Adolescents' effort in vocational education and training and upper secondary general education: Analyses of stability, determinants, and group differences.

The effort adolescents make determines the risk for dropping out of vocational education and training (VET) early and their chances of graduating upper secondary education. Studies have shown that adolescents' efforts decrease during the transition to upper secondary general education and increases for the transition to VET. In this study, we examined adolescent self-efficacy in lower secondary education, adolescent-instructor relationship (AIR) in VET and general education, and perceived person-environment fit (PEF) as predictors of adolescent effort. We calculated two longitudinal multigroup structural equation models. Group 1 comprised 1266 (mean age in T1  = 15.7 years; female: 44%) lower secondary education graduates who moved on to VET with two learning contexts, company and vocational school in Switzerland. Group 2 included 517 (mean age in T1  = 15.7 years; female: 44%) lower secondary education graduates who moved on to upper secondary general education and thus stayed in a school. Adolescents' survey data was collected in 2016 and 2017. Self-efficacy in lower secondary education and AIR in upper secondary education indirectly predicted effort in upper secondary education via PEF, controlling for effort in lower secondary education. Findings were similar for general education and vocational school. However, the effects differed between company and general education (moderation). The positive effect of AIR on PEF was statistically significantly weaker for adolescents in general education than for adolescents in VET and their company learning context. We discuss strategies to enhance adolescents' efforts in upper secondary education.

The vocational teacher, an inventor in special needs education: A study on Swedish vocational programmes

Upper secondary vocational education and training (VET) in Sweden has been subject to frequent educational policy reforms which have resulted in reduced numbers of students and student groups comprising many students with special education needs (SEN). These changes can be assumed to have resulted in increasing demands on VET teachers’ work with special needs education (SNE). The purpose of this study is to contribute knowledge about VET teachers’ conditions for, and work with, SNE in Swedish VET programmes. An analysis of interviews with 15 teachers from eight VET programmes revealed the following themes: 1) Framework factors in the learning environments affecting  teaching and learning, 2) The schools’ organisation of special educational competence and the VET teachers’ application of special needs education, 3) Communicative teaching for increased knowledge of students’ strengths and needs, 4) Adaptations at individual and group level, 5) Integration of theory and practice, and 6) Reconsidering teaching approaches through follow-ups. The analysis, based on Skrtic’s theory, reveals a dichotomy in the VET teachers’ conditions for, and work with, SNE. In the schools, a bureaucratic approach is applied where overriding goals are attributed high value, while the VET teachers strive for an adhocratic approach where the teaching is based on their students’ needs. Based on Ainscow’s theory, the analysis shows that the VET teachers take an interactive learning environment-related approach, which means that, based on their understanding of the students’ difficulties, they develop adaptations to stimulate their students’ learning and development.

Identity of Vocational Education and Training Teacher: Pathways and Competences

A teacher’s identity can be understood as comprehensive approach to the self-concept of the teacher and the teacher’s external environment. The teacher’s identity already begins to form during the teacher’s preparation for the future teaching profession. The requirements about necessary education and requested competences for the teaching profession are usually set by the state institution such as Ministry of Education. Even though the current conditions for becoming a vocational education and training (VET) teacher are relatively strict, in practice there are teachers in secondary vocational schools whose preparation for the profession varies greatly. It often happens that VET teachers have undergone a transition from the practical economic sphere to the teaching profession, transition from the branch expert to the VET teacher. Vocational education is an important part of the education system, preparing pupils directly for the labour market needs. For most pupils, it is the last formal form of education in their lives. In the Czech Republic, approximately 70% of the population is educated in vocational education every year. The paper identifies main pathways to the identity of VET teacher, consisting of the professional identity of an expert in relevant field and the professional identity of a teacher. When the identity of VET teacher is created, there is often a "boundary crossing" associated with the creation of a new identity, or problems with the loss of the original identity. The intertwining of the teacher’s identity areas subsequently affects development of wider spectrum of competences. These competences need to be developed in the preparation of VET teachers or they can be related to the requirements for the performance of the profession of VET teacher. They can be divided into general pedagogical competences, competences in the field of branch didactics and professional competences of the expert in relevant field. Teachers also participate in the implementation of the curriculum in a particular school and thus become part of the practical side of educational policy. The above-mentioned approaches thus create the basis for the subsequent investigation of "teacher agency" in the conditions of vocational education.

