Particularly worth noting in this edition are calls for papers relating to the Nordic Conference in Jönköping, the EAEEIE Conference on European projects in Grenoble, AVETRA 2017 in Melbourne (see Conferences) and the Summer Days/ VET&Culture conference in Tampere (see Networks); a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on 'The changing world of work', a Summer School on 'Creative Methods' (see Programmes) and a new issue of IJRVET (see Publications) . 

Many thanks to all who contributed information for this edition and who sent helpful feedback. The L&W Newsletter reaches you via a mailing list of about 1500 experts in and beyond Europe. It focuses on transnational research activities in the field of human resource development (HRD) and vocational education and training (VET), centred on major categories: conferences, networks, programmes, projects and publications. The next edition will appear in early April 2017. You are invited to submit short pieces of news (texts of 100 to 200 words, without attachments, but including links to web pages) - please by 31 March 2017 at the latest!

Should you prefer to read the current edition online, you can find it on the L&W website (www.news.wifo-gate.org) under February 2017. Please pass the Newsletter on to your colleagues and networks. Special thanks to our partners CR&DALL, PASCAL International Observatory, UFHRD, UNEVOC, VET&Culture and VETNET for sharing the L&W Newsletter via their mailing lists and web portals!

With best wishes
Sabine Manning
Research Forum WIFO
Editor of the L&W Newsletter

Conferences

Nordic Conference: Deadline extended
Adult education in the age of global mobility. 7th Nordic Conference on Adult Education and Learning 3-5 May 2017. School of Education and Communication, Jönköping University, Sweden
The multifaceted theme of global mobility, which we address at this  conference, reframes the classical question of whether there is such a thing as a Nordic model of adult education, and prompts us to ask how well Nordic adult education has adapted to our age of global mobility.  What processes of transformation, reinvention, and reframing are going on, in practice as well as in theory? Contributions that relate adult education to various frames of reference are welcome. Please send an abstract of a maximum of 400 words (Word/rtf document), including your contact information, to karolina.boberg@ ju.se . The deadline has been extended until 15 February 2017. For more information, see Call for papers. Contact: Cecilia Bjursell <[email protected]>, Henrik Nordvall <[email protected]>. 
(Update received from Anja Heikkinen <[email protected]>)
 
EAEEIE Conference on European projects
A joint conference of the EAEEIE (European Association for Education in Electrical and Information Engineering) and the French national society Club EEA (Electrical and Information Engineering) will take place in Grenoble, France, 7-9 June 2017. The general theme of the joint events is European projects, both in teaching and research. Short abstract submissions are expected for February 13th, 2017. Further information see website http://eaeeie2017-iut1.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr/ Contact: Jean-Marc Thiriet <[email protected]>
(Info received from Jean-Marc Thiriet)

AVETRA 2017 Conference
The 20th Annual AVETRA Conference will be held at the William Angliss Institute of TAFE, Melbourne, 18-20 April 2017: "Renovate or Rebuild? Exploring the Architecture of VET". The Conference Committee of AVETRA (Australian Vocational Education and Training Research Association) are thrilled to invite you to take part in the discussion as we look to the future of VET. Please assist the Committee to make the Meeting as stimulating and vibrant as possible. Abstract submissions are now open. We welcome both oral and poster abstract submissions in the following categories: Access, equity and pathways; Teaching, learning and assessment; Qualifications, training products and future skills; Apprenticeships, traineeships and work-integrated learning; VET policy and reform. The closing date for conference submissions is Friday 3rd February 2017. Register now and take advantage of early bird rates! For full information please visit http://avetra.org.au
(Info received from AVETRA 2017 <[email protected]>)

Update on VET Congress in Bern
The Swiss Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (SFIVET) is hosting its 5th Congress on Research in Vocational Education and Training in Bern/Zollikofen from 14 to 16 March 2017. The theme of the congress is "Unleashing the creative potential of VET". Researchers are invited to engage in an exchange of ideas and research findings and to reflect on VET issues. Registration is open until 3 March 2017. For further information, please go to http://www.sfivet.swiss/vet-congress-2017.
(Posted by Antje Barabasch <[email protected]>)

