Papers by Christopher Winch
Oxford Review of Education, Jun 1, 2003
Technical and vocational education and training, Oct 12, 2012
Potential difficulties confront the implementation of the European Qualification Framework (EQF) ... more Potential difficulties confront the implementation of the European Qualification Framework (EQF) at both sectoral and occupational levels, as evident, for example, within the construction sector in terms of the recognition of bricklaying qualifications. The success of the EQF may depend on the development of cross-national, cross-sectoral and cross-occupational zones of mutual trust (ZMTs), establishing arrangements for recognising equivalences in terms of mutual knowledge and methods of working. This chapter focuses in particular on disparities between the English and continental bricklaying qualifications in order to identify some of the difficulties with which implementation of the EQF will be confronted. In England, the coexistence of two systems can be discerned: a traditional trade-based and an occupational one struggling to emerge and develop. This chapter discusses the implications of these differences in the level, scope and nature of bricklaying qualifications in Europe for the EQF.
Springer eBooks, Dec 18, 2009
... As a result, many drop out and many more are unable to enter their chosen labour market field ... more ... As a result, many drop out and many more are unable to enter their chosen labour market field ... making the VET route an attractive option for all students and is also crucial in the context of raising the leaving ... Identities, inequalities and inner city school leavers' Post-16 Aspirations ...
Journal of vocational education & training, Dec 18, 2020
The article assesses the role comparative research plays from the 1980s in understanding vocation... more The article assesses the role comparative research plays from the 1980s in understanding vocational education and training (VET) systems in Europe, driven by political, economic, social and labour market changes. This research has been transformed, moving from national comparisons of VET systems, grounded in institutional theory and engaging with convergence versus divergence debates or human capital theory, to the varieties of capitalism approach considering groups of countries as representative of particular capitalist economies, to transcending national boundaries and emphasising capitalist diversity, governance and labour agency. Drawing on examples of research in which the authors and others have been involved, particularly on the construction industry, the article traces this development and shows how, despite governance weaknesses, comparative research has been enriched by the addition of a European Union level through the introduction of tools, such as the European Qualifications Framework. Four dimensions are proposedlabour market, governance, education and competence-capable of identifying VET 'families' and intra-national variations and capturing the dynamics of VET systems. Through a multidimensional and multi-level framework, comparative VET research can provide a deeper understanding of how and why VET systems respond to the challenges of technological, economic and environmental change.
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development eBooks, 2016
Journal of European Industrial Training, Sep 25, 2009
Purpose-Though the notion of competence is common terminology in European VET policy at national ... more Purpose-Though the notion of competence is common terminology in European VET policy at national and supra-national level, understandings vary widely, both across countries and within. The particular conceptions of competence adopted in the EQF are themselves problematic and the framework allows for a variety of interpretations. The purpose of this paper is to clarify those applied in the EQF and the vocational education and qualifications systems of particular European countries and to contribute to the development of a transnational understanding of the term, one which is compatible with a rapidly changing labour market. Design/methodology/approach-Drawing on evidence from work funded by the Nuffield Foundation entitled "Cross-national Equivalence of Vocational Skills and Qualifications", the paper explores the various conceptions of competence in the EQF and the national systems-in particular in the sectors of construction, ICT and health-of England, Germany, France and The Netherlands. Findings-Interpretations are located on a continuum from the comprehensive occupational model traditionally found in many European countries to the task-focused model of the English NVQ system. Research limitations/implications-Much developmental work involving all stakeholders is necessary to arrive at a commonly agreed conception. A broad understanding of competence would relate to the potential of labour, itself determined through the occupational capacity embodied in the qualification. Practical implications-Zones of Mutual Trust need to be based on transnational categories of VET. Originality/value-The value of the paper is in seeking to go beyond identifying differences by developing transnational categories and suggesting the nature of Zones of Mutual Trust for implementing the EQF.
Research in Comparative and International Education, Nov 6, 2015
This paper considers how far Anglo-Saxon conceptions of vocational education and training (VET) h... more This paper considers how far Anglo-Saxon conceptions of vocational education and training (VET) have influenced European Union (EU) VET policy, especially given the disparate approaches to VET across Europe. Two dominant approaches can be identified: the dual system (exemplified by Germany); and output based models (exemplified by the NVQ 'English style'). Within the EU itself, the design philosophy of the English output-based model proved in the first instance influential in attempts to develop tools to establish equivalence between vocational qualifications across Europe, resulting in the learning outcomes approach of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), the credit-based model of ECVET (European VET Credit System) and the task-based construction of occupation profiles exemplified by ESCO (European Skills, Competences and Occupations). The governance model for the English system is, however, predicated on employer demand for 'skills' and this does not fit well with the social partnership model encompassing knowledge, skills and competences that is dominant in northern Europe. These contrasting approaches have led to continual modifications to the tools, as these sought to harmonise and reconcile national VET requirements with the original design. A tension is evident in particular between national and regional approaches to VET, on the one hand, and the policy tools adopted to align European VET better with the demands of the labour market, including at sectoral level, on the other. This paper explores these tensions and considers the prospects for the successful operation of these tools, paying particular attention to the EQF, ECVET and ESCO and the relationships between them and drawing on studies of the construction and furniture industries.
