Universities are critical to the success of a growth-driving industrial strategy, and to the sector plans, which must capitalise on the higher education sector's contributions: (1) developing a high-skilled workforce for the nation; (2) collaborating with businesses, further education colleges and Mayoral Strategic Authorities to bring coherence…

The report "State Approaches to Short-Term Postsecondary Credentials: Challenges, Opportunities, and Policy Gaps" explores how state policymakers engage with short-term postsecondary credentials, highlighting key policy levers such as state authorization, consumer protections, financial aid, and quality standards. It examines the…

As the economy struggles to recover from the pandemic and the ensuing volatility and labor shortages, leaders in the field of young adult talent development are seeing a need to develop approaches that equally address both the talent needs of employers and the education and training aspirations of young adults. This brief explores how personalized…

One of the keys to understanding the process of industrialisation and modernisation in Spain is to know the relationship between vocational education and training (VET) and the curricular changes. Since the mid-nineteenth century, the Basque Country has undergone a singular process in the development of VET such that it has become a model of…

Understanding the developmental and contextual nature of social and emotional competencies has always been a key concern of the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), including the ways students and adults use core social and emotional competencies in preparation for and within their work-life. The current labor market…

This paper reports on a three-year initiative to enhance the undergraduate Extension Education minor at a state land-grant university. Specific initiatives to improve the undergraduate Extension Education minor curriculum involved (a) revising the Extension Education minor due to varied curriculum and faculty changes and (b) aligning eight…

The professional formation of new graduates and their ability to perform well at the start of their career depends on the development of both technical skills and professional competencies. Whilst the latter aspects have become increasingly considered within engineering programs, they are often learnt within an academic context rather than a…

Globally there is recognition that doctoral programmes need to offer the opportunity for career pathways beyond academia, as PhD graduates are entering a range of careers. Consequently, some doctoral programmes now provide opportunities to develop a broader skill set. However, most PhD programmes in the United Kingdom and Australasia still…

Asia is known as an economic success story but for many people growth has not been inclusive. The increased mechanization of work and other trends are likely to deepen existing social inequalities. Skills can help address these challenges, but a new and broader perspective is needed in skills development policy. This article argues that while…

Providers, industry, and governments have embraced microcredentialing as a solution to the volatility and velocity of changes in labour markets, workplace competencies, and the needs of the 21st century lifelong learner (Oliver, 2019). However, microcredentials do not, in and of themselves, guarantee career or employment success. Seeking a…

The multitude of tasks performed in the labor market requires skills in many dimensions. Traditionally, human capital has been proxied primarily by educational attainment. However, an expanding body of literature highlights the importance of various skill dimensions for success in the labor market. This paper examines the returns to cognitive,…

Purpose: This article explores the relationship between governmental policy and the development of higher vocational education in China. Design/Approach/Methods: The article begins with a textual analysis of dozens of policy documents on higher vocational education issued by the Chinese government since 1999. Findings: The article argues that the…

Preparing students to navigate a life in music involves understanding how they develop awareness of their personal and professional identities, build networks, and reflect on practice in order to sustain and develop work which is meaningful. In a complex, uncertain and rapidly changing world, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic, we…

In this account, I engage how Midlands State University through its Film and Theatre Arts Studies programme responded and continues to respond to the neoliberalisation of higher and tertiary education in Zimbabwe. I argue that while the splicing of Film and Theatre Arts into a single programme was beneficial to the institution, the packaging of…

Effective career guidance systems provide students with the opportunity to gain first hand experiences of what it is like to be in work. Students in general secondary education in many countries are encouraged and enabled by their schools to participate in short duration internships (also known in some countries as work experience placements).…