Article 2025

On the limited usefulness of comparative politics modelling for understanding VET systems

Journal of Vocational Education and Training
Journal · Vol. 77 · Issue 3 · pp. 728-745
Abstract

In comparative VET research, a model developed from the perspective of comparative politics, the so-called ‘skill formation systems typology’ developed by Busemeyer and Trampusch, dominates the discourse. However, models to compare VET systems often rely on a narrow set of assumptions and fail to account for their complexity. We therefore review this typology and highlight its limitations. This article argues that this typology has limited usefulness for understanding vocational education and training (VET) systems. We advocate for a approach from the perspective of vocational education studies that takes into account the unique contexts and characteristics of specific VET systems. The article concludes that there is a need for substantively robust and valid distinctions based on appropriate models that allow for the international comparison of VET systems. © 2023 The Vocational Aspect of Education Ltd.

Keywords

Author Keywords

vocational education and training comparative research typology

Index Keywords

Author Affiliations
School of Education, Osnabrück University, Osnabruck, Niedersachsen, Germany
Funding & Acknowledgements
No funding information
References 10 References
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