Discover Peer-Reviewed
Research Across Every Field

The twin pillars supporting contemporary lifelong learning theory in Britain–and also to some extent in the USA, Europe and Australasia (Field & Leicester, 2000)–are the development of vocational skills for economic competitiveness, and the fostering of social inclusion and cohesion. Clear and direc…

Vocational education and training (VET) systems throughout the world have undergone unprecedented change over the last 15 years. The policies of new vocationalism together with the emergence of new economic times have transformed VET. As a result many traditional VET policies and practices have unde…

There is broad consensus on the range of benefits accruing to the undergraduate from work placement, but to date there has been little published on its impact on academic achievement. This article describes changes that were introduced into the architecture of a placement programme for business unde…

The Foundation Degree was introduced into the United Kingdom awards system by the Government in 2000 as part of a wider strategy to widen participation and to enhance the development of vocational awards at higher education level. The award was controversially called a ‘degree’, despite the fact it …

The German institutional setting of skill formation is supposed to enable young people smooth and structured transitions into the labor market. For decades, the large majority of graduates of the "dual system" of vocational education experienced good chances to immediately access appropriate job pos…

This paper examines the significance of the inter-firm provision of entry-level vocational education and training in Australia by studying a key group of interfirm providers, namely, group training companies. The nature of group training schemes is discussed with reference to two case studies, and t…

There is much interest from researchers and from third way governments in the concept of social capital. Debate exists over whether or not government interventions create or destroy social capital. This article explores the relationship between the vocational education and training (VET) policies of…

The article puts forward a case for broadening the curriculum within Higher Education to incorporate and encourage group work-based learning (GWBL) experiences for students. Two case studies are described within two universities in terms of organising, monitoring and assessing group-based work. It i…

The issue of gender-related differences in the transition of secondary vocational education graduates from school-to-work is discussed, relative to ‘male’, ‘female’ and ‘neutral’ curriculum choices, using findings from a national survey of graduates. The discussion explores this issue using matched …

There is a crisis in the vocational training provision of the Channel Island of Jersey's construction industry that has similarities with the British situation. Unavailability and inappropriateness of skills, nonviability of current training and recruitment policies on the island, fragmentation of t…