In the past year, our networking activities have focused on strengthening contact with and among VETNET members. Having re-elected the VETNET board at ECER Glasgow 2023, no elections took place in 2024. Particular attention was paid to involving and supporting young researchers more closely. The EERN-VETNET, our VET-research-specific network from and for emerging researchers in VET, that was established a year ago is growing.
The ECER conference in Nicosia provided an excellent opportunity for scientific exchange. Substantial VET research from Europe and overseas was presented and discussed. We were delighted to welcome early career researchers who were new to VETNET and presented their research work for discussion. The exchange between more experienced researchers who regularly attend ECER and those who have recently joined was lively and enriching for everyone. Aiming to support community building and stimulate a fruitful exchange among VETNET researchers, we continued discussing the VET research framework (see paper in the proceedings, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13363158). The conference was also a good occasion to strengthen connections within our network and with other networks in the broad area of VET research.
For the seventh year in a row, selected papers were published in the VETNET Proceedings (https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13624225). The papers of the 7th edition of the VETNET ECER Proceedings were subjected to peer review and have thus contributed to further improving the publication's quality. The presentations and published papers clearly illustrate the diversity and richness of topics, theoretical underpinnings, and methods used in VET research. VET systems, teaching and learning settings may be different in different countries. However, the lively discussions in the sessions demonstrate that VET research addresses common challenges and urgent questions from educational policy and practice. The research findings are thus highly relevant for teachers, trainers, and VET policymakers.
We are grateful that many colleagues support VETNET not only by presenting their work at the ECER but also by engaging in the review process of the ECER abstracts and the programme planning and by supporting VETNET with their critical feedback on the VETNET papers and editorial work for the proceedings. We are also happy to thank all those who are engaged at other conferences and events related to VETNET. See vetnetsite.org for more details about VETNET's activities.