Vocational Education in the Nordic Countries ― Learning from Diversity

Vocational Education in the Nordic Countries: Learning from diversity is the second of two volumes that disseminates new and systematic knowledge on the strengths and weaknesses of the different models of vocational education and training (VET) in four Nordic countries. Vocational education in Europe has resisted standardisation to a higher degree than other fields of education, and during the last decade, we have seen a growth in international, comparative VET research. While the Nordic countries provide an ideal case for comparative education studies, the literature in English on the Nordic VET systems is at present very limited.

This second book provides thorough examinations of VET in each of the four Nordic countries: Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland. Each section examines the current challenges for VET, compares how these challenges are managed, and explores recent reforms and institutional innovations. Contributors also analyse institutions and policies at the national level and include comparative studies of two occupations at the micro-level in the four countries. The books explore what can be learned from the diversity of the VET-systems in the Nordic countries, which otherwise have many similarities and share a common heritage in education policy.

The authors of these volumes hope that this volume will help strengthen the knowledge base required for transnational policy learning, and for developing vocational education internationally for the future. As a result, the book should be of interest to researchers, academics and postgraduate students involved in the study of vocational education, educational studies and educational policy.

Christian Helms Jorgensen is currently Professor in the Department of Psychology and Educational Studies?at Roskilde University, Denmark.

Ole Johnny Olsen is currently Professor?in the Department of Sociology at the?University of Bergen, Norway.

Daniel Persson Thunqvist is currently Senior Lecturer?in the?Department of Behavioral Science and Learning at?Linkoping University, Sweden.