TVET SI: Learning at Sea - Blended courseware creation for non-accredited vocational education and training for sea-farers at sea and ashore

Approximately 80% of South Africans do not receive formal post-school education and training (Southafricami, 2020) which implies that the majority of adults may receive non-accredited Vocational Education and Training (VET) or teach themselves. This article provides a theoretical and practical lens for VET educators and researchers on non-accredited VET courseware creation at an intra-programmatic level and it joins a long conversation in the regional and international academy on VET. It draws upon the case study of a production programme which was rolled out in three phases over five years for approximately 400 seafarers. The production programme was a forerunner in the deep-sea trawl industry and facilitated the inclusion of sea-going factory workers in workplace training for the first time. The Theory of Practice Architectures was employed as a conceptual framework to analyse and synthesis the corpus of data arising from a case study with nine methods for data collection. The findings reflect four characteristics concerning the practices of courseware creation for non-accredited VET. Three recommendations are made in the conclusion of this article which concern theoretical, methodological and systemic areas of of non-accredited VET. Keywords: non-accredited Vocational Education and Training (VET); Theory of Practice Architectures; courseware creation; sea-going workers

Complementarities among types of education in affecting firms' productivity

AbstractThis article uses Swiss firm‐level panel data to show that complementarities among workers with different types of education affect firms' productivity. We consider workers with four different types of education: no post‐secondary education, upper secondary vocational education and training (VET), tertiary professional education, and tertiary academic education. To account for possible endogeneity, we exploit within‐firm variation and employ a structural estimation technique that uses intermediate inputs as a proxy for unobserved productivity shocks. Our results suggest that workers with an upper secondary VET education are complementary to workers with a tertiary academic education, while workers with no post‐secondary education are complementary to workers with a tertiary professional education. Altogether, our findings highlight the importance of vertical and horizontal education diversity within firms.

Teacher's Agency and the Cooperation With Entrepreneurs in Entrepreneurship Education

Purpose: Vocational education and training (VET) in Finland takes place more and more at workplaces. Hence, the teachers' cooperation with companies has become important. Little research has been done on the teacher's activities in business cooperation and the factors affecting business cooperation. The teacher's decisions and choices are made possible through the teacher's autonomy and agency. The teacher's agency is understood as a capacity to utilise autonomy. In this study, the teacher's agency is reflected in their activity in developing entrepreneurial learning environments and activity in developing regional entrepreneurship education (EE). The study was conducted among Finnish VET teachers. In Finland EE is understood in its broad sense and the teacher is in a significant position choosing where, how and with whom they implement EE. The main research question in this article is: How does the VET teacher's agency in EE affect their cooperation with entrepreneurs? Methods: The data consists of 933 vocational teachers' responses. An open online survey tailored for teachers was used in the data collection (Measurement Tool for Entrepreneurship Education). Ordinal regression analysis has been used to analyse the data.Results: The teacher's agency is a significant factor explaining his/her level of cooperation with entrepreneurs. The results show that the teacher's activity, desire, and ability to express agency, strengthens the use of companies in teaching. Surprisingly, the teacher's personal entrepreneurial background and the number of companies in the area do not act as explanatory factors for entrepreneurs' cooperation. The study makes several suggestions on teachers' perceptions of the factors explaining and creating agency as an entrepreneurship educator. Conclusions: In Finland, teachers' autonomy is high. Teachers have the freedom to utilise their agency in many ways. They can, for example, make their own decisions and renew their teaching in many ways if they are willing and encouraged to do so. It seems like the question is more about management and teacher identity. The teacher's agency should be strengthened, and the teacher should be given the option to act more freely. Furthermore, the teacher's autonomy is not enough; agency is also needed. 

Facing the Dilemma of the Out-of-Field Teaching Phenomenon in Vocational Education and Training (VET)

In a rapidly changing workforce environment with skill shortages and a need for different pathways to training and education, vocational education and training (VET) has a significant influence on building stability in the workforce. The purpose of this paper is to develop an understanding of the causes, implications, and consequences of the out-of-field teaching phenomenon for VET. This phenomenological study examines VET teachers’ lived experiences and professional identity as an approach for studying out-of-field teaching in VET. The findings highlight the complex nature of out-of-field teaching in the economic culture of VET, with unique dilemmas. VET teachers experience conflicting and dilemmatic situations regarding occupational professionalism when they are expected to teach outside of their expertise while they are held responsible for students’ safe learning environments, outcomes, and satisfaction. The study revealed aspects of harmonious and tensioned relationships between these elements of the work and teachers’ identities. In conclusion, evidence-informed strategies are shared to support teachers’ capacity building and approaches to address concerns of the out-of-field phenomenon and the influence it has on quality teaching in VET.

