Internationalisation of Research in Vocational Education and Training (IRN-VET) IRN

IRN Start Date: February 1, 2014

IRN End Date: 2016

The WERA network for Internationalisation of Research in Vocational Education and Training (IRN-VET) covered a broad range of research activities in vocational education and training (VET). It took into account different levels of steering and practice linking system-related issues to cultural aspects of VET. The field of research in VET covers initial and continuing vocational training, both school-based and workplace-based learning provisions as well as the development of pedagogic expertise for vocational and professional education.

The IRN-VET raised awareness of the impact of research with its mapping activities, thematic ‘task forces’ and with IRN-VET events in the conferences of WERA and of ‘regional’ associations and networks. The IRN-VET supported the launch of the International Journal for Research in Vocational Education and Training (www.ijrvet.net) by the European VETNET network. IRN-VET also worked together with the VETNET to develop a Summer School for emerging researchers.

Concluding reflections on the activities and achievements 2014-2016

In the light of the above the IRN-VET network has completed the proposed activities and contributed to the building of an international research community in research on vocational education and training (VET):

●By launching (together with the European VETNET network) the international journal (IJRVET) the IRN-VET network has managed to create a common organ for the international VET research community.

● With the “Crossing Boundaries in VET” conference tradition the IRN-VET has created an important biennial forum that links up with ECER and WERA events.

● With the International VET Research Overview (the moodle application) the IRN-VET has created an instrument to follow the thematic diversity and progress of research themes within the international VET research community.

● Based on the above-mentioned key activities - and by analysing the engagement of international advisers in the Swedish PhD programme and in the affiliated 7 conference - the IRN-VET has built capacity to provide international support for PhD programmes and services for emerging researchers in the field of VET.

● With its engagement in WERA activities and exchanges with parallel IRNs the IRN-VET has developed its own style to work within WERA and with its ‘regional’ member associations and networks.

Convener:

1. Dr. Ludger Deitmer, International research coordinator

Institut Technik und Bildung


Universität Bremen 


Am Fallturm 1,

D-28359 Bremen

Germany 


Phone Number: +49 (0)421 21866320

E-mail: deitmer@uni-bremen.de

Co-Conveners:

Pekka Kämäräinen
University of Bremen, Germany
pkamar@uni-bremen.de

Prof. Dr. Martin Mulder
University of Wageningen, The Netherlands
martin.mulder@wur.nl

List of Participants

References