How to futureproof vocational education according to young people
Everyone is talking about how we can create better vocational education programs. But what do the young students themselves think? A new study from think tank Mandag Morgen highlights the student’s own ideas to futureproof vocational training.
They are in high demand. They have skills and brainpower to boot. And they want to be seen as adults—not children. This is the archetype of the generation of young people attending vocational schools in the Nordic countries, but there’s just one problem: there are too few of them.
“We know that we will face a shortage of up to 100,000 skilled workers in Denmark alone by 2030, and we’re seeing the same pattern across the rest of the Nordic countries. But we have yet to find the right formula to make vocational education more attractive,” says Jonas Keiding Lindholm, Impact Director at the think tank Mandag Morgen.
But now, help is on the way from the young people themselves. In a new report, the think tank Mandag Morgen, University College Copenhagen, and the Danish National Center for Vocational Pedagogy (NCE) have asked over 100 young vocational students in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Iceland for their insights to make skilled trades, such as electricians, carpenters, and hairdressers, more attractive to young people.
“For me, the most important thing is ensuring a good social environment at the schools, so that it’s not just academically stimulating, but also socially rewarding,” says Julie Madsen, a member of the project’s youth panel, a welding student, and chair of the Vocational School Student Organisation in Denmark (EEO).
“I think it has been great to contribute to this study, because it’s important for adults to hear from those with first-hand experience of going to a vocational school. That’s why I think it’s been great to get the chance to advocate to adults on behalf young people.”
Five ways to futureproof vocational education
- Promote vocational education: Young people feel their education is looked down upon compared to academic degrees, and this needs to change to attract more students.
- Create community: A greater focus on social activities can enhance school satisfaction and retention—e.g., through prom events and theme days.
- Emphasise hands-on learning: Academic subjects like math and languages take up a lot of time in the foundational courses, but students are asking for more hands-on learning.
- Treat students as adults: Students want a learning environment where they are taken seriously as young adults, and not seen as children.
- Invest in better equipment: To enable students to reach their full potential, schools need up-to-date and well-functioning equipment, which is lacking in many places.
These recommendations are based on input from over 100 young vocational students across the Nordic countries. Their opinions and ideas were collected in a series of ‘youth relays’ and later distilled into the above recommendations by a Nordic youth sounding board consisting of 10 students from across the Nordic region.
“Young vocational students are crucial for our future success, for example, in the vital green transition of society. It’s positive that vocational schools in Denmark are receiving more funding, but our study also shows that significantly more is needed than just more funds if we are to create attractive vocational programs in the Nordic countries,” says Jonas Keiding Lindholm.
Facts about vocational education in the Nordics
- By 2030, Denmark alone will face a shortage of nearly 100,000 skilled workers unless more young choose vocational education.
- While 89% of students in upper secondary education in Denmark are expected to graduate, while only 59% of vocational students are expected to complete their studies.
- In the EU, students enrolled in vocational education make up 49% of all students in higher education. But this proportion is lower in the Nordics, with just 35% of students enrolled in vocational education in Sweden.
Sources: Arbejdernes Erhvervsråd, Børne- og Undervisningsministeriet, European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training
