This workshop brings together four complementary contributions that examine the internationalisation of further and vocational education, as well as the research that engages with it. It responds directly to ongoing debates within the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ concerning globalisation, policy mobility and comparative educational research. Through comparative, historical and critical perspectives, the workshop seeks to stimulate dialogue between UK-based scholarship and wider international policy and research landscapes. Collectively, the contributions interrogate how global policy agendas, institutional practices and national discourses shape the development, reform and governance of further and vocational education systems across diverse contexts. Particular attention is paid to the circulation of policy ideas, the translation of global frameworks into local settings, and the methodological implications for comparative research. The workshop aims to deepen engagement with educational research on internationalisation, strengthen research capacity in comparative and policy-oriented methodologies and advance the quality and theoretical sophistication of educational research that moves beyond nationally bounded perspectives.
The event will:
Programme:
| 14:00 | Welcome and Introduction Johannes Schmees, University of Derby • Welcome and outline of workshop aims • Framing the internationalisation of vocational education research within ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ |
| 14:10 | International Organisations as Knowledge Producers in Vocational Education Johannes Klassen, Helmut Schmidt University Hamburg, Germany |
| 14:35 | Discussion |
| 14:45 | The Global Apprenticeship Agenda: International Organisations and Policy Coordination Ellen Vanderhoven, University of Glasgow |
| 15:10 | Discussion |
| 15:20 | Break |
| 15:30 | Institutional Expertise and International Partnerships in Vocational Colleges: Evidence from South Africa Naomi Alphonsus, University of Derby |
| 15:55 | Discussion |
| 16:05 | Extended Final Discussion and Synthesis Chair: Charlotte Marshall, Nottingham Trent University • Cross-cutting themes across papers • Implications for UK-based TVET research • Methodological and theoretical reflections • Audience discussion and future research directions |
| 16:30 | Close of Event |
Associate Professor at University of Derby
I am an Associate Professor of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) at the University of Derby and a Visiting Professor for Vocational Education at the Berlin University of Technology, Germany. My research focuses on...
Senior Lecturer at Nottingham Trent University
Charlotte Marshall is a lecturer at Nottingham Trent University where she has recently achieved senior fellow of the Higher Education Authority. Charlotte is a postgraduate of the University of Northampton where her research focuses on level 8...
Lecturer at University of Glasgow
Currently a Lecturer at the University of Glasgow School of Education, my research and teaching interests focus on education policy from international and comparative perspectives. I have a particular interest in how youth transitions are...
Helmut Schmidt University Hamburg
Johannes Klassen is a postdoctoral researcher at the Helmut Schmidt University Hamburg. His research focuses on the role of international organisations in vocational education and training, the politics of evaluation in international development,...
LSE Fellow at London School of Economics & Political Science
Isabelle is an LSE Fellow in Social Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science. She was awarded her PhD by the School for Business and Society (University of York) in 2025. For her PhD, she was awarded the ESRC +3 studentship...
Researcher in Technical and Vocational Education and Training at University of Derby
Dr Naomi S. Alphonsus is a researcher in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) whose work examines how education policy, occupational knowledge, and institutional structures shape the relationship between education and work. She...