European conference on Transitions in VET and Work
BIBB & Céreq Conference "Transitions to VET and the labour market: the European perspective". Tuesday 7th of February 2017, Bruxelles (Registration required)
The conference is jointly organized by the German Federal Institute for Vocational Training (BIBB) and the French Centre for Studies and Research on Qualifications (Céreq). The event is the first of its kind to bring together major research results. BIBB and Céreq will discuss with the participants the effects of vocational education and training and apprenticeship on transition from school to labour market in both countries. The issue of transitions is central to many VET systems as stated in the "New Skills Agenda for Europe" as well as in European initiatives such as the skills panorama or the development of qualification frameworks. The conference languages will be English, French and German. Contact: Céreq <[email protected]>
(Information received from Céreq <[email protected]>)

International Conference on Jobs and Skills Mismatch
International Labour Organization (ILO), Geneva, Switzerland, 11-12 May 2017
This conference aims to deepen understanding of the labour market effects of various types of skill mismatch and how they can be best measured in different country contexts. It will include ILO research and also present the work of other partner international organizations. More information: http://www.ilo.org/skills/events/WCMS_538198/lang--en/index.htm Contact: [email protected]
(Posted by Angelica Munoz c/o [email protected])

NOTE: Forthcoming and recent events related to European research in work and learning are listed on the WIFO Conference page [www.conferences.wifo-gate.org].  

Networks and Organisations

Update on Summer Days: History of education
The 13th Summer Days of the History and Philosophy of Education will take place at the University of Tampere, Finland, 7-9th June 2017, on the subject of "Disciplinary Struggles in the History of Education". These Summer Days are also the 24th annual conference of the research network Vocational Education and Culture (VET&Culture). We invite abstracts of presentations (max 1 page) in English and Finnish by 28 February 2017. For submission of abstracts and information about the event see website https://equjust.wordpress.com/hifi2017/. Contact: Kaisa Partanen <[email protected]>; Anja Heikkinen <[email protected]>
(Info received from Anja Heikkinen <[email protected]>)
 
Advertisement full professor Education Sciences
Wageningen University & Research (The Netherlands) is looking for: A full Professor of Education Sciences who will lead the chair group Education Sciences (EDU). As head of the group, the new chair holder is expected to lead by example, contributing to the development of EDU research and education, stimulating innovative research, further strengthening the position of the group in national and international networks of research, maintaining close contacts with other universities, research institutes and managing the group internal processes and relations in an effective and constructive way. For more information see >Vacancies
(Posted by Harm Biemans <[email protected]>)

Vacancies: University of Tampere
The following is brought to your attention by the Univerity of Tampere: Below find a link to applications for 3 postdoctoral and 3 senior research fellowships in the Institute of advanced social research in University of Tampere, deadline 15.2.2017. http://www.uta.fi/iasr/application.html
(Posted by Anja Heikkinen <[email protected]> via ESREA mailing list)

Award from the European Commission for Professor Martin Mulder
During the European Vocational Skills Week in Brussels on December 9, 2016, Prof. dr. Martin Mulder received the 'European Vocational Education and Training Researcher Award' for his lifetime commitment to Vocational Education and Training Research. The Award was presented by Marianne Thyssen, European Commissioner, Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility. The European Vocational Skills Week is a new event, organized under the auspices of the European Commission. - Further details and Short CV of Professor Martin Mulder, Wageningen University, the Netherlands see ICO News
(Info received from Martin Mulder <[email protected]>)

Your guide: Who's who in transnational European VET and HRD research
The Directory of Professional Contacts (www.dpc.wifo-gate.org), maintained by the Research Forum WIFO, serves as a Who's who, offering up-to-date information on more than 200 contacts across 30 countries in the field of transnational European VET and HRD research. Each person included in the DPC is both a producer of transnational research and an active transnational networker. The criteria for inclusion in the DPC, and and the references to individual professional work are explained in the introduction. They relate to evidence of transnational activities presented in WIFO resources of European collaboration such as the Bookshelf, Overview of articles, Conference page, ECER VETNET Proceedings and Overview of HRD conference papers, Networks at a glance and Overview of projects. The DPC is updated continuously as part of European collaboration in VET and HRD research.
(Contributed by Sabine Manning)

NOTE: References to research networks in the field of European work and learning are available on the WIFO page Networks at a glance [www.networks.wifo-gate.org]. Major online resources related to European research networks include the ECER VETNET Proceedings (www.ecer-vetnet.wifo-gate.org) offering a complete and up-to-date collection of conference papers submitted since 1998, and the Overview of selected HRD conference papers (www.ehrd-papers.wifo-gate.org).

