Project

Vocational didactics in Switzerland: Developing scientific know-how

The Leading House ‘Vocational Didactics’ is funded by the Chamber of Universities of Teacher Education, which is part of the Swiss Conference of Rectors of Higher Education Institutions (swissuniversities). This LH is managed by the Swiss Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (SFIVET) and works closely with the universities of teacher education in Lucerne, Zurich and St. Gallen as well as with the University of Zurich.

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The Leading House (LH) ‘Vocational Didactics’ is funded by the Chamber of Universities of Teacher Education, which is part of the Swiss Conference of Higher Education Institutions (swissuniversities). This LH was managed by the Swiss Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (SFIVET) and worked closely with the universities of teacher education in Lucerne, Zurich and St. Gallen as well as with the University of Zurich.

Over the next years, two project phases were planned: during the development phase (1^st year of the project period), a vocational didactics network be structurally anchored under SFIVET’s lead. At the same time, a common scientific base will be established for the purpose of mapping the current state of vocational didactics in Swiss institutions that offer basic and continuing training to VET professionals. The aim will also be to achieve a systematic overview of the current state of national and international research on vocational didactics. The vocational didactics network will be supported on a continuous basis by an advisory group comprised of practitioners and researchers. During the analysis phase (2^nd to 4^th year of the project period), scientific know-how will be developed. Network partners will examine various topics relating to the three research themes ‘International vocational didactics’ (macro level), ‘Training concepts’ (meso level) and ‘Teaching practices’ (Micro level). Depending on the topic in question, SFIVET will was examinated also examine issues such as vocational didactic concepts in the training of vocational school teachers and how this training is perceived by the target groups.

Method

A mixed method approach (see Kuckartz 2012) combining both qualitative and quantitative aspects was used for this research project. Phase 1 mostly consisted of a systematic analysis of the content of education policy documents as well as implementation documents (training plans, etc.) used by VET schools. This analysis was supplemented by interviews with experts. Phase 2 consisted of interviews with vocational school teachers, workplace trainers, branch course instructors and examiners (collectively referred to as VET professionals) and written questionnaires, depending on the topic to be examined in detail. A vignette study was carried out to assess vocational didactics. This included examination and evaluation of specific didactic materials used in the classroom to analyse their level of effectiveness and efficiency in addressing issues encountered in practice.

Publications

Transfer into practice

Presentations

Vocational didactics in Switzerland: Developing scientific know-how

Keller, A., Zirkle, C., & Barabasch, A. (2021). Focal Points of VET Teacher Training: A Comparison of VET Teacher Education in the USA and Switzerland. Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education, 51, 843-861.

Fischer, S., & Barabasch, A. (2020). Gamification. A Novel Didactical Approach for 21st Century Learning. In E. Wuttke, J. Seifried, & H. Niegemann (Eds.), Vocational Education and Training in the Age of Digitization. Challenges and Opportunities (pp. 89-108). Opladen: Barbara Budrich.

Baumeler, C., & Barabasch, A. (2020). Berufs(feld)didaktik in der Schweiz. Heterogene Landschaft. Transfer, Berufsbildung und Praxis (SGAB), 3/2020.

Baumeler, C., & Barabasch, A. (2020). Didactique des domaines professionnels en Suisse. Un paysage hétéroclite. Transfert. Formation professionnelle dans la recherche et la pratique (SRFP), 3/2020.

Keller, A., Zirkle, C., & Barabasch, A. (2020). Focal Points of Vocational Education and Training: A Comparison of VET Teacher Education in the USA and Switzerland. Vocational and Technical EDucation, 16, 62-71.

Barabasch, A., Fischer, S., & Keller, A. (2020). Kreativität und berufliche Handlungskompetenz. ABWF Bulletin, 1, 4-6.

Barabasch, A., & Freidorfer-Kabashi, L. (2022, September). Berufsfelddidaktik in der Schweiz. Ansprache bei der Buchvernissage bei Digicomp, Zürich, Schweiz.

Barabasch, A. (2021, Mai). Berufsfelddidaktik in der Schweiz. Organisation der Online-Tagung. Schweizerische Gesellschaft für angewandte Berufsbildungsforschung SGAB und Eidgenösisches Hochschulinstitut für Berufsbildung EHB. (online)

Liniger, R. (2020). Kreativität kann. Wettbewerbsvorteil verschaffen, Interview mit Prof. Dr. Antje Barabasch. BernPunkt, 25, 4-6.

Barabasch, A. (2019, May). Understanding Creativity as an Occupation Specific Competence. Paper presented at the International VET Conference, Valencia, Spain.

Leumann, S., Fischer, S., Barabasch, A. & Baumeler, C. (2019, April). Conceptualizations of Didactics in VET – Specific Characteristics and Differences. Paper presented at the 4th conference of didactics, Haute école pédagogique (HEP) Vaud, Lausanne, Switzerland.

Barabasch, A., Leumann, S. & Keller, A. (2018, September). VET Teacher Education - Understanding Occupational Didactics. Paper presented at the European Conference on Educational Research (ECER), Bolzano, Italy.

Barabasch, A. (2018, April). Creativity in VET. Didactical demands and challenges. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Conference, New York, United States of America.

Barabasch, A. & Sappa, V. (2018, January). Researching innovative approaches to VET education. Paper presented at the International Exploratory Workshop on Creativity Development in Vocational Education and Training (VET), SFIVET, Zollikofen, Switzerland.

Barabasch, A. (2017, December). Inspiring and enabling innovation in VET. Paper presented at the Work and Learning Conferences, Grahamstown, South Africa.

Barabasch, A. (2017, October). Innovative teaching and learning in VET. Paper presented at the INAP Conference, Washington DC, United States of America.

Barabasch, A. (2017, July). The bathtub bus - didactic considerations for developing creativity in VET. Paper presented at the JVET conference, Oxford, United Kingdom.

Barabasch, A. (2017, June). The bathtub bus - didactic considerations for developing creativity in VET. Paper presented at the ICIE conference, Lisbon, Portugal.