A laminated, emergentist view of skills ecosystems

ABSTRACT

In this paper we present a model of vocational education and training (VET) that can be used to guide decisions relating to VET in Africa today. This model takes the critique of the neoclassical, neoliberal model of VET as its starting point. Guided by Bhaskar's Critical Naturalism, we use immanent critique to consider the adequacy of proposed alternatives to the neoclassical approach, such as: the heterodox approach, which foregrounds explanations based on human capital and political economy; and Hodgson and Spours' social ecosystem model, which addresses some of the limitations of the heterodox account by including, social and ecosystem elements. Finally, we offer a version of the social ecosystem model that, according to our analysis, explains more of the empirical evidence than previous models. Our version of the social ecosystem model differs from earlier versions in terms of its explicit reference to the critical realist ideas of position- practices and emergence.

KEYWORDS:

• Vocational education
• laminated systems
• skills ecosystems

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Presha Ramsarup

Presha Ramsarup research focusses on change orientated learning pathways and sustainable development. She has worked as a researcher involved in the production of South Africa’s first Environmental Sector Skills Plan and was the National Coordinator of the National Green Skills Project, in which her research focused on the system’s readiness for green skills. Her current research focus is on occupations, just transitions and sustainability transitions

Heila Lotz-Sisitka

Heila Lotz-Sisitka holds the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) Chair in Global Change and Social Learning Systems. Based in the Environmental Learning Research Centre at Rhodes University (South Africa), Lotz-Sisitka is a Professor in Education. Her research over 25 years has focussed broadly on education system development and transformative social learning for green, more socially just and sustainable economies and societies at local, regional, and international levels. Simon McGrath is Professor of Education at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, and Visiting Professor at Nelson Mandela University, South Africa.

Simon McGrath

Simon McGrath holds the established Chair in Education at the University of Glasgow. Before moving to this role in 2022, he was UNESCO Chair in International Education and Development at the University of Nottingham. He is also visiting professor at Nelson Mandela University, South Africa. He works on a range of aspects of the education-development relationship, particularly on vocational learning and diverse forms of work, and on integral human development. Most of his work has been in Africa though he has done some work in Europe, Asia and the Pacific. He has been a government scientific advisor in both UK and South Africa, and has done extensive international policy work, most especially for UNESCO, the Commonwealth and SADC.