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Vocational Education and Training: Diversion or Safety Net? A Comparative Study of Four Vocational Education Systems in Central Europe
Type
conference paper
Date Issued
2019
Author(s)
Šťastný, Vít
Abstract (De)
The authors compare four vocational education and training (VET) systems – Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany and Switzerland – with regard to their actual effects on both graduates’ labour market transition and success, and life and work skills. Selected features concerning the education policy context and labour market, the vocational education system (organisation and content) as well as educational and economic outcomes of the upper-secondary VET systems are analysed and compared.
More specifically, the paper compares similarities and differences of (a) each country’s education policy context and labour market (e.g. general versus vocational education, import/export focus, unemployment rates), (b) the main features of the upper-secondary VET system (e.g. education system design, stratification, permeability), and (c) the economic and educational effects (e.g. transition to labour market, knowledge and skills) produced by each upper-secondary VET system. The study is based on secondary analysis of data published by international bodies such as Eurostat, Eurydice, World Bank, OECD as well as on national statistics (e.g. Federal Statistical Office). To analyze the skills of graduates, we will exploit the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) 2013 data (available for Czech Republic, Austria and Germany). Besides we will draw on existing indicators for educational systems developed by Bol and Van de Werfhorst (2013) and others.
This in-depth comparative study of four selected countries will help to clarify what kinds of VET system arrangements (e.g., the dual system vs. school vocational preparation) seem to produce better medium- and long-term effects when it comes to their graduates’ labour market transition success, and life and work skills, including how at first glance “similar” arrangements and their effects might differ. The study analyses whether the selected VET systems serve rather as a diversion or a safety net in the selected countries and will shed light on the eventual differentials among the countries to draw some implications for research and practice.
More specifically, the paper compares similarities and differences of (a) each country’s education policy context and labour market (e.g. general versus vocational education, import/export focus, unemployment rates), (b) the main features of the upper-secondary VET system (e.g. education system design, stratification, permeability), and (c) the economic and educational effects (e.g. transition to labour market, knowledge and skills) produced by each upper-secondary VET system. The study is based on secondary analysis of data published by international bodies such as Eurostat, Eurydice, World Bank, OECD as well as on national statistics (e.g. Federal Statistical Office). To analyze the skills of graduates, we will exploit the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) 2013 data (available for Czech Republic, Austria and Germany). Besides we will draw on existing indicators for educational systems developed by Bol and Van de Werfhorst (2013) and others.
This in-depth comparative study of four selected countries will help to clarify what kinds of VET system arrangements (e.g., the dual system vs. school vocational preparation) seem to produce better medium- and long-term effects when it comes to their graduates’ labour market transition success, and life and work skills, including how at first glance “similar” arrangements and their effects might differ. The study analyses whether the selected VET systems serve rather as a diversion or a safety net in the selected countries and will shed light on the eventual differentials among the countries to draw some implications for research and practice.
Language
English
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
Event Title
13th JVET (Journal of Vocational Education & Training) Conference
Event Location
Keble College, Oxford, UK
Event Date
29.06.2019
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Eprints ID
259778