Developing vocational excellence: learning environments within work environments

Working paper

Vocational education and training (VET) in the UK has received much bad press domestically and internationally and the criticism is long standing. Yet, there is evidence pointing to positive aspects of VET. This paper, rather than focussing on a deficit model, draws on a study of skills competitions to begin to understand better what vocational excellence looks like and how it is developed, focussing particularly on the learning environment at work. The study surveyed 124 young people, vying for selection into the WorldSkills Team UK in 2009 and 2011, about their workplace learning environments. The findings show that the more 'expansive' the workplace environment, the more likely the competitor is going to have the necessary and sufficient skill base to begin working towards meeting WorldSkills international standards in that skill.

Authors: James, S; Holmes, C

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: ESRC Centre on Skills, Knowledge and Organisational Performance (SKOPE)
• Series: SKOPE Research Paper
• Publication date: 2012-01-01
• Edition: Publisher's version
• ISSN: 1466-1535
• Paper number: 112, November 2012
• Language: English
• Subjects: Vocational and professional learning; Education