Programmes

MOOC: The changing world of work
The EmployID project (funded by the EU's Seventh Framework Programme) is offering a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on 'The changing world of work'. Start date: Tuesday 28th March 2017. The MOOC focuses on the challenges of the changing labour market; provides an opportunity to better understand and apply skills related to emotional awareness, active listening, reflection, coaching skills, peer coaching and powerful questioning; and gives you the chance to explore tools for handling Labour Market Information (LMI) and the digital agenda. This is 6 week MOOC, with an estimated workload of 3.5 hours per week. For more information - register now at: https://employid.eu/mooc
(Contributed by Alan Brown <[email protected]>)

Summer School on creative methods
Creative Methods for Research and Community Engagement Summer School 6-8 July 2017, Keele University
PhD students and Early Career Researchers are welcome at this event organised by the Community Animation and Social Innovation Centre (CASIC) at Keele University. The Summer School will be held in central England at the New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme (6-7 July) and Keele University campus (8 July), where you will experience the KAVE (https://www.keele.ac.uk/pharmacy/digital/kave/) and our Makerspace facilities (https://www.keele.ac.uk/make/). The facilitator will be Dr Helen Kara, author of Creative Research Methods in the Social Sciences: A Practical Guide. The Summer School will enlighten, inspire and guide ECRs and students at all stages of scholarly or professional doctorates. Each day will be packed with interactive hands-on sessions addressing six broad topics: Arts-based research, Transformative research frameworks, Mixed-methods research, Knowledge co-production, Research using technology, Writing creatively for research.For more information go to https://www.keele.ac.uk/casic/summerschool2017/
(Contributed by Mihaela Kelemen <[email protected]> c/o Jim Stewart: UFHRD Mailing list)

NOTE: Contributions are welcome for the next edition of the Directory of Doctoral Dissertations (www.ddd.wifo-gate.org), provided as part of the WIFO Gateway, which focuses on European research in the field of vocational education (VET) and human resource development (HRD). Please provide information on expected or newly completed doctoral dissertations investigating issues of HRD, VET or work-related adult education, according to the following pattern: 1*Theme of dissertation (original language AND English); 2*Year of (expected) completion or publication; 3*Author (name and email address); 4*Tutor (name and email address); 5*Institution of tutor (name and home page). Contributions should be posted by email to the editor ([email protected]).

Projects

Greenskills4vet Project
The purpose of the Greenskills4vet project, funded as part of the Erasmus+ strategic partnerships programme and coordinated by the University of Applied Sciences in Osnabrueck, Germany, is to develop teaching tools in order to improve vocational training programmes in sustainable development. Céreq is involved in the partnership set up for this purpose with research or training organisations in four other countries, namely, Germany, Austria, Greece and Bulgaria. For more information see http://greenskillsaspete.weebly.com/ (Greekwebsite)
(Posted by Céreq news N°6, Winter 2017 c/o <[email protected]>)

NOTE: Contributions are invited to update the Overview of European research projects [www.projects.wifo-gate.org], provided as part of the WIFO Gateway. The overview focuses on transnational research projects, mainly supported by EU programmes, in the areas of human resource development, vocational education, work and learning. Please send the following information to the editor ([email protected]):  (A) exact title and acronym (short name) of the project; (B) name and email address of the coordinator or main contact; (C) address of the website (or info page/ flyer) of the project. Contact: Sabine Manning

Publications

Cedefop study on reducing early leaving
Leaving education early: Putting vocational education and training centre stage. Volume I: investigating causes and extent. Volume II: evaluating policy impact. CEDEFOP 2016
This Cedefop study examines the contribution that vocational education and training (VET) can make to reducing early leaving from education and training (ELET).  Published in two volumes, the first volume looks at quantitative data to understand better the extent of early leaving from VET (ELVET). It analyses mechanisms for monitoring early leaving (at national and EU-levels), and examines VET and labour-market-specific factors, as well as those related to the individual and his/her family background, contributing to this phenomenon. It aims to assist national policy-makers and decision-makers at different levels in developing existing monitoring systems to measure ELVET and inform VET policies to tackle ELET. It also aims to assist European stakeholders to refine the EU indicator to capture the important variations in individual situations of early leavers. The second volume reviews VET-related measures to tackle ELET, either by preventing learners dropping out and/or by bringing those who have already left back into education and training. It identifies and discusses the key features of successful policies and practices, plus the conditions necessary to evaluate and upscale successful regional and local practices to national strategies.
(Received from Bettina Brenner <[email protected]>)

