The VETNET Opening Session

The Past, Present and Future Developments in Research in VET in Europe and Beyond.

Chair: Margaret Malloch.

This session provides a consideration of the Past, Present and Future Developments for Research in VET in Europe and Beyond.

The VETNET is a network, which embraces European research and development and which also extends beyond Europe to America, Asia and Australia. In this opening session we provide reflections on the developments form past work, considerations of our current enterprises, with especial reference to the developments in Portugal, our conference location, and to the future challenges and directions for research in VET.

A Panel of Speakers will make their presentations to be followed by questions and discussion.

The Panel:

Pekka Kamarainen, ITB, University of Bremen, Germany: A Review of past developments in Research in VET and working life in Europe. This presentation focuses on the contribution of major European cooperation networks – such as the Work Process Knowledge Network in the 1990s and after the year 2000.

Eduardo Figueira, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Portugal: Past, present and future of VET research in Portugal. This presentation gives insights into the development of VET research in the host country and into the role of European cooperation. In addition, the contribution of VET and apprentice training in overcoming the economic crisis will be considered in the light of recent initiatives.

Karen Evans, Institute of Education, University of London, UK: The future for research in VET; building on the present and past. These presentation gives insights into the key themes brought forward by VETNET authors in recent ECER conferences and discusses the prospects for taking them further.

Discussant: Michael Gessler. ITB, University of Bremen, Germany: