The Contribution of Research to Innovation in Vocational Education and training (VET) The Role of VETInstitutes

Abstract

The main goal of this article is to present results of international research conducted in the year 2020 by scientists from Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) among research institutions dealing with VET. This scientific undertaking was about increasing visibility of institiunalised research in the field of Vocational Education and Trainings (VET), identification of common challenges and drawing possibilities for coordinated international cooperation. BIBB researchers have conducted an survey with the participation of nearly thirty VET scientific institutions operating in twenty two countries. Those institutions emploi nearly 7000 researcher from various disciplines, including: 42% from education, 16% sociology and 10% each in the fields of psychology and economy. Conducted analysis have resulted with indication of the main areas of interest such as: initial vocational education (IVET), work-based learning (WBL), continuing education and apprenticeships. Next important for those institutions issues were covering management & financement of VET systems and digitalisation. Above mentioned survey research gave and overview on the challenges and forms of possible cooperation of VET institutions. Disscussions and research results confirm trends for strenghtening cooperation among institutions and aiming for development of the institutional network enabling coping with VET in active and more systemic approach.

Keywords

• vocational education
• continuing education
• international cooperation of research institutes