Facilitating Lifelong Learning Through Vocational Education and Training: Promoting Inclusion and Opportunities for Young People in the UK

The article aims to build on current understandings of the experiences and aspirations of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) trainees in conflict-affected countries, focussing on the case study of Sierra Leone. Employing the capabilities approach pioneered by Amartya Sen, it casts light on the different benefits beyond employability which young people acquire through TVET. This includes the development of their ‘capacity to aspire’. At the same time, the article shows the poor conditions and social stigma that continue to surround TVET and the profession of ‘skilled man’ in the country of Sierra Leone. By doing so, the article shows the potential of capabilities approach and the concept of ‘capacity to aspire’ to more systematically look at the wider benefits of TVET to young people. It also reveals the simplistic nature of the international community’s expectations with regards to TVET’s role in post-conflict societies.

Download Full-text

Course Choice and Achievement Effects of a System-Wide Vocational Education and Training Voucher Scheme for Young People

Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis ◽

10.3102/0162373718782648 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 40 (4) ◽

pp. 507-530 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Duncan McVicar ◽

Cain Polidano

Keyword(s):

Student Achievement ◽

Young People ◽

Vocational Education ◽

Education And Training ◽

Private College ◽

Adverse Impact ◽

Vocational Education And Training ◽

Voucher Scheme ◽

Common Criticism ◽

And Training

Vocational education and training provision for young people is a crucial but often maligned part of the wider education sector. A common criticism, and motivation for numerous reforms across countries where training is predominantly classroom-based, is that too much training is low quality and unrelated to skill needs. This article examines the effects of a major Australian reform—replacing a centrally planned model with a system-wide voucher scheme—aimed at addressing these weaknesses. The reform led to large increases in private college enrollments, improved match between course choice and employer demand, and improved student achievement, with no adverse impact on equity.

Download Full-text

Learning on and off the job: vocational education and training in the UK food and grocery retail buying occupation

Journal of Vocational Education and Training ◽

10.1080/13636820.2021.1995651 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 73 (4) ◽

pp. 623-623

Author(s):

Darren Mark Schofield

Keyword(s):

Vocational Education ◽

Education And Training ◽

Vocational Education And Training ◽

The Uk ◽

And Training

Download Full-text

INVOLVEMENT IN BUSINESS OF YOUNG GRADUATES OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING INSTITUTIONS: THE CASE OF THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA

Economy and sociology ◽

10.36004/nier.es.2019.1-01 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 10-20

Keyword(s):

Young People ◽

Vocational Education ◽

Education And Training ◽

Entrepreneurial Activity ◽

Vocational Education And Training ◽

Republic Of Moldova ◽

Training Institutions ◽

The Republic ◽

And Training ◽

Young Entrepreneurs

In the Republic of Moldova, young people who intend to initiate or develop their business are one of the targeted support groups within the framework of the state policy. The article analyzes various aspects of engaging young people in entrepreneurial activity: a brief assessment of statistical indicators is given; support measures for young entrepreneurs, implemented by the Moldovan government and proposed by international/foreign organizations are outlined; features of young entrepreneurs and self-employed are revealed. Emphasis is placed on young graduates of Vocational Education and Training (VET) institutions. The main results and conclusions are largely based on a survey of graduates of vocational education and training institutions who have already set up their business or are self-employed. The survey had been implemented during 2016-2017 with the active participation of the authors. The results of the study showed that young people are interested in entrepreneurship and learning the basics of entrepreneurship has a significant motivating influence on the initiation of their business and self-employment. Often, the business of the young is unregistered and is being combined with employment. Only one third of the respondents know about organizations that can provide them with various forms of support. One of the conclusions of the study presents that positive changes can be achieved much faster by combining the efforts of different stakeholders, in this case – the government, educational institutions, non-profit organizations and external donors.

Download Full-text

The German system of vocational education and training: challenges of gender, academisation and the integration of low-achieving youth

Transfer European Review of Labour and Research ◽

10.1177/1024258919898115 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 57-71

Author(s):

Simone R Haasler

Keyword(s):

Young People ◽

Vocational Education ◽

Labour Market ◽

Tertiary Education ◽

Education And Training ◽

Dual System ◽

Vocational Education And Training ◽

Apprenticeship Training ◽

School Based ◽

And Training

In Germany, the dual system of apprenticeship training has traditionally been very strong. The dominant position of the dual system, however, is being challenged by other training routes gaining significance, particularly tertiary education. This article investigates the extent to which this is leading to a restructuring of the dual system. Developments in school-based vocational programmes, trends of academisation and challenges deriving from qualifying low achievers are discussed. The growing significance of school-based programmes is linked to the gender impact of the vocational education and training (VET) system and the gender segmentation of the German labour market, while academisation reflects labour market demands for high skills. With dual study programmes and three and a half-year dual training, the dual system seeks to provide attractive training options for highly skilled young people. This, however, has made access to fully-qualifying vocational programmes very difficult for low-achieving young people, including migrants and refugees, thereby challenging the integration function of the German VET system.

Download Full-text

Lifelong Learning and Vocational Education and Training: Values, Social Capital, and Caring in Work-Based Learning Provision

Philosophical Perspectives on Lifelong Learning - Lifelong Learning Book Series ◽

10.1007/978-1-4020-6193-6_3 ◽

2007 ◽

pp. 57-69 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Terry Hyland

Keyword(s):

Social Capital ◽

Vocational Education ◽

Lifelong Learning ◽

Education And Training ◽

Vocational Education And Training ◽

And Training

Download Full-text

Development of Vocational Education and Training to 2025 in the Context of the European Skills Agenda

Vocational Education ◽

10.53656/voc21-4.1razv ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 23 (4) ◽

pp. 335-343

Author(s):

Emiliyana Dimitrova

Keyword(s):

Vocational Education ◽

Lifelong Learning ◽

National Level ◽

Education And Training ◽

Learning Culture ◽

Vocational Education And Training ◽

International Dimension ◽

European Education ◽

And Training ◽

Training Area

The article presents the requirements for the development of vocational education and training until 2025 in the light of the Osnabruck Declaration. The Declaration describes the objectives to be achieved at European and national level in the following areas of development: resilience and excellence through quality, inclusive, and flexible vocational education and training; establishing a new lifelong learning culture – relevance of CVET and digitalisation; sustainability – a green link in VET European Education and Training Area and international dimension of vocational education and training.

Download Full-text