The Standing of Vocational Education and the Occupations It Serves: Current Concerns and Strategies For Enhancing That Standing (Professional and Practice-based Learning, 32)

This book addresses what is, perhaps, the single most important issue for vocational education; its relatively low standing in an era of high aspiration. The work explores the nature, extent and consequences for an educational sector that whilst having an increasingly important role in contemporary societies is seen to be of low standing across both countries with developed and developing economies. Some of the standing is associated with the occupation it serves and this is highlighted in an era of high aspiration by young people and their parents. The consequences are far-reaching. This includes how governments and community view and support vocational education, parents and familiars advise about participation in it and young people’s decision-making associated with their post-school pathways. More than describing this problem, the focus of this collection is how this issue can be redressed through the actions of supra-government agencies, governments, schools in tertiary education institutions, industry and professional bodies and employers. It sets out the quality and extent of societal sentiments in shaping how vocational education and the occupation it serves are projected, across countries, continents and cultures, and offers a range of perspectives and contributions from scholars on how this issue might be redressed. These contributions are drawn together and synthesised into sets of propositions, practices and approaches directed towards governments, schooling and tertiary education institutions, educators, researchers, industry and professional bodies and employers. In this way, the book seeks to provide an authoritative, seminal, comprehensive and central text to understand and respond to this central issue for vocational education. Series Editors’ Foreword Preface Structure of the Book References Acknowledgments Contents Contributors Part I: The Standing of Vocational Education: Perennial Issues, Emerging Concerns and Ways Forward Chapter 1: The Standing of Vocational Education: A Global Concern with Diverse Meanings and Implications Standing of Vocational Education and the Occupations It Serves Projects Informing This Volume Factors Shaping the Standing of VET Institutional Factors Shaping the Standing of VET Personal Factors Associated with Post-school Pathways Decision-Making Conclusions References Chapter 2: Enhancing the Standing and Status of Vocational Education Informing Young People’s Decision-Making About Post-school Pathways Redressing the Low Standing of VET and the Occupations It Serves Policy Goals and Initiatives Curriculum Initiatives and Practices Informing About VET and Its Occupations Zones of Influence: Distal and Proximal Strategies and Approaches to Inform Decision-Making Institutional Support and Guidance Government Education Institutions Schools VET Institutions Industry Media Proximal Support and Guidance Parents or Guardians Teachers Conclusions References Part II: Issues, Sources and Consequences of the Standing and Status of Vocational Education Chapter 3: Understanding the Purpose and Standing of Technical and Vocational Education and Training Introduction Historical Class Divide The Nature of Vocational Learning and Qualification Development Mass Expansion of Higher Education (HE) Labour Market Structure Assessment in VET The Purpose of VET References Chapter 4: Improving the Standing of VET: Perspectives from Countries with Developing Economies The Importance of VET’s Standing International Perspectives on the Status of VET UNESCO-UNEVOC Virtual Conference Findings and Discussion The Standing of VET and Its Consequences Specific Consequences Factors Shaping the Standing of VET Historical Factors Institutional Factors Cultural Factors Perspectives of Young People, Their Parents and Familiars Policies and Practices to Enhance the Standing of VET Government Communities Employers Vocational Educators Global Agencies Evaluating the Impact of Those Policies and Practices Enhancing the Status of Vocational Education References Chapter 5: The Standing of Dual Apprenticeships in Germany: Institutional Stability and Current Challenges Introduction Features of the Dual System Challenges Affecting the Esteem for the Apprenticeship System in Germany Subsidiarity in VET as an Explanatory Factor for the Persistent Value Given to Apprenticeships in Germany The Logic Behind the “Subsidiarity Principle” and its Institutional Realisation in the German VET System Historical Roots of the Subsidiarity Principle in the Field of Vocational Training in Germany Conclusion References Chapter 6: Shaping Young People’s Decision-Making About Post-School Pathways: Institutional and Personal Factors Factors Shaping Young People’s Decisions About Post-School Pathways Review Parameters and Structure Institutional Factors Labour Market Conditions Tertiary Education Policy and Opportunities Policy Goals and Initiatives Curriculum Initiatives and Practices Status of Post-School Options Societal Status of Occupations and Advice About Tertiary Education Geographical Location Gender Practices Associated with Post-School Pathways Decision-Making Practices in Schools Teachers and Career Advisers’ Practices Parents/Caregivers/Familiars’ Practices Family/Cultural Background Practices of Family and Friends Student Factors and Practices: The Confluence of Institutional Factors and Personal Practices Socioeconomic Status Students’ Educational Experiences and Achievement Knowledge About VET/Careers/Occupations Students’ Decision-Making About Post-School Pathways References Part III: Country Studies of the Standing of Vocational Education and the Occupations It Serves Chapter 7: Alternance Training as a Way to Improve the Attractivity of Vocational Education Programmes in France Introduction Priority to the Training of Elites in Vocational Schools (1815–1939) Establishing a Complete National School-Based Vocational Training System (1940–1960) Promoting Access for all to Post-compulsory and Higher Education (1960–1990) Developing Alternance Training (1990–2018) Apprenticeship: A Rather Unfavourable Effect on Vocational Education Conclusion References Chapter 8: Promoting the Standing of VET in Finland: Balancing the Different Aims of VET Policy Guidelines for Developing the Standing of VET The Standing of VET in Finland Recent Reforms and Policy Directions Related to VET Expert Views on the Standing of VET in Finland Perspectives on the Standing and Status of VET Perspectives on Current Reforms and Developments Further Perspectives on Future Directions Finding a Balance Among the Different Aims References Chapter 9: Attractiveness of Vocational Education and Training in India: Perspectives of Different Actors with a Special Focus on Employers Introduction Brief Overview of Formal Vocational Training in ITIs Theoretical Concepts of Attractiveness of VET Existing Research on Attractiveness of VET in India The Perspective of Companies Results and Discussion Career Opportunities Employability and Training Quality Low Standing of VET Economic Factors like Productivity Conclusions References Chapter 10: The Quality and Status of School-Based Norwegian VET Introduction Vocational Relevance and Coherence in Light of a Holistic Concept of Competence The Norwegian VET Model VET Teacher Education in Norway Research on the Current Norwegian VET Model A Study on Increasing Relevance in Norwegian VET International Research on VET Discussion: Strengthening Vocational Relevance, Coherence and Status in School-Based Norwegian VET Possible Reasons for Choosing, Not Choosing, or Leaving VET Contradictions in the Curriculum in VET Reforms Work-Life Practice, Specialisation, and Relating Subjects to Vocational Tasks Access to Higher Education at University Level Conclusion: Key Principles for Improving the Quality and Status of VET References Chapter 11: Perspectives on Informing Post-School Pathways: A Vietnamese Case Study Introduction Tertiary Education System in Vietnam Organisation Vietnamese VET System Occupational Focus in VET and HE Colleges Government Legislation and Initiatives in VET The 2006 Law on Vocational Education and Training The 2014 Law on Vocational Education and Training Vocational Training Development Strategy Period 2011–2020 with an Orientation to 2030 Ongoing Reforms Yet Persistent Societal Sentiment About the Low Status of VET Perspectives on the Standing of VET in Vietnam Perspectives on Informing Post-School Pathways: A Vietnamese Case Study Procedures Informing Post-School Pathways: Findings from Interviews Attracting Young People to VET: Findings from Surveys Influences on Decision-Making Messages to Promote VET Presentation of Informed and Positive Messages Informing Young People’s Decisions About Post-School Pathways References Chapter 12: Enhancing the Standing of VET in Switzerland The Standing of Vocational Education and Training in Switzerland Quality Apprenticeships: