October 18, 2013

OECD’s Skills Beyond School Project: Reflections on the Position in England

October 18, 2013

This seminar focused on the success of the Skills Beyond School project in England. Abstract: Across the world’s most developed economies, countries are looking beyond secondary school to more advanced qualifications to provide the skills needed in many of the fastest-growing technical and professional jobs. The OECD project, Skills Beyond School, reviews policy and practice […]

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April 24, 2013

Comparative Research into the Experiences of Vocational Learners Across Seven European Countries

April 24, 2013

This seminar presented the findings of the 7EU project to inform the policy discussion on vocational education in the UK. Abstract: The 7EU project is a pioneering attempt to investigate and compare the learning experiences of vocational learners across Europe. The research is intended to provide a European and comparative perspective to discussions about practice […]

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May 24, 2011

The Wolf Report – Perspectives from Europe

May 24, 2011

This seminar examined the policy proposals of the Wolf Report. Abstract: The Wolf Report puts forward both strong criticism of and radical proposals for VET in England. Alison Wolf’s analysis of staying-on becoming the norm and the proposal that there should be a heavier emphasis on WRL and WBL at 16-18 rather than 14-16 prompts us […]

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March 23, 2011

Education and Industry – An Overview and Critique of Current Thinking

March 23, 2011

This seminar reflected on three decades of education and industry interaction. Abstract: The aim of this seminar was to explore topics that sometimes get shunted to one side. With youth unemployment high and rising, public money scarce and about to become scarcer, educational institutions under severe pressure, and the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES, 2009) […]

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January 18, 2005

How Work Experiences While at School Affect Career Pathways

January 18, 2005

National Vocational Education and Training Research and Evaluation Programme This research analyses how work activities undertaken by Australian students while at school affect their post-school pathways into work and between work and study. It finds that work experience does help open young people’s eyes to career possibilities; that young people who had undertaken school-based New […]

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June 22, 2004

Student Experiences of Work Placement in School-Based Vocational Programmes

June 22, 2004

An article by Peter J. Smith, Jennifer Dalton and Robyn Dolheguy, Journal of Education + Training, 46(5), pp.262-268 In this study, the experiences of students (aged 15-18) undertaking a work placement as part of their school-based Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS) programmes are compared with students who didn’t undertake a work placement, and […]

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June 18, 1999

Work Experience and Work Placements in Secondary School Education

June 18, 1999

Australian Council for Educational Research, Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth This research focussed on participation in work experience and workplace learning programmes in Australia; the characteristics of pupils who participated in such programmes; and perceptions of the value of work experience programmes compared to part-time jobs, following renewed policy emphasis on work-based learning. It found […]

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