Update on Project Progress and Site Visits

Aims of the Project To understand the barriers and opportunities for building inclusive and equitable VET systems in the Western Balkans, Turkey and Israel To provide new evidence on the role of VET in combating social exclusion and contributing to building more cohesive societies To challenge traditional beliefs that a school is simply an isolated education institution, Therefore to investigate the school as an integral part of the local community and a key actor, together with employers, local government, trade unions and NGOs in the local skill development system. To assist stakeholders to enhance the role of VET in promoting skills, socialisation, civic values, social inclusion and social cohesion To contribute to the development of research capacity in the field and build sustainable research collaboration

Research Tasks Research Task 1: Mapping policies towards VET, social inclusion and social cohesion and assessing their relationship Research Task 2: Mapping the influence of selection and tracking on social inclusion Research Task 3: Mapping the extent of drop out from VET and assessing the influence of drop out on social inclusion Research Task 4: Mapping patterns of school based vocational education and apprenticeship systems and their influence on social inclusion Research Task 5: Mapping the transition from vocational education to work, and assessing how this transition affects social inclusion among different social groups Research Task 6: Mapping the role of vocational education in promoting social cohesion in the countries of the Western Balkans, Turkey and Israel

Methodology 9 national advisory boards have been established 27 local advisory boards have been established 8 focus groups at national level 15 focus groups at local level 82 in depth interviews with key national stakeholders 213 in depth interviews in schools and local communities 755 responses to teacher questionnaires 2,799 responses to student questionnaires 65 Common indicators to be submitted

In depth interviews

Focus groups

Teacher questionnaires

Student questionnaires

Reasons to choose this school (by school)

Reasons to choose this school (by country)

Happiness with school (school average score)

Progress with field work: site visits Members of LSE team have visited all country teams Marina Cino Pagliarello Albania, Croatia, Israel, Kosovo, Turkey Claire Gordon Macedonia, Kosovo Elisa Narminio Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro Will Bartlett Kosovo, Serbia Expertise and enthusiasm of the research teams Good contacts made with schools and policy makers Positive involvement and cooperation of school principals Good awareness of the aims of the project

Aims of the site visits Contributing to quality assurance Participating in field activities: Meeting with the researchers (discuss work in progress Assist with methodological issues; collect feedback and concerns)participating in interviews/advisory board meetings Visits to schools/ informal discussion with principals/teachers/student Acquiring a better awareness about national VET systems and social, economic and cultural specificities

Issues that have emerged Tight time constraints of the project Changes of team personnel in BiH, Kosovo and Turkey Ministries mainly but not always cooperative Availability of statistical data Israeli ministry of education Different perceptions of meaning of terms social inclusion and social cohesion

Issues that have emerged Changes in the questionnaires / adjustment to the local context Additional effort for multiple translations (for example: Israel, Macedonia) Despite these difficulties, most tasks completed in record time!

Thank you for your attention!