Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training is a new academic journal in the field of Vocational Education and Training (VET). In recent years many countries have developed a new interest in creating or strengthening the vocational part of the educational system, both at the basic and higher education level. These developments ask for a sound scientific underpinning of policy decisions and have therefore created a new need for empirically oriented academic research in VET issues. The new journal will address VET-specific questions from different academic disciplines emphasizing empirical work that fulfils highest methodological and statistical standards of research. The journal Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training will follow developments throughout the world in vocational training institutions and companies. The journal welcomes comparative studies that allow to empirically compare the effectiveness, efficiency and equity in different VET systems at the school-, company and systemic level. The journal has the goal to cover a broad range of topics in the VET field from all relevant scientific disciplines. The journal has therefore an international pluridisciplinary editorial board and also an advisory board with leading international academics in the fields of pedagogy, psychology, sociology and economics. The targeted audience of the journal are academics and researchers in the field of VET. In addition the empirical orientation of the journal should make it and interesting source of information for policy-makers, policy planners and administrators, school-leaders and trainers in the field of VET. Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training publishes empirical work in all fields of VET from basic VET to continuous or adult learning. All contributions are peer reviewed by at least 2 anonymous referees.

Across the globe, vocational education and training is characterised by a number of over-arching trends, including the increasing use of technology, the growing importance of information and communications systems, and changes to national demographics. At the interface between the education and training system and the world of work, VET faces the challenge of tackling these changes, of making a constructive contribution to solving the problems posed by the transition from education to employment, and of ensuring that the next generation has the skills it – and the economy – needs. This volume comprises thirty individual contributions that together add up to a comprehensive overview of the current situation in vocational education and training, its strengths and weaknesses, and its prospects. VET experts from Canada, the USA, India, China, Japan and Korea, as well as from a number of European countries, focus on their national context and how it fits in to the bigger picture. The contributions combine theoretical discussions from various strands of VET research with evidence from country case studies and examples from current practice.

As the economic growth and social development of a nation is reliant on its workforce, it is essential to increase the workforce’s employability through technical and vocational education. Through these programs, the nation’s workers will be able to acquire skills and flexibility in order to navigate across sectors of the economy and industry. However, due to gender disparities and socioeconomic statuses within society, women from a lower economic background are unable to gain access to these programs, hindering their career development and economic independence. Gender Issues in Technical and Vocational Education Programs is an essential critical resource that probes the issue of gender equity in specialized educational programs, such as vocational or technical education programs. It also presents global initiatives that are being undertaken to enhance the access to technical and vocational education programs to all citizens. Divided into two sections, this publication provides comprehensive coverage on understanding human resource skilling through vocational and training programs and promoting gender equity through skill development, making it an ideal resource for academicians, researchers, social scientists, educators, policymakers, government officials, and professionals.

Severe economic depression and the difficulty to acquire employment with adequate income have significant impact on a nation’s social welfare. The need to provide ample educational opportunities is more imperative than ever, particularly in emerging economies. Technical Education and Vocational Training in Developing Nations is a comprehensive reference source for the latest literature on optimizing the implementation of curriculum development and instructional design strategies for technical and vocational education. Featuring innovative coverage across a range of relevant topics, such as curriculum deficiency, teacher competencies, and accessible learning, this book is ideally designed for policy makers, academicians, researchers, advanced-level students, technology developers, and educators interested in the improvement of professional learning programs.