Vocational Teachers as Facilitators in the School-to-Work Transition (School4Work)

The project will develop knowledge about the role of schools and teachers in preparing students for the transition to apprenticeship.

About the project

The transition from the school-based part of VET to apprenticeship is one of the biggest challenges in the education system in Norway. Every year, between 7000 and 9000 young people are left without an apprenticeship after the first two years of VET in school. Young people who do not obtain an apprenticeship may leave education and training early, putting them at risk of remaining not in education, employment or training (NEET).

School4Work aims to develop knowledge that will enable vocational teachers to facilitate studentsʼ transition from the school-based part of VET to apprenticeship. The project will develop measures and strategies that can be implemented in vocational teacher practice to support young people in their transition from school to work. 

School4Work is an interdisciplinary project, drawing on the fields of education, sociology and political science. We will develop knowledge about the role of schools and teachers in preparing students for the transition to apprenticeship. Furthermore, we will study employersʼ decisions when hiring apprentices and the role played by training agencies.

Methodically, we will combine complementary approaches, including 1) a scoping review, 2) focus group and individual interviews, 3) vignettes, 4) a survey and 5) analysis of register data. The project is based on theories on employersʼ decision-making processes when hiring new staff and theories on the role of teachers as ʻboundary workersʼ at the boundary of school and work. 

The project is developed and will be conducted in collaboration with the regional educational authorities in Oslo and Akershus (school owners). Together with our project partners, we will organise workshops to discuss the project findings with vocational teachers, school leaders and staff in training agencies. Furthermore, the findings and their possible implications will be summarised in a textbook for vocational teacher education. 

School4Work includes a PhD and a postdoctoral fellowship.