Informing the development of a City & Guilds international education centre

 

Client: City & Guilds

 

 

Objectives:

• To better understand how vocational education is perceived and organised in a range of countries
• In this way, to inform the development of an international vocational education centre

Methodology:

• Comprehensive desk research
• Expert interviews to support desk research
• Research conducted across 9 countries

Findings:

• Vocational education is generally seen as the “poor relation” of other higher education avenues
• Several countries operate progressive policies to support vocational education, creating beneficial market conditions
• An international “hub” is needed, to develop best practice guidelines and facilitate developments in the sector

Recommendations:

• Immediate: The desk research informed and instigated a quantitative survey of education professionals
• The need for an International Centre was verified, with Purple’s recommendations informing the development of the initiative
• The research results facilitated the development of best practice guidelines for the development and promotion of vocational education and training