Providing skills and expertise applicable to the workplace has always been a central component of universities' provision. However, repeated government initiatives to involve employers more actively in the skills system over the past 60 years have shown few lasting successes. In this paper, Professor David Phoenix reflects on past initiatives and…

Purpose: This study aims to identify and explore the critical components of Industry 4.0 (IR4.0) talent domains needed by Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students through work-based learning (WBL) programs in Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative research design was employed, involving semi-structured…

This study investigates the role of higher education strategies in enhancing the employability of international students in the postpandemic era, employing the USEM (understanding, skills, efficacy beliefs, metacognition) as a theoretical framework. By focusing on targeted interventions, this research explores how higher education institutions…

More than just driving learning, assessment is a powerful force beyond the student experience: it also has implications for workforce capability and diversity. In health professional education, assessment for inclusion is important to ensure appropriate healthcare for diverse patient populations. Assessment should also focus on relevant graduate…

Purpose: The purpose of this systematic literature review is to identify which soft skills are developed during work-based learning (WBL) programmes in higher education contexts. Additionally, the study sought to identify strategies used to promote soft skills development within work-based learning programmes. Design/methodology/approach: The…

Background/purpose: The Automobile Parts Manufacturing Industry (APMI) is currently facing rapid changes due to continuous technological innovations. These shifts are reshaping the skills required for future workforce participation in the sector. Consequently, it is essential to prepare students with future-oriented competencies that align with…

This study explores the ecosystemic impacts of higher education (HE) on the economies of African countries, emphasizing the need for competence-based, and skills-demand-driven standards in collaboration with industry. HE is vital for equipping individuals with essential knowledge and skills for socio-economic transformation. However, in Africa,…

This research aims to present an adaptive Learning System for the public servants of the Huixquilucan City Hall which allows the simultaneous development of their cognitive abilities and labor competencies. Among the problems that motivated the development of this research are that the lack of adequate training has stemmed both the development of…

This policy brief highlights the need to transform adult skills development by expanding beyond traditional continuing vocational education and training (CVET) to include workplaces and digital environments supported by frameworks that connect formal, non-formal and informal learning pathways. It stresses the importance of workplaces as lifelong…

Fifty years after its founding, Cedefop reflects on the evolution of vocational education and training (VET) in Europe and presents a renewed vision for the future. While the EU has built strong foundations in initial VET, major challenges persist in adult learning, skill mismatches, and the need to integrate VET more closely with broader…

Only half of high school students report feeling prepared for their postsecondary lives, according to a Gallup poll. In a separate survey by Morning Consult, two-thirds of young people aged 16-24 said they did not know what career to pursue, and only 44 percent of 19- to 24-year-olds who had not enrolled in college were satisfied with their career…

Purpose: To explore the benefits and challenges of WBL in MET in Thailand. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative approach was used, involving interviews and surveys with participants from MET. Findings: WBL offers practical experience, improved employability, networking opportunities, and real-world problem-solving skills, industry knowledge,…

This innovative study breaks new territory in two key areas: it puts VET centre stage as a key intervention to support NEETs and presents the first mixed-methods research effort to collect and analyse evidence on the profile and role of NEETs teachers in Greece. It fills a significant knowledge gap, shedding light on a crucial yet understudied…