Research on the Internationalization of Vocational Education and Training: Current State and Future Perspectives

Context: Vocational education and training (VET) is a key driver of the development of educational, social, and economic policy and practice. To date, however, systematic knowledge about VET models and approaches, which differ widely between nations and cultures, remains limited yet highly diverse, as can be observed in the fragmentation of research frameworks from different disciplines. Against this background, this paper provides an overview of the current state of research on the internationalization of VET in German-speaking areas. A major part of the study was conducted in the context of the funding program “Research for the Internationalization of Vocational Education and Training,” established by the German Ministry of Education and Research, which aims to improve national and international VET by implementing a systematically connected, (inter)national research network for the field.

Methods: To systematize the current state of research, we have differentiated major thematic fields therein. Our methods included a systematic review of literature in these fields, the documentary analysis and structured content analysis of relevant research projects.

Findings: This paper focuses on selected research fields, discusses major ongoing research activities in German-speaking countries, and identifies promising directions and implications for future research both nationally and internationally.

Conclusions: To gain a comprehensive understanding and to promote further development of research on the internationalization of VET, further expansion of knowledge and integration of different disciplines and actors are needed. This requires a long-term and systemic research vision and the establishment of a multidisciplinary research community at the national as well as the international level.