scholarly journals Cooperation Between Learning Venues and its Limits: The Hotel Industry in Cancún (Mexico)

Author(s):  
Beke Vogelsang ◽  
Natascha Röhrer ◽  
Martina Fuchs ◽  
Matthias Pilz

Purpose: Recently, high-quality vocational education and training has attracted much attention in Mexico. In this context, more practically applied skills are taught “on a dual basis”, combining classroom-based training with practical, on the job, training within the company. Dual practices are expected to modernize the skills formation system, and simultaneously support companies, while ensuring provision of skilled workers. For this reason, the vocational training system has been reformed in recent years. Hence, it is necessary that schools and universities, as well as companies, closely interact and coordinate their activities. It is also important that there is successful cooperation between vocational training organizations and companies, to contribute to the modernization of vocational training. The aim of this paper is to examine the cooperation between learning venues of vocational education in the hotel industry in Cancún (Quintana Roo, Mexico), one of the most important tourism destinations in Latin America. Research in vocational education and training, reveals a particular focus on the principles that are necessary for successful cooperation between learning venues. This study examines whether the setting of common goals, communication between companies and training organizations and governance are equally important. Methods: In an exploratory approach, based on a qualitative framework, ten face-to-face expert interviews were conducted in Cancún. The interviews were then fully transcribed and evaluated using qualitative methods. The survey is complemented by further document analysis. Findings: The results show that for successful cooperation between learning venues, the coordination of a common goal (to secure the availability of skilled workers) between different actors, and communication between companies and vocational training organizations, are particularly important for successful cooperation. Furthermore, it seems that companies are taking on a more dominant role, so that vocational training organizations must be more in line with the wishes of the hotels. The results indicate that partnership-based action is not very obvious. Accordingly, the aspect of governance plays a subordinate role. Conclusion: The study shows that cooperation between learning venues in other regions and industries, requires certain principles to be successful. In this respect, the duration of the relationship as well as the specificity of a region or sector can influence the required principles. Therefore, the cooperation partners should agree on the principles in advance.

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 226-234
Author(s):  
Martin Kuehn

AbstractThis paper provides information about the South African Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system from a German perspective as well as about South-African - German cooperation in this system gathered by literature reviews.Due to a shift in South Africa’s economy towards the service sector, the existing skills composition does not fit the needs anymore and may hinder further development. Foreign and local companies have a high demand for skilled workers.A short introduction to the TVET system is provided and challenges are pointed out. Furthermore the role of the Skills Education Training Authorities in TVET is described. Finally, the current state of South African - German cooperation in the TVET sector including a selection of projects on different levels involving German and South African institutions is outlined.


2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (30 (1)) ◽  
pp. 397-405
Author(s):  
Ágnes Stomp ◽  
Marianna Móré

Continuous development of education and training programmes in the European Union is a key factor in enhancing cooperation at European level. Today, economic and social changes are taking place in the world, which is why vocational training is seen as a tool to prepare people for a changing world of work, improving employability and competitiveness. Vocational education and training must adapt to changes affecting the economy, society and the labour market. Vocational education and training (VET) policy has been a national, autonomous area of the Member States for decades, but the issue of VET has increasingly been given priority in the process of European economic unification. At the Lisbon Summit, the European Council recognised the important role of education as an integral part of economic and social policies, which is an important tool for increasing the European Union’s competitiveness. European cooperation in VET has been promoted by the three common European instruments created as a result of Copenhagen process: the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), the European Quality Assurance Reference Framework for Vocational Education and Training (EQAVET) and the European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET), which are progressively integrated in their VET systems by the Member States. The aim of these instruments is to support recognition between European VET systems, to promote lifelong learning and mobility and to improve learning experiences. The aim of our study is to explore with a comparative study, to what extent and manner the V4 Member States (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia) have integrated EQF, EQAVET and ECVET transparency instruments into their national vocational training systems and to what extent the transformations are in line with EU objectives.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 574-588
Author(s):  
Zaure Shagataeva ◽  
Yernazar Kaspaevich Sarbassov ◽  
Erkegul Seminar ◽  
Marianna Amangeldyevna Sydykbekova ◽  
Ardak Tolegenovna Kydyrbaeva

Like in many Global South countries, the vocational education and training system in Kazakhstan has some weaknesses, including low-competent educators poorly applying digital technologies in their instructional repertoire, which highlights the need for motivating teachers towards incorporating technologies representing students' everyday life in the educational process. Meanwhile, there are no practically applicable competency frameworks for Kazakhstani vocational teachers to date. This paper aimed to gather students’ opinions on which skills are more or less important for vocational educators to outline a technological competency framework for Kazakhstani vocational teachers based on Digital Competency Profiler, with content validity tested by five experts. A set of nineteen items measured on a five-point Likert scale, organized into technical, communicational, informational, and epistemological domains, was uploaded to an online survey platform and distributed among Master degree students enrolled in vocational programs in Kazakhstan. Based on survey data, the construct validity of the model was assessed by confirmatory factor analysis, which yielded high entire reliability and internal consistency. The learners assigned importance to all the four domains. However, they estimated vocational teacher’s ability to utilize productivity tracking tools as almost futile, which allegedly indicates the surveyees’ insufficient awareness about those applications and their purposes. Generally, the participants tend to prioritize vocational educators’ capacities to process mathematical computations, visualize numerical data, and operate with electronic text files and projectors, as well as their readiness for effective communication through messengers and electronic mail. The framework that emerged from this research can be used as a blueprint for synchronizing and improving educational programs in Kazakhstan.   Keywords: education; survey; technology; ICT; vocational education and training.


