Course content

This course examines profound historical trends that impact the intersections of production and learning, and how these trends have influenced the development of modern vocational educational practices within various organizations. With a focus on the interplay between converging and conflicting interests inherent in schools, businesses, and welfare providers, the course provides a theoretical and practical entry point for analyzing the factors that shape the vocational education spaces within the different fields of specialization for students. Based on their professional experience, students can further develop and analyze vocational and educational issues through the application of various theories and methods. The course emphasizes the co-creation of knowledge through theoretically informed analyses of students' own vocational experiences. It encompasses perspectives on markets and production, organization and management, as well as democracy and value creation in scientific terms, empowering students to develop vocational education analyses, reflections, and practices as a basis for lifelong learning.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

The candidate

• Possesses advanced knowledge of the emergence of modern organizations and how markets and welfare interact within vocational education
• Has an in-depth understanding of the relationship between market forces, trends in educational policy development, and the intentions of the welfare state concerning vocational education
• Possesses extensive knowledge of the role of science in the development of vocational education
• Has advanced knowledge of how vocational education is influenced by markets and organizations that provide the framework for vocational education spaces
• Has an in-depth understanding of how theory and research can be applied to facilitate learning in vocational contexts

Skills

The candidate

• Can critically evaluate and apply theoretical frameworks to analyze vocational education and the conditions of vocational education
• Can describe, analyze, and understand vocational and educational work and issues from a societal perspective
• Can describe, analyze, and understand vocational and educational work and issues within their own organization and work context
• Can independently apply research and theory to assess and facilitate vocational learning processes

General competence

The candidate

• Can analyze the roles and premises of vocational fields in light of various historical, political, and societal factors
• Can use their own and others' experiences to develop analyses of vocational educational spaces
• Can analyze and critically reflect on the relationship between vocational education, science, and organizations from national and international perspectives
• Can formulate and investigate vocational and educational issues and research questions

Learning methods and activities

Lectures and group work focusing on scholarly analyses of vocational issues. Seminars involving presentations of individual work and group activities within the course.

Mandatory Activities

Participation during sessions on campus. Three oral presentations at the end of each gathering. Individual written exam with a presentation of the individual project at the last gathering.

Compulsory assignments

• Mandatory work according to course description

Recommended previous knowledge

Vocational subjects, as per admission requirements, encompassing both vocational, pedagogical, and vocational education perspectives.

Course materials

Books and articles in English and Norwegian/Scandinavian languages. A reading list will be provided before the semester starts.

Credit reductions