VETNET is a network of researchers interested in exploring societal, policy, governance, organisational, institutional and individual factors that shape and explain both vocational education and training (VET) and learning across the lifespan. VETNET is an open network, which welcomes members and contributions from all over the world as long as they are in line with the goals of VETNET. VETNET is a network of the European Educational Research Association (EERA) and committed to the goals of EERA.
In 2019 VETNET had more than 111 proposals for the conference again. VETNET is very engaged in constantly further increasing the quality of the proposals. Quality is supported by the review process, presentations and is also supported by publishing VETNET proceedings online, and in print, available through amazon.com.
VETNET aims at fostering the quality in the scientific presentations but also to establish a link to the practice. It is an open network and vocational education and training will profit from strong partnerships between research, practice and policy. The ECER conference is a perfect venue for mutual learning and the building relationships.
The traditional keynote presentation at the VETNET opening session was given by Matthias Havekost, head of training at AIRBUS Germany, talking about topical developments in VET at AIRBUS: Dual students at Airbus. The presentation was very well-received and referenced in many sessions afterwards.
VETNET co-organised four joint sessions on the crucial, future-oriented topic of open access and open science lead by NW 06 “Open Learning: Media, Environments and Cultures”, NW 12 “LISnet — Library and Information Science Network” and with NW 30 “Environmental and Sustainability Education Research, ESER”. VETNET was also active with an EERA event before the main conference with the very well attended workshop “Towards understanding the role of adult education and VET in promoting active citizenship and inclusion: Lessons from cross-national research”. The VETNET program always expands from Thursday to Friday, late afternoon. Nevertheless, the attendance during the session was generally high. Even the very last session on digitalisation in VET on Friday afternoon was very well attended.