Work, Employment & Society, Oct 16, 2013
This article shows why qualifications built on occupational capacity rather than on trade-based s... more This article shows why qualifications built on occupational capacity rather than on trade-based skills have more potential to accommodate the aims of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and changes in the labour process, going together with the development of occupational labour markets. The article challenges the distinct Anglo-Saxon notion of ‘skill’ attached to a trade-based system of vocational education and training (VET), where qualifications have weak labour market currency. This distinctiveness has implications for EQF implementation, built on common understanding of knowledge, skills and competences and intended to establish equivalence between different occupational qualifications. The article focuses on the example of bricklaying in England and Germany, an occupation archetypal of construction and skilled manual work. Clear differences are identified between bricklaying founded on developing occupational capacity through negotiation and regulation by stakeholders, recognized through qualifications, and bricklaying as a demarcated trade, defined by output and with ‘skills’ distinct from other trades.
Reihe Pädagogik (Pfaffenweiler), 2007
The development of a European Framework for the classification of vocational qualifications (ECVE... more The development of a European Framework for the classification of vocational qualifications (ECVET), recently endorsed by the EU, inevitably begs consideration of differences between the VET (vocational education and training systems) in different European countries. It is not just paper certificates that will be compared, but the underlying systems of vocational education and their conceptual and epistemic bases. Where these are very different, meaningful comparison will also be difficult; when the differences are ignored in favour of uniformity, there is a serious risk that valuable features of national VET systems will be put at risk. Germany is only now becoming aware of the possible dangers that may lie in the adoption of UK presuppositions within a European qualification comparison system (Rauner 2005).
Journal of Education and Work, Jul 1, 2006
With the proposed introduction of a common framework for comparing qualifications within the Euro... more With the proposed introduction of a common framework for comparing qualifications within the European Union (EU), as a result of the Lisbon agreement of 2000, the question of commonlyagreed transnational concepts of skills and qualifications is has become a pressing political and practical issue. The paper argues that there are grounds for doubting that there is a ready translation of the English terms 'skill' and 'qualification' in a way that avoids problems of comparing and calibrating German and English vocational qualifications. Reasons for this difficulty are explored, the most important of which relate to: a) the conceptual structure of skill and its cognates in the two languages; b) the differing socio-political role of qualifications; c) different industrial structures and labour processes; d) differences in institutions regulating vocational education and training (VET). These problems are discussed in relation to examples of similar industries and occupations and apparently similar levels of qualification in England and Germany.
Peter Lang eBooks, Jun 1, 2011
Routledge eBooks, Oct 12, 2007
Construction Management and Economics, Oct 31, 2016
The construction industry is responsible for 40% of European Union (EU) end-use emissions but add... more The construction industry is responsible for 40% of European Union (EU) end-use emissions but addressing this is problematic, as evident from the performance gap between design intention and on-site energy performance. There is a lack of the expertise needed for low energy construction (LEC) in the UK as the complex work processes involved require 'energy literacy' of all construction occupations, high qualification levels, broad occupational profiles, integrated teamworking, and good communication. This research identifies the obstacles to meeting these requirements, the nature of the expertise needed to break down occupational divisions and bridge those interfaces where the main heat losses occur, and the transition pathway implied. Obstacles include a decline in the level, breadth and quality of construction vocational education and training (VET), the lack of a learning infrastructure on sites, and a fragmented employment structure. To overcome these and develop enhanced understanding of LEC requires a transformation of the existing structure of VET provision and construction employment and a new curriculum based on a broader concept of agency and backed by rigorous enforcement of standards. This can be achieved through a radical transition pathway rather than market-based solutions to a low carbon future for the construction sector.
Abstract: For the free movement of labour across the European Union, establishing transparency an... more Abstract: For the free movement of labour across the European Union, establishing transparency and comparability of qualifications across member states is vital. This book examines how qualifications, knowledge, skills and competences are understood in ...
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Papers by Christopher Winch