Situational Resources in the Workplace and Vocational School Apprentices’ Attitudes Towards Their Pathway and Occupation Quality Jobs: Situational Resources of Graduates Graduates’ Attitudes Towards Their Pathway and Occupation Survey with Apprentices and Graduates Apprentices’ Situational Resources Apprentices’ Attitudes Towards Their Pathway and Occupation Quality Jobs: Situational Resources After Graduation Graduates’ Attitudes Towards Their Pathway and Occupation Conclusion References Chapter 13: The Significance of Learning Environment and Decision-Making for Enrolment in and Completion of VET: A Danish Case Introduction: VET Does Not Seem to Be an Attractive Option A Brief Introduction to the Danish VET System Two Reforms Low Achievement of Policy Goals Training Environment and Decision-Making The Concept of Training Environment Plays a Dominant Role in the 2018 Reform The International Focus on Training and Learning Environments A Danish Research Project About Training Environments VET Students Have Difficulties in Making Decisions Research into Decision-Making Students with Frail Decisions Are Easily Influenced by Incidents in the Training Environment Discussion Conclusion References Chapter 14: Elevating the Standing of Vocational Education and Training in Romania Broader Context Shaping VET in Romania Recent Developments VET Structure and the Young People It Serves What Makes the Promotion of VET (so) Difficult? Promotion of VET: Structural Measures and Positive Metaphors Dual VET and the Social Inclusion Dilemma Final Note References Part IV: Enhancing the Standing and Status of Vocational Education: An Australian Study Chapter 15: Investigating Enhancing the Standing of Vocational Education and the Occupation it Serves: Purposes, Processes and Phases Enhancing the Status of Vocational Education Investigating Decision-Making About Post-School Pathways Phase 1: Capturing the Qualities, Sources and Consequences of Societal Sentiments Phase 2: Verifying and Elaborating Findings Through Survey Phase 3: Augmenting Project Findings Ethics and Dissemination Limitations Conclusion References Chapter 16: Influences on Post-School Decision-Making: Perspectives of School Students, Parents, Teachers (Phase 1) Influencing Decisions About Post-School Pathways Processes and Influences on Young people’s Decision Making Investigating What Influences Young people’s Decision-Making Findings: Perspectives and Influences Occupational Choice Post-School Pathways Suggestions for Informing Post-School Decision-Making Parents and Post-School Decision-Making Teachers and Post-School Decision-Making A More Informed and Impartial Process of Post-School Decision-Making Indecision as a Factor Favouring Higher Education Vocational Education as a Pathway Authenticity as a Rationale for Decision-Making Influence of Perceptions of Status Important Interactions in Decision-Making Improving the Status of Vocational Education Understanding the Status of VET Through the Prism of Young-People’s Decision-Making References Chapter 17: Surveys of Students, Parents and Teachers (Phase 2) Enhancing the Standing of Vocational Education Perspectives on Decision-Making About Post-school Pathways Important Factors in Decision-Making About Post-school Pathways Influences on Decision-Making About Pathways and Preferred Occupations Messages to Promote the Standing of Vocational Education Effective Presentations of Informed and Positive Messages Survey with Students, Parents and Teachers about Post-school Pathways Key Factors in Decision-Making About Post-school Pathways Influences on Decision-Making About Post-school Pathways Messages Promoting the Standing of Vocational Education Presentations of Informed and Positive Messages Perspectives and Suggestions of Students and Key Advisors References Chapter 18: Informing and Advising the Zones of Influence Shaping Young People’s Decision-Making About Post-School Pathways (Phase 3) Enhancing Postschool Decision-Making Through Informing Zones of Influence Zones of Influence Policy Goals and Initiatives: Shaping the Zones of Influence Curriculum Initiatives and Practices Practices in Schools Informed Knowledge About VET and Its Occupations Informing the Zones of Influence: An Australian Investigation Consultations with School Administrative Groups Strategies to Promote the Standing of Vocational Education and the Occupations It Serves VET Institutions Schools Government and Industry Enhancing the Status of Vocational Education and the Occupations It Serves References Index