Book chapter 2022

Preparing Students for the School-to-Work Transition: A Systematic Review of Research on Secondary School-Based Vocational Education

VE
Vermeire, Eva
 DC
De Cuyper, Nele
 KE
Kyndt, Eva
Professional and Practice-based Learning
Journal · Vol. 31 · pp. 367-398
Abstract

The school-to-work transition is a critical step in the careers of vocationally educated graduates. Preparing graduates for this transition could help them obtain a permanent high-quality job. Preparation within the school, focusing on the development of personal resources, is considered essential. Accordingly, the aim of this systematic literature review is to integrate findings concerning vocational outcomes and personal resources and structural factors of secondary vocational education influencing these outcomes. Results of the summative content analysis of 36 articles indicate that obtaining a secondary vocational education degree reduces the risk of unemployment. Jobs filled by these graduates are often fixed-term and require lower levels of skills. Nevertheless, these students seem to be poorly prepared as they do not possess strong personal resources, such as professional functioning and career development skills. Concerning structural factors, attending a public school and following a specific vocational programme both help when finding a job. © 2022, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Keywords

Author Keywords

School-to-work transition Personal resources Secondary school-based vocational education Structural factors

Index Keywords

Author Affiliations
Department of Training and Education Sciences, Universiteit Antwerpen, Antwerpen, VAN, Belgium, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia
Karel de Grote-Hogeschool Katholieke Hogeschool Antwerpen, Antwerpen, VAN, Belgium
Organisational and Personnel Psychology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium
Funding & Acknowledgements
No funding information
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