Vocational education and training

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explains how developing and indus-trialised countries are using distance-education methods and information technologies to provide Vocational education and training (VET) for young people and adults. It describes policy choices and their outcomes, a review of contemporary aspirations and experience from which readers may draw conclusions to guide their own policy making and practice. The book examines the nexus between VET and distance education at several levels of policy and practice: from trans-national programmes to national policy, and on to institutional and programme models that use distance-education methods and technologies to support VET. It is concerned with policies and programmes sponsored by the public purse - national governments and/or international agencies. The book discusses VET broadly, but realistically, and many of the examples are drawn from university programmes.