Learning from vocational education and training in the Nordic countries

The challenges for initial vocational education, VET, have been growing. Policy makers and stakeholders have assigned VET an increasing number of diverse and even contradictory obligations and responsibilities. The aim of this chapter is to examine how some of the key challenges and policies are interrelated, and how four Nordic VET-systems have coped with the contradictory requirements and policy aims. In addition, the chapter explores what consequences the different ways of managing these challenges have on social equality, inclusion and the esteem of vocational education. By comparing strengths and weaknesses of the four VET-systems in relation to specific challenges and dilemmas, the aim is to encourage transnational policy learning in the field of vocational education and training.