Cordial More Than Close: A Governance Network in Vocational Education and Training

• In Event: Moscone Center West Roundtable Session 1
  In Roundtable Session: Advocacy, Governance, and Educational Opportunities

Abstract

Education governance networks capture the multiple actor types and multilevel governance of education systems. In vocational education and training (VET), actors include representatives from the employment system as well as the education system. This analysis uses data from the governance network of VET in Switzerland to explore actors’ relationships strength, satisfaction with cooperation, and centrality. We find that the strongest relationships involve employer associations, a key intermediary. Relationships that link education to employment appear to be particularly important. A key finding is that—although the Swiss VET system is very successful—its actors are connected and generally satisfied but not all relationships are strong or fully satisfactory.

Authors

• Katherine Marie Caves, ETH Zurich

• Maria Esther Oswald-Egg, ETH Zurich