Embracing Diversity in Vocational Education and Training (VET)

Vocational Education and Training (VET) in the Nordic countries is shaped by strong welfare traditions, close relationships between education and working life, and longstanding ambitions of equality, inclusion and high‑quality education for all. Nevertheless, Nordic VET systems display substantial variation and complexity, influenced by social, demographic, pedagogical and structural differences across countries, regions, institutions and vocational fields. The 2027 NORDYRK conference Embracing Diversity in VET invites researchers, practitioners and policymakers to explore how such diversity shapes the conditions, opportunities and challenges of VET.

VET is positioned at the intersection of key societal and global challenges, including skills supply, equality, integration, technological transformation with AI and the development of a sustainable working life. At the same time, VET is characterised by increasing diversity among learners, learning environments, labour markets and educational systems. 

Learners, Participation and Inclusion in VET

The conference welcomes contributions that address diversity and variation in teaching, learning and professional practice within VET. This includes research on learners’ participation and inclusion. This theme addresses variation in VET related to learners’ social, demographic and cultural backgrounds. Contributions may explore issues of democracy, gender and equality, migration and multilingualism, accessibility, learner engagement and transitions from education to working life.

Teaching, Teachers and Pedagogy in VET

The conference theme also draws attention to variation in teaching, pedagogy and professional practice within VET. It includes research on VET didactics, the vocational teaching profession, teacher competence needs, recruitment and professional development, as well as VET teacher education. Contributions may address pedagogical diversity, professional identities and teacher agency, highlighting how Nordic contexts shape teaching practices in times of change. 

Systems, Labour Markets and Transformations

We also invite papers that focus on organisational, policy and system‑level conditions shaping VET. Relevant topics include governance and policy analyses, labour market relations, workplace learning, regional and organisational variation, and the digital transformation of VET. Particular interest is given to how Nordic VET systems respond to societal, technological and economic change, and how these transformations affect education, work and professional learning. 

The conference aims to foster critical dialogue on how diversity and variation are produced, managed, embraced and experienced within VET, and how they influence participation, teaching, learning, professional practice and transitions to work. Contributions from different perspectives and practice‑oriented and collaborative research are particularly encouraged. The NORDYRK Steering Committee and conference organisers warmly welcome active participation and exchange of ideas at the 2027 conference.