Guest Editors:

Junmin Li, TU Dortmund University; Germany
Johannes K. Schmees, University of Derby, United Kingdom
Ann-Marie Bathmaker, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom

Cooperative universities in Germany, higher and degree apprenticeships in the United Kingdom, Associate Degrees in the Netherlands and vocational universities in China. These developments manifest a significant trend of academisation, tertiarisation and hybridisation of vocational education and, in consequence, reshape traditional boundaries between vocational and higher education.

This proposed special issue will offer a comprehensive critical examination of the evolving landscape of academisation, tertiarisation and hybridisation of vocational education. Building on Criblez (2010), we define the tertiarisation of vocational education as a process whereby vocational qualifications are developed at tertiary level without acquiring academic status. Tertiarisation aims to elevate the status of vocational education, enhance the attractiveness of vocational pathways, and increase the social and economic benefits associated with them (Deißinger & Ott, 2016). Click below to read the full call.

Deadline for 500 word abstracts - 29 May 2026

JVET CONFERENCE 2027

Following the success of our last conference the team is busy planning the next Conference due to take place on 15 - 17 July 2027, in Oxford.

Please hold the date - we will provide more details later this Spring!

ECR dates to be announced for 2026

Watch this space for two events - one online and one in person as our ECR team looks to provide support and networking opportunities to our ECR community.

PhD abstracts

Consider submitting a brief abstract by 31 July 2026 - we will be featuring a short compilation of inspiring abstracts in our final issue of 2026. Please see here for how to submit yours.