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Gunnar Olofsson. Photo.

Gunnar Olofsson

Professor emeritus

Gunnar Olofsson. Photo.

Tensions between academic and vocational demands

Author

  • Ola Agevall
  • Gunnar Olofsson

Editor

  • Molly Sutphen Jens-Christian Smeby

Summary, in English

One of the most important routes to employment within the social welfare sector worldwide is higher education, which equips students not only with the knowledge for employment, but with the tools to use and build on this knowledge. During the last few decades there has been an academic drift in professional education, especially for many shorter professional programmes. Many of these shorter programmes have left the realm of vocational education to enter higher education. On the one hand, graduates are confronted by an increased demand for research and evidence-based knowledge, and on the other, they are criticised for lacking the knowledge and skills relevant for professional work. From Vocational to Professional Education presents new research into programmes suggesting how best to prepare students for professional work and addresses the challenges facing the education of professionals for social welfare. The book identifies and clarifies key problems, as well as outlining the political and historical context in which they are embedded. Chapters discuss theoretical and analytical ways to address these challenges and suggest recommendations for the further development of education for professional practice. Based on comprehensive longitudinal research data, the book will appeal to policy makers, leaders of higher education, and teachers and researchers involved in programmes qualifying students for professional work.

Publishing year

2014

Language

English

Pages

26-49

Publication/Series

From Vocational to Professional Education: Educating for Social Welfare

Document type

Book chapter

Publisher

Routledge

Topic

  • Sociology (excluding Social Work, Social Psychology and Social Anthropology)

Keywords

  • Sociology
  • Sociologi

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISBN: 978-1-138-79744-4