Why Returning to VET?

Results of a Qualitative Comparative Study about English and German Car Mechatronics

Authors

  • Erika Edith Gericke Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Germany

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13152/IJRVET.4.3.2

Keywords:

VET, Vocational Education and Training, Comparative Qualitative Research, Lifelong Learning, Return on Education and Training, England, Germany

Abstract

Educational choices, especially the influence of class on these choices have been a subject of lively international debate. However, thus far, there has been little international and comparative research with respect to vocational and education training (VET) decision making from a subject-oriented perspective. This paper considers occupational-biographical orientations of English and German car mechatronics and focuses on the roles of learning and gaining vocational qualifications. Drawing on the concept of occupational-biographical orientations, the paper describes three types of orientations based on analyses of findings from 11 autobiographical-narrative interviews with English and German car mechatronics. The interviews clearly showed that occupational-biographical orientations explained different views on the necessity of returning to (continuous) vocational education and training. They also demonstrated that subjective perceptions of the national VET system fostered particular occupational-biographical challenges, which supported or hindered existing learning attitudes. Overall, the findings suggested that occupational-biographical orientations exerted the most important influence on learning biographies and decisions to return to (continuous) VET.

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Final Publication Date

2017-11-22

How to Cite

Gericke, E. E. (2017). Why Returning to VET? Results of a Qualitative Comparative Study about English and German Car Mechatronics. International Journal for Research in Vocational Education and Training, 4(3), 206–225. https://doi.org/10.13152/IJRVET.4.3.2

Issue

Section

Going Back-to-School in Vocational Education and Training - Special Issue

URN