Call for Papers: Vol. 3, Issue 2/2026

Call for Papers

Vol. 3, Issue 2/2026

Megatrends and Vocational Education and Training: Challenges and Research Results

The International Journal of Vocational Education Studies is pleased to announce a call for papers for the thematic section of Vol. 3, Issue 2. We invite scholars from all areas of vocational education studies to submit manuscripts that explore how major global developments – commonly referred to as megatrends – are influencing the landscape of VET.

Megatrends are long-term, profound shifts that affect societies globally. They create new challenges and expectations for (vocational) education systems. As such, VET is being asked to adapt and respond across all of its core dimensions – from learning environments, curricula and learning venues to institutional design and governance. Megatrends are more than empirical realities; they carry normative expectations. Technological transformation, for example, is often seen as a challenge best met by training and requalification through (vocational) educational institutions. Similarly, in the context of the green transition, education is expected to act as a key agent of societal change.

The thematic section of this issue seeks to reflect on the shifts in vocational education that arise in response to these global developments. We welcome contributions that examine how megatrends are reshaping vocational education and training. We also invite contributions that address the impact of megatrends on the institutional foundations of VET, including curricula, didactics, legal and statutory frameworks, learning venues, qualification models, and other core structures of VET.

We are particularly interested in papers that address, but are not limited to, the following themes:

• Changing Research Agendas: How are megatrends influencing the prioritization of topics within vocational education studies? Which questions are gaining prominence, and which are being sidelined?
• Theoretical Reflections: How are existing theoretical frameworks in vocational education studies being challenged, revised, or extended in light of societal change?

• Curricula and Occupational Standards: How are new demands – such as green skills, digital competence, or intercultural learning – shaping vocational curricula and occupational profiles?
• Learning Venues and Formats: How are school-based, company-based, and hybrid learning environments evolving in light of technological and societal change?
• Teaching and Didactics: What new pedagogical approaches are emerging in response to sustainability, digital media, or diverse learner populations?
• Institutions and Actors: How are VET institutions – such as vocational schools, companies, and chambers – adapting to new responsibilities and expectations?
• Governance and Policy: How are governance structures and policy frameworks responding to megatrend-related pressures such as internationalization, skills shortages, or labour market disruption?
• Social and Cultural Dimensions: How are megatrends affecting the societal role, perception, and attractiveness of VET in different regional and cultural contexts?
• International Perspectives and Global Comparisons: How are different countries and systems reacting to these developments, and what can be learned from comparative perspectives?

This issue will be published in October 2026, and the deadline for submissions is February 28, 2026. As with all issues of IJVES, longer papers are welcome, though excessively long submissions should be avoided (approximately 40 pages).

In addition to thematic papers, the editors also invite contributions for the general section, the forum, and book reviews related to the broader field of vocational education and training.

If you are interested in submitting a paper to the thematic section, please contact the editorial office at ijves@uos.de with a brief note outlining your research idea so we can plan the upcoming issue accordingly. When submitting your paper, please follow the instructions provided here: https://journals.ub.uni-osnabrueck.de/index.php/ijves/about/submissions

We look forward to your contributions.

Sincerely,

Dietmar Frommberger & Silke Lange