In February, Edge hosted the finale in our latest series of debates on the philosophy of vocational education (VET). The session provided a welcome break from the practical questions of implementation and allowed us to reflect on deeper concerns about the fundamental nature of VET.
Chaired by Professors Chris Winch (KCL) and Prue Huddleston (Warwick), our final session focused on a hotly debated topic – how to balance the needs of national VET policy with regional and local priorities. Four expert commentators addressed just a few of the many tensions that can arise from these differing needs.
The debate's first provocation came from Kevin Orr (University of Huddersfield). His driving question was: Is it better to organise VET locally rather than nationally? He used the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) as an example. GMCA currently has devolved power over its adult education budget, while the broader situation in Manchester is an excellent proxy for England at large. Manchester faces similar problems – such as the stark division between academic and vocational pathways, lack of employer-led work-based training and a school system that reproduces (rather than redresses) socio-economic inequalities.
