International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences: Second Edition

Qualification on the one hand and integration and enculturation on the other hand are among the most important functions of schools for the society as well as for the individuals. School learning thus should teach students facts and skills that are necessary for later life. However, evidence exists …

This article describes factors influencing investments in skills training as well as related outcomes in terms of participation rates and benefits on an individual and societal level. Market mechanisms largely drive human capital investments. According to this logic, workers and employers conduct a …

The relationships between education and employment are determined not only by the function of education to prepare learning for subsequent work tasks and other life spheres, but also by the fact that education selects: in an educational meritocracy, the monetary resources and the social recognitions…

In a period of historically high youth unemployment the availability and quality of vocational education takes on particular importance. It is seen by policy-makers and researchers as essential for supporting transitions from education to work, but concepts and purposes of vocational education vary.…

Two aspects in which school prepares students for their transition to work-life are addressed. First, schools are supposed to foster their students' occupational exploration and help them in deciding and planning concerning their future vocational training (or other educational careers after graduat…

The objective of this article is twofold: first, it reviews the theoretical justifications for the existence of vocational education and training (VET); and second, it summarizes the empirical evidence. After discussing the major empirical identification problems, this article presents international…