More than 30 country studies published since 2007. More than 5000 policy makers, employers, teachers, trade unionists, students and experts interviewed. OECD reviews have become a global benchmarking standard for vocational education and training systems.

1. OECD reviews of vocational education
and training
Simon Field OECD
Johannesburg, South Africa
29 January 2014
www.oecd.org/education/VET
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2. OECD reviews of vocational education and training
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3. OECD reviews of vocational education and training
More than 30 country studies published since 2007
More than 5000 policy makers, employers, teachers, trade
unionists, students and experts interviewed
OECD reviews have become a global benchmarking
standard for vocational education and training systems.
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4. 4

5. The big challenge: two separate worlds
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6. 1: Tunisia: workbased learning
• Benefits of workbased learning still often
under-recognised
• Best if systematic, mandatory, credit-bearing
and quality assured.
• Countries have shown they can achieve this,
even in a weak labour market – Tunisia.
• A powerful tool to promote partnership
between training providers and employers
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7. 2: Sweden: higher vocational
education
• Funding stream provides for programmes over
1-2 years run in partnership between training
providers and employers.
• Programmes include a substantial period of
workbased learning for all students.
• Has proven successful in a context where
there is limited history of employer
engagement.
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8. 3 China: developing leadership in
training institutions
• Increasing prominence of leadership issues
has accompanied attempts to give more
flexibilities to institutions – eg UK further
education.
• More emphasis on institutional partnership
with employers has changed the role of
leaders.
• In China, teacher internships in the strongest
training institutions and in industry.
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9. 4 Washington State, US: linking numeracy and
literacy to vocational training.
• Much discussion of ‘contextual learning’ but
limited good evidence
• IBEST model backed by good research
• It is more expensive than other vocational
programmes but it also has better results.
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10. 5: Romania: Local flexibility in the curriculum
• Many advantages in having national
qualifications, consistent across the country
• But they do limit the capacity to work with
local employers.
• In Romania, local training providers, working
within a national qualification, adapt 20% of
the curriculum to local needs.
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11. 6 Australia: destinations surveys
• Labour market outcomes are the key test of
programme value, but sometimes data are
weak.
• In Australia, graduates are surveyed after
leaving the programme.
• Provides information about labour market
outcomes, but also perceptions of programme
value.
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12. •
Vocational provision developed in a partnership between government, employers and
unions.
•
High quality apprenticeship systems, covering a wide range of professional domains
and including higher level apprenticeships.
•
Work-based learning systematically integrated into all vocational programmes.
•
Measures to ensure that the mix of vocational provision corresponds to the needs of
the labour market.
•
Adequate core academic skills, particularly literacy and numeracy, built into
vocational programmes.
•
Effective, independent, proactive career guidance backed by solid career information.
•
A vocational teaching workforce containing a balance of teaching skills and up-todate industry knowledge and experience.
•
A range of programmes that provide inclusive opportunities for all, and minimise
drop-out.
•
Qualifications reflecting labour market needs that are nationally consistent but allow
for a locally negotiated element.
•
Avenues of progression from initial vocational programmes to both higher level
vocational and academic programmes.
•
Provision suitable to adults with working and home commitments.
•
Better data on vocational programmes at all levels, covering both the identification of
vocational programmes in international categorisations, and labour market outcomes.
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13. Thank you!
Simon.field@oecd.org
.
www.oecd.org/education/VET
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