Changes in Business Education at the Pre-University Level: Turkish Trade Vocational Schools

Abstract

This paper aims to narrate the history of how trade vocational schools as pre-university business education centers have gained (and lost) acceptance while simultaneously linking this historical analysis with the organizational literature. The concept of legitimacy is employed to constitute the linkage point. As the result of research conducted via archival and secondary data sources, it is found that trade vocational schools have experienced a process of organizational change similar to that of other vocational schools in Turkey, although these schools are insufficient in the provision of business and trade education. On the other hand, their legitimation process reflects a unique non-linear form, which reveals the emerging dimensions of vocational and educational legitimacy.

Keywords

• trade vocational schools
• business education
• historical analysis
• oscillating legitimacy