Flexibility seems to be the core concept of economic and educational change in our time. The promise of solutions to many problems at the individual, institutional, and national level evokes as much controversy as acclaim. This might be related to the different perspectives of actors and researchers involved in problem-solving in Vocational Education and Training (VET), where, on the one hand, solutions should be sought in key qualifications and transferability, in changing teaching and learning processes, while, on the other, political, institutional, organisational, and professional...

Globalisation and individualisation, decreasing public means, political strategies of de-centralisation, increasing participation of social groups and growing markets are discussed as main aspects of the current changes in vocational and continuing education. A comprehensive and integrating theoretical concept of analysis and understanding of these changes is widely missing, but necessary for a supra-national level of observation and comparison. The book includes a survey on this segment of education in several European countries, Australia and the USA. The folio of analysis and comparision...

This book discusses whether certain approaches to (vocational) education have become mythicized and branded, and the reasons for and consequences of this commodification. Additionally, the book also investigates how researchers are contributing to mythicizing and branding in education. Although trans-national and comparative studies are increasingly taking into account historical and cultural ideas, is this a result of the exploitation of historical and cultural research for industrial purposes and education export? Educational brands should attract global customers and advertise countries as...