Conference 2022

The conference, which is held 14-16 May on a cruise ship from Sweden to Finland, provides a forum for discussion and dissemination of state of the art research in Vocational Education and Training and a space for international networking and cooperation. It is organised in cooperation with The European Research Network Vocational Education and Training (VETNET). 

The organising team comprices Janne Kontio, Lazaro Moreno Herrera and Marianne Teräs, all members of the research group VETYL, here at Stockholm University.

The conference has steadily grown, and is now held for the ninth time. What can you tell about the background and development through the years?

–The first conference was held in 2012, as part of an effort to develop research and international networking of our newly created research group Vocational and Educational Training, VETYL. Since the start the conference became part of the yearly events of the European Research Network Vocational Education and Training, where several of our research group members are engaged.

Since the first conference we've always made sure to share our findings. Selected contributions undergo a blind peer review process and are published in our Research Book Series, Emergent Issues in Research in Vocational Education and Training. With this conference 2024, we are starting to published selected papers in the Palgrave Studies in Technology and Vocational Education and Training.

A notable tradition of our conference is the inclusion of keynote speakers who represent both established international researchers and young researchers, mainly our own PhD graduates. For this conference, we are honored to welcome Professor Sarojni Choy from Griffith University, Australia, Professor Victor Hernandez from the University of South Florida, USA, and Dr. Sofia Antera, a recent PhD graduate from our department.

What are the aims of the conference in general?

–Since the first conference, our aim has been threefold. Firstly, it serves as a forum for the presentation and discussion of state-of-the-art research in our field, addressing emergent issues as depicted in our ongoing research. Secondly, the conference provides a platform for presenting ongoing research work conducted by our research group VETYL, facilitating discussions and obtaining feedback. Lastly, equally important, it's also a great opportunity for networking, where we can form and strengthen partnerships and research alliances.

What are the aims and expected outcomes of the the 2024 conference?

–This year the conference, will among other questions, have a special focus on the role of vocational education and training in inclusion of migrants in the work market and society in general. Another relevant topic we will focus on is how the main model of vocational education and training, which includes both school-based and company or workplace-based components, can best contribute to skill development, employability, and social cohesion.

Who will attend this year’s conference?

–Interest in the conference has steadily grown since the first one in 2012. This year, we will have 121 participants presenting 89 papers and contributing to 3 symposia. Participants are researchers from 23 countries, namely: Argentina, Belgium, Canada, China, Finland, France, Peru, Portugal, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, India, Iceland, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Switzerland, South Africa, Spain, United Kingdom, United States and our network colleagues from Sweden.

This diversity of VET contexts benefits greatly the fulfilment of the aims of the conference. We will have presentations dealing with research question in vocational education and training in educational systems with remarkable differences, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of researchers from various countries.

Will there be any pre conference activities?

–Yes! On Monday 13 May we are hosting a research seminar with colleagues from Malaysia and the United States, where we will share core aspects of the research work in VET from our respective countries and in our own research environment. The intention is also to identify potential lines leading to joint research.

In the morning on the 13th, we will also arrange a visit to Fredrika Bremer Gymnasiet in Huddinge, for some of the participants. It’s an upper secondary school that offers several vocational education programs together with general university preparatory programs.

The conference is on a cruise ship, what's the story behind that?

Back then, the Faculty of Natural Science, which housed the Vocational Teacher Education Program, provided funding. Due to budget constraints, we couldn't afford to use the modality of invited papers and also cover the high conference venues’ costs in Stockholm. The limited funding encouraged us to find an affordable alternative of conference venue, this is the background for holding the conference on board a cruise ship. Initially the shorter trip to Mariehamn, Åland, and later to Helsinki, which has given more time for sessions and networking.

Janne Kontio. Photo: Anna Hartvig

The organising team

Janne Kontio, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in education, currently working as a researcher and senior lecturer at the department of Education at Stockholm University. Main interests: Vocational education, Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL), Classroom interaction, Language and identity, Digitalization.

Lázaro Moreno Herrera. Photo: Karin Larsson

Lázaro Moreno Herrera is a Professor of Education with orientation to vocational education and training at the Department of Education at Stockholm University. He is the scientific leader of the research group Vocational Education & Training (VETYL) and frequent reviewer for research journals and board member of the network Vocational Education and Training (VETNET).

Marianne Teräs. Photo: Sören Andersson

Marianne Teräs is a Professor of Education at the Department of Education, Stockholm University. Her research interests are transcultural education and professional/vocational education and training in the area of health care. Her studies cover simulation-mediated learning in health care, inter-professional challenges and co-operation and vocational teacher education as well as intercultural learning and migrant education.