Transitioning from industry to teaching in VET: profiles of VET teachers in Chile

PurposeSituated in the Chilean context, this study investigates how Vocational Education and Training (VET) teacher profiles, based on their perceptions of prior work experience in industry, relate to their current motivation and perception of teaching in VET. By doing so, the authors seek to provide valuable evidence to inform the development of policies to attract and maintain well-qualified teachers from industry in Chile and other countries facing similar changes.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used a descriptive cross-sectional design to collect data from 660 VET teachers using a two-scale instrument: Perception of Prior Occupation (PPO) and adapted FIT-Choice scales. By adopting a typological approach, the authors constructed profiles of VET teachers based on their perception of past industry experience. The authors then analyzed how these profiles vary regarding individual teacher characteristics, motivation and perception of teaching in VET.FindingsThe authors found a significant degree of heterogeneity among VET teachers' prior industry experiences, leading them to identify three distinct VET teacher profiles: “High Perception of Prior Occupation,” “Learning and Teaching-Oriented” and “Low Perception of Prior Occupation.” Notably, the most distinguishing characteristics across these profiles were age, VET teaching area, holding a job outside of teaching and years of prior industry experience. Furthermore, the authors found that motivation and perceptions of teaching varied significantly across these VET teacher profiles.Originality/valueThere needs to be more research on the factors that attract and retain industry workers as VET teachers in high schools. This study is among the first to address this topic in a non-European context.

Building and Maintaining Self-Efficacy Beliefs: A Study of Entry-Level Vocational Education and Training Teachers.

New vocational education and training (VET) teachers in Quebec (Canada), as in other countries (e.g., France, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States), face specific challenges and experience an atypical process of entry into the teaching profession. In addition to the known professional induction challenges, which requires numerous adjustments in terms of organizational integration and socialization as well as on a personal level, new VET teachers also experience a major professional and identity transition: they shift from experts in their field to novices in the teaching field. Moreover, as they are not generally trained in pedagogy, new teachers must enroll in a mandatory teaching bachelor's program once they are fully in charge of a class and its educational responsibilities. This complex process calls for a closer look at ways to facilitate their induction experience. Specifically, because it is closely related to motivation, engagement, and performance, this study focuses on their perceived self-efficacy as teachers. This study focused on 21 new VET teachers in the francophone province of Quebec, Canada, and aim to identify different strategies through which they succeeded in developing and maintaining their self-efficacy: strategies related to 1) the work of teaching, 2)mobilization of resources, 3) professional development, and 4) attitudes and well-being at work. These strategies allow us to gain a deeper understanding of previously unexplored aspects of the reality of these teachers, and to propose avenues for the development of interventions targeting their needs.

Scoping Review of Positive Mental Health Research for Students in Vocational Education and Training

Context: In this scoping review, we examine the knowledge base concerning positive mental health studies for students in vocational education and training (VET). The VET student population embraces approximately 30-52% of secondary school students in the Nordic countries, and 40% of the global student population. The risk of early school leaving (ESL) is substantially higher in VET than in general education and mental health may be a relevant factor in this matter. Yet, an overview of mental health studies in VET is lacking and therefore, this article aims to map empirical research studies that have explored positive mental health in VET students. The positive mental health framework, with its origin in Antonovsky's (2002) salutogenesis and positive psychology, focuses on factors that promote mental health and wellbeing rather than taking on a pathological perspective.  Methods: For our scoping review, we searched four databases, and 19 articles were found eligible for inclusion. These articles were systematically screened by means of a coding scheme to identify the following information: Country of origin of the study, its aim, research design, measures, conceptualization of mental health, and main findings.  Results: The evidence suggests that positive mental health is understood as a multifaceted concept, and wellbeing is the dimension that is explored most often, followed by resilience and quality of life. The majority of the included studies used a validated questionnaire to assess various aspects of positive mental health, and most of them sought to explore correlations between different dimensions of positive mental health. Main findings of the studies suggest that a supportive school environment, physical activity, and a strong vocational identity may contribute to positive mental health for students in VET. Furthermore, correlations have also been identified between environmental factors and positive mental health. Finally, findings from the review illustrate how even small-scale interventions may have far-reaching effects, due to the interrelatedness of the different dimensions within the positive mental health construct.  Conclusion: Findings from this review illustrate that numerous factors may affect the wellbeing of students in VET. In particular, a strong vocational identity, a supportive school environment, and physical activity may contribute to positive mental health. These findings suggest that VET teachers may promote the wellbeing of their students by providing a supportive psychosocial learning environment at school. 

