Research group Vocational Education
The Research group Vocational Education studies learning processes for and in vocational practice and the affordances and interactions that enhance this learning the processes of learning, training and professionalisation for the purpose of acquiring what is needed to practice a particular profession. The scope of our research includes all arrangements of vocational education both prior to and during one's professional career.
Lines of research within the research group
The central research question of the research group is: How does vocational education help professionals to deal with the complexity and dynamics of practice and to give direction to their actions and their development?
This research question is examined through three lines of research.
PhD research: Opening the 'black box' of learning for a vocation
ProjectHow do students in secondary vocational education learn all the important aspects of a profession and how do teachers stimulate this learning?
Students' workplacement supervision - have a conversation
ProjectWe develop a conversation tool for meetings with students and workplace educators that opens doors for the professionalisation of VE teachers and improve the meetings.
Proeftuin Appropriate Teaching
ProjectIn this research workshop, which we call Proeftuin, we focus on researching and improving the pedagogical actions of MBO teachers in order to strengthen the connection to the learning and/or educational needs of students. To this end, we work together in professional learning communities (PLC).
Publications
- Academic capital formation upon the transition to higher education First-year students’ experiences after participation in a preacademic program
- Nuances and details in student approaches to learning in innovative secondary education using profiles
- Pedagogic practices in healthcare placements Unravelling the dynamics of facilitating workplace learning
Education
We actively develop and share knowledge with senior secondary vocational education (MBO) and higher professional education (HBO) institutions. Current practical issues and topics thus determine the research agenda of our research group and we seek the connection between education, professional practice and research. Together with Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, we provide the master’s programme in Professional Vocational Education.
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Collaboration
We work together with various partners, including lecturers, trainers, education managers, researchers, project leaders and policy makers from both MBO and HBO institutions and other knowledge partners. We also maintain an intensive collaboration with the Expertisecentrum docent HBO (Centre of Expertise for Teachers in Higher Professional Education).