New issue of IJRVET: Vol. 3, Issue 3
The International Journal for Research in Vocational Education and Training (IJRVET) has published a new issue (Open Access). The third regular edition of 2016 contains the following topics: Evangelos Papakitsos has developed a model to describe the relationship between the labor market and vocational education from the perspective of systemic theory; Pericles 'asher' Rospigliosi, Tom Bourner and Linda Heath analyze the history of the university from a vocational perspective; Amos Shaibu Ebenehi, Abdullah Mat Rashid and Ab Rahim Bakar examine predictors of career adaptability skill among higher education students in Nigeria; and Ruhi Tyson offers a philosophical perspective on VET using Humboldt's ideal of general Bildung. Please find all articles on http://www.ijrvet.net [Current issue].
(Posted by Susanne Peters <[email protected]>)

IJRVET signed contracts with airiti and ERIC
IJRVET is the official journal of VETNET European Research Network Vocational Education and Training (European Educational Research Association), supported by IRNVET International Research Network Vocational Education and Training (World Education Research Association). IJRVET is already indexed in major databases such as VOCED plus, DOAJ Directory of Open Access Journals and SSOAR Social Science Open Access Repository. We are pleased to announce that two more contracts for inclusion have been signed: Airiti is the leading Chinese e-content provider for academic journals, and ERIC is the largest database worldwide for education research and information, sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences of the United States Department of Education. All IJRVET articles will be included and indexed in both databases, starting with the first issue in 2014 onwards. The process of indexing has already started. See Info
(Posted by Michael Gessler/ webmaster vetnetsite.org)

Migrants' competence recognition systems
Rosangela Lodigiani; Annavittoria Sarli (2017): Migrants' competence recognition systems: Controversial links between social inclusion aims and unexpected discrimination effects. RELA - European Journal for Research on the Education and Learning of Adults (pre-published) [Details]
An adequate incorporation of migrants in the labour market, able to fully unleash their potential, is a major challenge for EU development, thus the recognition of migrants' skills, knowledge and competence acquired in formal and non-formal/informal contexts represents a crucial issue. Based on comparative research conducted at European level, the paper highlights the ambivalence of competence recognition systems which, whilst representing potential means of social inclusion, in certain condition risk becoming invisible instruments of discrimination. The paper considers both the recognition of formal qualifications obtained abroad and that of skills, knowledge and competence acquired in non-formal/informal contexts, by focusing on their effectiveness for the integration of migrants. Attention is particularly focused on the 'friendliness' of both systems, namely their accessibility, usability and beneficial effects for this target. The findings are interpreted in the light of the notion of 'capacitating institutions and policies' borrowed from the capability approach of Amartya Sen, to scrutinize the consistency between the normative basis underlying recognition systems and policies, their objectives of social justice, inclusiveness and individual empowerment, and their actual effects. Moreover, the paper provides recommendations for improving the substantial universalism of competence recognition systems and their impact on migrants' integration.
(Contributed by Rosangela Lodigiani <[email protected]>)

NOTE: Updates on publications provided by the WIFO Gateway include the WIFO Bookshelf [www.books.wifo-gate.org], a collection of references to publications focusing on cross-European issues of work and learning, and "From the Journals" - Overview of articles on cross-European issues in VET and HRD research [www.articles.wifo-gate.org], selected from European and international Journals related to education research [www.journals.wifo-gate.org].

Impressum

Editor of the L&W Newsletter: Dr Sabine Manning, Research Forum WIFO ([email protected]);
Address: Neue Blumenstr. 1, D-10179 Berlin, Germany;
Editions of the L&W Newsletter: six times a year, every two months (at the beginning of February, April, June, August, October, December);
Deadline for contributions to the L&W Newsletter: end of January, March, May, July, September, November;
Circulation of the current L&W Newsletter: about 1500 experts in 40 countries (mostly Europe);
Details and Archive of the L&W Newsletter [www.news.wifo-gate.org].