CALL FOR ARTICLES AND / OR REFERENCES
Dear members and visitors
The Canadian Vocational Association (CVA) is preparing its second thematic bulletin focusing on Canada's technical and vocational education (TVET) systems. Education being a provincial / territorial jurisdiction, there are as many TVET systems in Canada as there are provinces (10) and territories (3).
Once again, you can contribute to the bulletin by sharing recent articles and references describing the structure and other features of the TVET system in a given province or territory, or highlighting similarities and differences among the TVET systems in Canada or discussing major TVET issues and challenges that Canada will or could be facing in the coming years.
If you are interested in responding to this invitation, please submit article(s) and / or references to Madeleine Anne Decker at cvaacfpbulletin@gmail.com no later than 10 September. This special bulletin will be published at the end of September.
Many thanks!
Pierre Morin, CHRP
President of the Canadian Vocational Association
Please note that the contributions received will be evaluated before publication.
CVA / English Web Watch
Each month, the Canadian Vocational Association presents a survey of relevant links and documents on various specializations and topics related to the field. Please don't hesitate to send your comments and suggestions to info@cva-acfp.org.
We will add a PDF version of the bulletin to the monthly e-mail. This is to faciliate the printing of the document or enable you to upload it in an e-reader of your choice.
Note that the information in this publication does not necessarily reflect the position or opinion of the CVA/ACFP.
| CVA's PICK OF THE MONTH | |||||||||||||||
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Expansive Learning at Work: Toward an activity theoretical reconceptualization Activity theory and its concept of expansive learning are examined with the help of four questions: 1. Who are the subjects of learning? 2. Why do they learn? 3. What do they learn? 4. How do they learn? Five central principles of activity theory are presented, namely activity system as unit of analysis, multi-voicedness of activity, historicity of activity, contradictions as driving force of change in activity, and expansive cycles as possible form of transformation in activity. or http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13639080020028747 Tags: Workforce - development; Field: Health structure; Case study; Training - workplace; Finland; Paper; Source: Journal of Education and Work; | ||||||||||||||
| ARTICLES & PAPERS | |||||||||||||||
| >> | Canada.
Returns to Apprenticeship We utilize the 2006 Census to compare the returns from apprenticeships with those from other educational pathways (high school graduation, non-apprenticeship trades and community college). An apprenticeship premium prevails for males but a deficit is evident for females, with this pattern prevailing across the quantiles of the pay distribution, albeit with the premium being larger for males at the lower quantiles. Reasons for these patterns are discussed as are the relative importance of differences in the endowments of wage determining characteristics and differences in pay for the same wage determining characteristics. Tags: Analysis - comparative; Apprenticeship; Working paper; Canada; Source: CLSRN - Canadian Labour Market and Skills Researcher Network; | ||||||||||||||
| >> | Canada/PEI.
Governments invest in skills development in Prince Edward Island through the Holland College e-Health Training and Industry Support Centre Holland College is diversifying its program offerings to meet the human resource needs of the growing e-health sector. The investment goes to a new e-Health Training and Industry Support Centre which will be established to provide skills training and industry collaboration. Tags: Training - programs; Canada; Prince Edward Island; Field: Health; Target group: Holland College e-Health Training and Industry Support Centre; Education - higher; News; Source: Government of Prince Edward Island | ||||||||||||||
| >> | Canada/Maritime Provinces.
Is Demand for University Education Shrinking Among Maritimers? Fewer Maritimers have been enrolling in the region's universities in recent years, largely the result of flattening demand after the peak in 2004. The paper notes that, to date, the declining demand among Maritimers has not meant declining enrolments in Maritime universities. Enrolments have remained fairly stable in recent years through the recruitment of students from outside the region. Tags: Education - higher; Trends analysis; Paper; Prince Edward Island; New Brunswick; Nova Scotia; Canada; Source: Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission; | ||||||||||||||
| >> | Germany.
Is the shortage of skilled workers increasing companies' participation in continuing training? In international comparative terms, German companies remain behind expectations when it comes to the continuing training of their employees. In light of the clearly impending shortage of skilled workers and rising requirements with regard to activities and skills, there ought, however, to be an increasing demand on the part of firms for company-based continuing training to act as an important instrument for the securing of economic efficiency and to cover training needs. The present paper serves as the basis for highlighting both this correlation and further possible factors exerting an influence on the willingness of companies to provide continuing training. Tags: Article; Germany; Analysis; Education - continuing; Training - workplace; Source: BIBB - Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training; | ||||||||||||||
| >> | Switzerland.
Hiring Costs of Skilled Workers and the Supply of Firm-Provided Training This paper analyzes how the costs of hiring skilled workers from the external labor market affect a firm's supply of training. Using administrative survey data with detailed information on hiring and training costs for Swiss firms, we find evidence for substantial and increasing marginal hiring costs. However, firms can invest in internal training of unskilled workers and thereby avoid costs for external hiring. Controlling for a firm's training investment, we find that a one standard deviation increase in average external hiring costs increases the number of internal training positions by 0.7 standard deviations. Tags: Training - costs; Workforce - development; Training - return on investment; Target group: Unskilled workers; Target group: Skilled workers; Switzerland; Paper; Source: Institute for the Study of Labor; | ||||||||||||||
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Knowledge Cultures and the Shaping of Work-based Learning: The Case of Computer Engineering This paper examines how the knowledge culture of computer engineering – that is, the ways in which knowledge is produced, distributed, accumulated and collectively approached within this profession – serve to construct work-based learning in specific ways. The paper reveals how these features involve engineers in multiple and coexisting dynamics of objectual practice that provide and constitute opportunities for learning. Tags: Field: Computer engineering; Work-based learning; Article; Source: Vocations and Learning; | ||||||||||||||
| DOCUMENTS | |||||||||||||||
| >> | Canada.
