Articles

Adapting the Future VET Curriculum in Response to Emerging Challenges: A Model for Evaluating the Impact of AI Integration in VET for Armed Conflicts and Warfare

/in /by

This article examines the profound implications and the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on vocational education and training (VET) within military contexts, underscoring the imperative for curriculum reform to address the evolving demands of contemporary warfare. As AI technologies progress, they present both significant opportunities and challenges, reshaping defense strategies and operational frameworks, fundamentally altering defense strategies and operational paradigms. The integration of AI into military applications necessitates a workforce proficient in specialized competencies, including technical expertise in AI ethics, system design, and human-centered methodologies. This paper delineates the essential competencies required for future VET professionals, emphasizing the necessity for ongoing upskilling and reskilling to effectively navigate the ethical and legal complexities associated with AI in military operations. By incorporating and embedding AI education into VET curricula, stakeholders can cultivate a new generation of defense professionals equipped to utilize AI technologies in a responsible and effective manner, ensuring adherence to and compliance with international humanitarian standards while enhancing operational efficacy. The findings highlight the critical role of VET in developing a skilled workforce prepared to confront the dynamic landscape of military technologies driven by AI.

Rediscovery and Restoring Forgotten Principles: Returning to the Past to Transform and Shape VET for the Future. Back to the Basics in VET

/in /by

The article explores the historical foundations and contemporary practices of Vocational Education and Training (VET), uncovering a cyclical relationship between past and present methodologies. It begins by analysing the traditional apprenticeship systems of medieval Europe and their counterparts in Asian contexts, demonstrating how these early models laid the groundwork for modern vocational education. The article then traces the historical origin of VET in response to shifting economic conditions and technological advancements, identifying key contemporary practices—such as competency-based education, work-based learning, and experiential learning—as rebranded versions of historical approaches. The analysis emphasizes that many of these so-called “innovations” are not entirely new but are instead adaptations of time-tested methods that have been revitalized to address current educational demands. This historical perspective underscores the importance of integrating traditional practices to enhance the effectiveness and relevance of modern VET systems. The discussion stresses the importance of learning from historical experiences to inform future developments in vocational education, suggesting that a deep understanding of VET’s historical context can provide valuable insights for educators and policymakers alike. The article also addresses the potential pitfalls of renaming and rebranding educational approaches, which can lead to misleading perceptions and adverse effects, hindering educators and policymakers from recognizing foundational principles that remain pertinent today. Additionally, the uncritical dismissal and rejection of past educational principles signifies a denial of the cultural and educational traditions that informed their development and shaped them. Acknowledging and recognizing these historical influences can enrich contemporary educational frameworks and promote a more nuanced understanding of the current educational landscape.

Synergetic Approach Model for Improving Vocational Education: Characteristics, Guidelines and Applications

/in /by

The main purpose of vocational education is to prepare students for their future professional development, including the acquisition of skills and competencies necessary for the labor market. The research aims to present a model that gains effectiveness of applying a synergetic approach for improving vocational education. The synergetic approach could be an innovative pedagogical concept in VET that creates an open educational environment utilizing the application of different approaches and teaching methods. Basically the model proposed combines the change in curricula, the use of learning resources for practical teaching and the change in the way of assessment as kernel guideines for achieving better student outcomes. The ensuing benefits of applying a synergetic approach in VET are related to the possibility that vocational education is required to meet the needs of the contemporary labor market, as well as it answers to the expectations of society to prepare young people for their successful employment in industry. Other benefits are related to the possibility of restructuring the learning content, using various teaching methods, formative assessment, acquisition of permanent knowledge, as well as acquisition of skills for critical evaluation of information and self-evaluation of the achieved results to increase motivation. In synergetic learning, the content of the learning materials differs significantly from those traditionally used in vocational training, and the teacher has the opportunity to adapt the learning content to the needs of the specific student.

Evaluation of Vocational Training during the COVID-19 Pandemic Period in Indonesia

/in /by

Research based on the conditions of the COVID -19 pandemic and government policies in reducing unemployment through vocational training. However, the vocational training program at the Ministry of Manpower during the COVID -19 pandemic period in 2021 did not have a significant impact. This study aims to evaluate the ministry of workforce’s vocational training program during the COVID -19 pandemic in 2021. The research was conducted through a qualitative approach using the CIPP guidance theory. Data collection methods using observation and unstructured and semi-structured interviews, documents, and literature studies. The research uses data analysis techniques with three stages, in the form of data condensation, data presentation, and conclusion and verification. The results of the study concluded that the vocational training program at the Ministry of Manpower had not been successful in terms of input, process, and product aspects. From the input aspect, the vocational training program’s resources are insufficient. From the process aspect, there are still constraints on the realization of the training, supervision, and instructor skills. Meanwhile, from the product aspect, it cannot be ensured that the participants will be placed after training.