In pursuit of equity vocational education and training and social justice

ABSTRACT The paper problematises conceptualisations of Vocational Education and Training (VET) and its relationship to social justice by examining a number of debates. It explores a post-structural policy analysis which is sensitive to the manner in which, through research, we constitute the object of our inquiry and as a result of this process subtly change it. This initial discussion leads into an examination of hegemonic constructions of VET. Subsequently, the paper addresses the contours of inequality as they apply to VET and English further education. This is followed by an examination of conceptualisations of equity, equality and meritocracy. In conclusion, the paper poses a question – how far can VET be shifted from its occupational moorings in order to contribute towards a socially just society, or is it compromised by its close association with the needs of capital and employers? This is not merely an empirical but also a political question that hinges on conceptualisations of social justice and power as well as the manner in which these are addressed in the struggle for a fairer more just society.

From TPACK to N-TPACK Framework for Vocational Education and Training With a Focus on Nutritional Science and Home Economics

Context: In Germany, vocational education and training (VET) plays a key role in the transition from school to working life. Due to its proximity to the labour market and an increasingly digitised, connected world, the professional knowledge requirements of VET teachers are changing and an adjustment of competence frameworks for vocational teachers is needed. Approach: Since its introduction, the TPACK (Technological Pedagogical And Content Knowledge) framework of Shulman and Mishra and Koehler has been repeatedly used in the international research discourse as a framework for capturing teachers' professional knowledge. Given the infrequent reference to TPACK in the field of vocational education and training (VET), this theoretical article aims to adapt the TPACK framework for VET teachers. A literature review revealed the importance of developing an adapted TPACK framework that takes into account the peculiarities of the German vocational school system as well as the non technical personal service sector. Based on this research gap, an appropriately adapted TPACK framework was developed. The focus of this article lies on VET of nutritional science and home economics. Findings: After considering and analysing the requirements of the VET system in Germany in the context of digitalisation, it is suggested to adapt and enlarge the existing TPACK framework, thus creating an N-TPACK framework, taking into account "Networking and Collaborative Knowledge (NK)" as an aspect of essential VET teachers' professional knowledge. Conclusion: The present theoretical article considers the research desideratum of extending the TPACK framework by developing a theoretical N-TPACK framework as well as examining and discussing the various knowledge areas. Building on this theoretical article, a survey of the current status quo of these professional knowledge areas among (prospective) VET teachers in the subject area of nutrition and home economics is necessary, in order to provide orientation and to be able to derive recommended actions for an up-to-date and forward looking teacher education and training. 

Organising opportunities for all: building equity in vocational education and training

ABSTRACT Background Educational opportunities and access vary according to location. In rural areas, the cultural, social and material consequences for local communities depend on the nature and degree of support for rural schools. There is a need to understand more about how the organisation of vocational education and training (VET), and the activities within it, relate to equity. Purpose The research sought to explore how the organisation of VET in a rural area of Norway, involving collaboration between school, training agency and local businesses/institutions, constructed notions of equity in VET. Methods A case study methodology was utilised. In-depth interviews were undertaken with personnel within a rural community (staff representing the school, training agency and businesses/institutions) who were supporting a VET education programme. Data were analysed qualitatively, using a narrative synthesis procedure. Findings Detailed analysis of rich interview data indicated that strong institutional and pedagogical approaches were employed to support students throughout their VET education. According to the participants’ perceptions, the school, training agency and businesses/institutions focused on stabilising each other in the process of supporting equity in VET. Continuing ongoing work and reconstruction of traditions and routines appeared to contribute to the integration of the different actors’ work in organising equity in VET. Conclusions Our study highlights how, in a rural community, opportunities for all in VET may be constructed and reconstructed through ongoing work which is connected to the foundations of the local context. The reconstruction needs to be maintained through networks and connections within and between the school, training agency and the businesses/institutions. This, in turn, can contribute to support for culture and welfare in the community to thrive.