Author(s):  
Ю.В. Маркелова

Рассматриваются задачи, которые встают перед государством при разработке сопоставимых индикаторов оценки эффективности системы среднего профессионального образования. Показана проблема сопоставимости различных показателей и их влияние на оценку среднего профессионального образования. Проанализированы перспективы разработки сопоставимых индикаторов для понимания степени, в которой образовательная система обеспечивает максимально возможную отдачу при минимально возможном вкладе, а именно показывает высокий уровень эффективности системы. Использовались общенаучные методы познания: аналитический метод, конкретизации теоретических знаний, метод экспертных оценок, обобщение. Результаты исследования отражают возможность дополнения мониторинга качества подготовки кадров в образовательных организациях, реализующих образовательные программы среднего профессионального образования сопоставимыми индикаторами оценки технического и профессионального образования и обучения по версии UNESCO для оценки эффективности системы СПО России. The tasks that the state faces when developing comparable indicators for assessment effectiveness of the vocational education and training are considered. The influence of various indicators on the assessment of the effectiveness of vocational education and training system is shown. The prospects of developing comparable indicators for understanding the degree to which the educational system provides the maximum possible return with the minimum possible contribution, namely, it shows a high level of system efficiency, are analyzed. General scientific methods of cognition, analytical method, concretization of theoretical knowledge, method of expert assessments, terminological analysis, generalization were used. The results of the study reflect the possibility of supplementing the monitoring of the quality of personnel training in educational organizations implementing educational programs of vocational education and training system with comparable indicators for evaluating technical and vocational education and training according to the UNESCO version to assess the effectiveness of the Russian VET system.


Author(s):  
K. C. Chu ◽  
Queendy Lam

The vocational education system in Hong Kong is seen as changing in step with the development in industry (O & Chu, 2003). At the beginning of the ’50s until the late ’60s, Hong Kong was an entrepôt trade economy. However, skills and technology transferred from Shanghai, a steady immigration came from Guangdong, and increasing amounts of local investment had promoted Hong Kong‘s industrial foundation. By the early ’50s, the Education Department of Hong Kong began to recognize “the increasing importance of Hong Kong as a manufacturing and industrial center,” and time and effort were being devoted to the development of technical education. During this period of time, we witnessed the building of a vocational school (1953) and technical college (1957); they had aimed at providing vocational education and training for post-Form 3 and -Form 5 leavers. Successful textile manufacturing, followed by new international investments in other infant industries including electronics through the 1960s and 1970s contributed to the socialization of the workforce. By the early 1960s, there was a widely recognized link between industry and technical education. By the mid-1970s, education discourse and documents professed the need to increase the proportion of the curriculum devoted to “practical education” in general secondary schools (White Paper: Secondary Education in Hong Kong over the Next Decade, 1974). Government land sales, efficient infrastructure planning, and the setting up of the economic zones in China all had contributed to a growth rate averaging 10% each year throughout the 1980s and the early 1990s; these achievements had further improved the investment climate. During this period of time, Hong Kong further expanded technical education at the tertiary level. The link between vocational education and training, and the newer infrastructure and high-technology-related forms of industrialization were clearly outlined in the Report of the Advisory Committee on Diversification of the Economy in 1979. All these changes in the economic environment had been well served by the corresponding changes in the vocational education system as evidenced by the rapid and high economic growth in the ’70s, ’80s, and the early ’90s. The VTC (Vocational Training Council) was established in 1982 under the Vocational Training Council Ordinance to provide and promote a cost-effective and comprehensive system of vocational education and training to meet the needs of the economy. Under VTC, preemployment and in-service education and training are provided by the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE), VTC School of Business and Information Systems (SBI) and its training and development centers. The mission of VTC is to provide cost-effective alternative routes and flexible pathways for school leavers and adult learners to acquire skills and knowledge for lifelong learning and enhanced employability (VTC, 2004). Since the late ’90s, the volatile employment market, declining industry, and desire to become a knowledge-based society have triggered yet another education reform. Two important documents have been published by the Hong Kong government to paint out the education reform and the blueprint for the education system in Hong Kong for the 21st century: Reform Proposals for the Education System in Hong Kong by the Education Commission (2000), and the Report on Higher Education in Hong Kong by Chairman Lord S. R. Sutherland (2002) of the University Grant Committee. In response to the Sutherland report (2002), the Vocational Training Council formulated a strategic plan for the change. The plan is to increase e-learning within the VTC to • promote an e-learning culture and to identify teaching staff who make effective use of the Web for teaching, • encourage staffs to build a learning community on their Web sites, • encourage staffs to provide students with an active Web site, and • encourage staffs to conduct virtual (online) tutorials and virtual help desks.


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