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Innovation and Vocational Education

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  • Phillip Toner

Abstract

This article reviews the arguments and evidence on the role and contribution of the vocationally trained workforce and vocational training system in technical innovation. The primary focus in terms of the vocational workforce is on skilled production workers and, in particular, tradespersons and technicians. These occupations and the vocational training system are found to have a unique role and make a significant contribution to innovation in both production and Research and Development (R&D). The primary role of the VET system in innovation is technology diffusion. However, there are a number of impediments to achieving this role. These are sustained budget cuts and exclusion of the VET system from national innovation policy, programmes and advisory structures. The latter is attributed largely to the failure of the innovation studies discipline, which has strongly influenced government policy in this field, to study in detail the role of VET occupations and training system in the innovation process. This conclusion is paradoxical as the discipline's own analysis of innovation makes a compelling case that these occupations and training system should be central agents in this process.

Suggested Citation

  • Phillip Toner, 2010. "Innovation and Vocational Education," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 21(2), pages 75-98, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecolab:v:21:y:2010:i:2:p:75-98
    DOI: 10.1177/103530461002100206
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Culpepper, Pepper D, 1999. "The Future of the High-Skill Equilibrium in Germany," Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Oxford University Press and Oxford Review of Economic Policy Limited, vol. 15(1), pages 43-59, Spring.
    2. Brown, Phillip & Green, Andy & Lauder, Hugh, 2001. "High Skills: Globalization, Competitiveness, and Skill Formation," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199244201.
    3. Carl J. Dahlman & Richard Nelson, 1995. "Social Absorption Capability, National Innovation Systems and Economic Development," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Bon Ho Koo & Dwight H. Perkins (ed.), Social Capability and Long-Term Economic Growth, chapter 5, pages 82-122, Palgrave Macmillan.
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    1. Min Zhang & Jingjing Zeng, 2025. "Which governance structures are conducive to the performance of TTOs? Evidence from Taiwan," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 50(1), pages 271-303, February.
    2. Eike Matthies & Katarzyna Haverkamp & Jörg Thomä & Kilian Bizer, 2024. "Does Initial Vocational Training Foster Innovativeness at the Company Level? Evidence from German Establishment Data," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(4), pages 17048-17076, December.

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