Employer's roadmap to hiring and retaining internationally trained workers The roadmap is a practical resource for anyone involved in hiring internationally trained workers, including business owners, human resources professionals, recruiters and managers. Tags: Employability; Target group: SME- Small to medium-sized enterprises; Target group: Human resources; Target group: Skilled workers; Target group: Foreign workers; Roadmap; Canada; Source: Government of Canada/Foreign Credentials Referral Office; | ||||||||||||||
| >> | Indonesia.
Skills for the Labor Market in Indonesia: Trends in Demand, Gaps, and Supply This book is a comprehensive look at the demand and supply of skills in Indonesia how skills have changed, how they will continue to evolve, and how the education and training sectors can be improved to be more responsive and relevant to the needs of the labor market and the economy as a whole. Tags: Book; Skills needs; Trends analysis; Indonesia; Source: World Bank; | ||||||||||||||
| >> | UK.
The apprentices' journey The report analyses the experiences of the 81 learners who were nominated for the 2011 Adult Apprentice of the Year Award. The experiences of these adults are an unusual source of information which might assist further policy thinking on adult apprenticeships. This report focuses on how the nominees learnt about apprenticeships, how they got onto their apprenticeship, and how they were supported once on the apprenticeship. It also reflects their views on how adult apprenticeships might be improved. Tags: Testimonies; UK; Apprenticeships - adult; Lessons learnt; Report; Source: NIACE - National Institute of Adult Continuing Education; | ||||||||||||||
| >> | US.
Curriculum and Instruction: A 21st Century Skills Implementation Guide A guide for state leaders, policymakers and/or district and school leaders with assessment tactics and examples to assist in statewide 21st century skills initiatives. Tags: Skills - development; Assessment - curriculum; Curriculum - assessment; Target group: School leaders; Target group: Decision-makers; Target group: Policymakers; US; Guide; Source: P21; | ||||||||||||||
| >> | Scotland.
Research on the return of qualifications to firms Studies the benefits companies receive when their employees undertake training or education leading to qualifications. Tags: Qualifications - return of qualifications to firms; Analysis; Target group: Employers; Training - return on investment; Scotland; Document; Source: Skills Development Scotland; | ||||||||||||||
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Asia-Pacific regional guide to equivalency programmes Learning begins at birth or even at the pre-natal stage and continues throughout an individual's life, through formal, non-formal and informal methods. Recognising this, a number of countries in Asia and the Pacific have established Non-Formal Education (NFE) systems that are linked to formal education through the use of Equivalency Programmes (EPs). Learners are often given the flexibility to move between formal and non-formal channels of education at primary level, secondary level, and beyond. Tags: Education - equivalency programmes; Guide; Education - lifelong; Asia-Pacific Region; Source: UNESCO; | ||||||||||||||
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Europe's skill challenge Lagging skill demand increases risks of skill mismatch. Tags: Trends analysis; Labour market; Skills- mismatch training/workplace; Europe; Source: Cedefop - European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training; >> |
Europe.
National Qualifications Frameworks and the European Overarching Frameworks: Supporting Lifelong Learning in European Education and Training | Report on the Bologna Expert Conference, Dublin Castle, Ireland, 15 April 2010. The conference aimed to contribute to building mutual trust and understanding in order to better achieve the shared goals of supporting individuals' lifelong learning and mobility. Tags: Qualifications Frameworks comparison; Qualifications Framework - Europe; Report - conference; Education - lifelong; Europe; Source: National Qualifications Authority of Ireland; >> |
European Union.
European Employment Observatory Review | Young people have been hit hard by the economic downturn with the EU youth unemployment rate reaching 20%. This review summarises messages from 33 national articles on this theme, linking them to policy developments, studies and data. It details the European and national contexts before examining measures to promote youth employment. These cover education, training, labour market and benefit policies, as well as measures to address problematic aspects and labour market actors' roles. Following this, final conclusions are drawn. Tags: Employment - policy; Review 2010; Target group: Youth; Field: Labour market; European Union; Compendium - articles; Source: European Commission/Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion; >> |
European Union.
Cedefop work programme 2012 | The work programme is aligned to objectives of the European Union strategy, "Europe 2020" and its flagship initiatives, the education and training 2020 framework and the Bruges communiqué with its long-term objectives and short-term deliverables for Member States, the European Commission's and European social partners continued joint work on vocational education and training (VET) within the Copenhagen process. This policy framework reinforces the pivotal role of vocational education and training. Tags: Strategy 2012; VET - vocational education and training; European Union; Target group: Cedefop - European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training; Source: Cedefop - European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training; >> |
European Union/Australia.
Study on the (potential) role of qualifications frameworks in supporting mobility of workers and learners | The objectives of this study were to:
OTHER
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UK - Podcast.
Spatial inequalities and employment | Video on spatial inequalities in the UK and the importance of sub-national perspectives on employment and skills. Tags: Skills- mismatch training/workplace; Employability; Competitiveness; Inequality; UK; Podcast; Source: University of Warwick/Institute for Employment Research; >> |
Country education profiles | These reference tools provide up-to-date and accurate information about education systems in foreign countries and facilitate comparisons to provincial and territorial systems across Canada. Tags: Assessment - credential; Education - country profiles; Web site; Source: CICIC - Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials; | |
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