Young People’s Perceptions of Vocational Education and
Training [International]
Project Date: March 2010 - Ongoing
There is a widespread assumption that young
people need to engage in HE, rather than VET for their future
progression in to work and to improve their social and economic
prosperity – thus messages aimed at young people are skewed towards
promoting HE options rather than VET. The resultant poor
perceptions of vocational education can lead young learners to
prematurely and unfairly discount this route
Much research conducted from a policy maker
perspective explores a range of contributory factors such as poor
careers advice and guidance provision and the role of key
influencers such as parents and teachers in the decision making
process. There is, however, a lack of research which explores
young learners’ perspectives on the barriers to engaging with
vocational education and training.
But specifically, there is limited knowledge
around understanding their attitudes and perceptions towards
‘vocational education and training’, specifically:
- What this concept means to them
- Whether they understand the ‘proposition’ around vocational
education and training
The City & Guilds Centre for Skills
Development plans to hold a series of focus groups surveys across 4
countries (including England, South Africa and India) to explore
these and other related issues. Survey findings will be made
available in August 2010.