The competence-based VET curriculum and teaching of work values: the case of Lithuania

Purpose This paper aims to explore how the competence-based vocational education and training (VET) curricula facilitate shaping of work values of VET students. It discusses methodological and ideological orientations of competence-based VET in teaching work values and discloses the typical characteristics of teaching work values in the VET system of Lithuania. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative research approach leading to a survey method is adopted to investigate how VET students acquire and apply work-related values and attitudes to work. Findings The survey of the VET students has disclosed that students are open to accepting different values of work, including cognitive values, social prestige and altruist values. However, orientation of the VET curricula to and provision of instrumental values lead to relatively weak internalization of the work values related to societal and spiritual dimensions. Originality/value The paper provides empirical evidence regarding the implications of the competence-based curricula for teaching students work values in the school-based VET.

Always happy: an ideal is reproduced and challenged in hairdresser vocational education and training

ABSTRACT In the hairdressing occupation emotional labour has often come to overshadow other vocational skills. The present study, using ethnographic methods, explores how students and teachers in vocational education and training (VET) for hairdressers in Sweden describe and explain the emotional labour being carried out when a hairdresser perform good service. The results show that to look happy and smile has a central position in students’ and VET teachers’ descriptions of how an ideal service worker is expected to act. A positive attitude and a special voice are other signs that characterise the hairdresser who provides good service. The happy ideal is both reproduced and challenged from students in the hairdresser education. One conclusion is that an ideal service worker reinforces femininity norms to act as a professional, which is in line with the requirements of the hairdresser education and the customer’s and employers’ expectations. At the same time, the happy ideal limits students’ opportunities to challenge and question prevailing power structures, which is also part of the Swedish upper secondary school mission.

Do the qualifications of vocational teachers make a difference to their teaching?

ABSTRACT A survey of over 500 teachers and trainers in the Australian Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector was carried out to examine whether their teaching practices and approaches varied with their qualification levels. The survey, carried out with teachers and trainers from different types of training providers – public and private – formed a major part of a larger research project on the topic. The project was carried out because of an overall decline in the qualification levels of the VET teaching workforce over a 20-year period, and national debate on the appropriate qualification level. Analysis of the survey results showed that those with pedagogical qualifications above the regulatory minimum were more confident overall, and were more able to deal with the demands of different teaching contexts and of diverse learner groups. Teachers with higher level qualifications also reported, in qualitative questions, specific gains from their qualifications. They were also more likely to undertake professional development, challenging an often-cited view that professional development activities can compensate for lower qualification levels. The findings have implications for policy development in Australia and elsewhere.

Comparative Study of Dual Professionalism of Teachers in Vocational Education and Training in China and Australia

This study presents a comparative analysis of dual professionalism requirements for Vocational Education and Training (VET) teachers in China and Australia through comparing and analyzing policies and current literature from both countries. The findings of the study reveal that both China and Australia have implemented policies to enhance the teaching capability and industry expertise of VET teachers over the past few decades, indicating that dual professionalism is not a new concept in either country. However, each country’s VET system employs different strategies and practices to achieve dual professionalism, as reflected in their initial teacher training programs, vocational qualification requirements, and rules and expectations regarding teachers’ industry expertise and ongoing engagement in their vocational fields. This study asserts that although the quality and attributes of VET teachers may vary in different countries and education systems, the realization of dual professionalism in VET requires a collective and ongoing commitment from all relevant stakeholders in each country to equip their VET teachers with the necessary skills and knowledge to deliver high-quality vocational education programs.

Competencia digital y formación profesional en España: análisis documental sobre su regulación, propuestas y recomendaciones

Digital Competence (DC) is currently presented as an ideal mechanism in Vocational Education and Training (VET) to respond to technological and economic changes originated in recent years. In this context, VET teachers play a fundamental role in preparing students, but they need to have sufficient knowledge in DC to be able to carry out an adequate transfer of knowledge. The objective of this research is to analyze how Training Digital Competence (TDC) for VET Teachers is proposed through official documents in Spain and specifically in Catalonia. The methodology is qualitative and uses a documentary analysis on institutional, legislative sources and reports on TDC and VET. The results show a large effort related to investment in infrastructures to achieve highly technical classrooms and the training of teachers and students in DC to be able to respond to the needs of the productive sector. It is concluded that there is a greater interest in DC training for teachers and students focused on professionalization and economic production rather than on didactic-pedagogical aspects that help strengthen a digitized citizenship.

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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.