Political Economy of Skill Formation and Vocational Education
Summary
The political economy of skill formation and vocational education examines how institutions, interests and power relations shape the development, delivery and outcomes of workforce training. Central to this field is the analysis of governance structures that coordinate employers, educational bodies and the state to produce skills that meet evolving economic demands. Comparative frameworks reveal distinct models—ranging from coordinated market economies with collective apprenticeship systems to liberal market economies relying on market-driven training provision. Recent debates focus on hybridisation of vocational and academic pathways, the integration of ecological and digital imperatives, and the capacity of skill systems to foster social inclusion. By tracing the interactions between policy reform, industrial relations and institutional complementarities, scholars illuminate how skill formation underpins productivity, equitable opportunity and economic resilience at national and regional scales.
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Political Economy of Skill Formation and Vocational Education publication trend
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Technical terms
Polycentric governance: A system in which multiple, overlapping authorities at different levels collaborate in policy-making and implementation.
Collective skill formation: A coordinated approach to workforce training in which employers, trade unions and government share responsibility for designing and delivering programmes.
Vocational education and training (VET): Programmes combining formal education with practical, workplace-based learning to prepare individuals for specific trades or occupations.
Apprenticeship dual system: A model integrating on-the-job training with classroom instruction through structured partnerships between firms and vocational schools.
Hybrid academic–vocational programmes: Educational pathways that meld vocational training with elements of higher education to address the growing demand for advanced technical and theoretical skills.
Social inclusion: Policies and practices designed to ensure equitable participation in educational and labour markets, particularly for marginalised groups.
References
- Integrating ecosocial policies through polycentric governance: A study of the green transformation of Danish vocational education and training. Regulation & Governance (2024).
- Social inclusion and collective skill formation systems: policy and politics. Journal of European Social Policy (2021).
- Comparative institutional disadvantage: Small firms and vocational training in the British manufacturing sector in comparative perspective. British Journal of Industrial Relations (2021).
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