Vocational Studies, Lifelong Learning and Social Values: Investigating Education, Training and Nvqs Under the New Deal (Monitoring Change in Education)

This book subjects New Labour policy on lifelong learning - particularly developments surrounding the University for Industry and the New Deal - to critical scrutiny and offers a number of recommendations designed to upgrade vocational education and training (VET). If we are to create a high status and quality VET system to match our European competitors, we need, Dr. Hyland argues, to move towards a unified curriculum in the post-school sector. More significantly it is argued that all vocational learning needs to be underpinned by a common core of knowledge and understanding and, crucially, to be grounded in a values foundation which emphasises social justice and community interests rather than simplistic economistic objectives and employability skills. Dr. Hyland's challenging account - stressing that the moral dimension of VET is central and not an optional extra - provides one of the first comprehensive critiques of New Labour post-school policy and will be of interest to those committed to high quality vocational studies on all sides of education and industry as well as to lecturers, trainers and students working in post-compulsory education and training.