Following previous discussions on the internationalization of vocational education and training (VET) research in the past years (e.g., Gessler et al., 2021; 2024), this forum aims to provide insights into research on two issues. First, it addresses the internationalization of VET and second, it focuses on international VET. International VET focuses on cooperation and collaboration between different actor groups across borders, including policymakers, science and educational institutions, and industries. At the same time, the internationalization of VET emphasizes integrating global dimensions into local/regional systems (Arnove & Torres, 1999). This linkage has also become known as the global-local nexus and covers topics including mobility programs, policy diffusion, international curriculum development, capacity building and the search for good practice.

While both foki are closely intertwined and have gained much attention during the past years, some issues are remaining. Those include:

• What is the relationship between international VET research on the one hand and cooperation and development in VET on the other hand?
• What characteristics define successful international cooperation and development in VET?
• Which structures are in place to foster international cooperation and development in VET, and how can national/international state-funded initiatives contribute to this?
• How can emerging technologies and digital transformation enhance international cooperation in VET?
• What role do cultural and linguistic factors play in facilitating or hindering international VET initiatives?

The contributions of this forum provide three types of results. First, results refer to identifying core concepts of internationalization of VET and VET research. Second, results demonstrate, through relevant projects, the ways in which international VET research and internationalization of VET is a process, a phenomenon and and/or a strategy and/or a outcome of research programs. Third, the contributions derive measures and activities to foster an international community, that promotes VET research at international levels and with a focus on both, the internationalization of VET and collaboration, cooperation and development in VET.

Discussion inputs are provided by researchers who have been collaborating in this field for several years and with the aim to foster both, international VET research and internationalizing VET research in Europe and beyond. As many of the contributors have a viewpoint on international VET seen from a DACH countries’ perspective, the aim of this forum is also to open up the community for scholars who provide new insights into the field and enrich it with the field by new and different perspectives on, for example, global trends, challenges, and best practices. This will be facilitated by interactive elements in the panel discussion.

Arnove, R.F.; Torres, C.A. (1999): Comparative Education. The Dialectic of the Global and the Local. Lanham: Rowman and Littlefield. Gessler, M.; Bohlinger, S.; Zlatkin-Troitschanskaia, O. (2021): International Vocational Education and Training Research: an Introduction to the Special issue. In: International Journal for Research in Vocational Education and Training 8 (4), 1–15 Gessler, M.; Zlatkin-Troitschanskaia, O.; Bohlinger, S.; Olivier, C.; Toepper, M.; Bieß, A.; Greppmair, A.-C.; Nguyen, H.L.; Scheuch, I. (2024): Expanding Horizons. Research on the Internationalization of Vocational Education and Training. Wiesbaden: Springer VS, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-43742-8