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Fully integrating upper-secondary vocational and academic courses: A flexible new way?

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  • Polidano, Cain
  • Tabasso, Domenico

Abstract

The tracking of students in upper-secondary school is often criticised for narrowing the post-secondary pathways of student in the vocational education and training (VET) track, which can stigmatise VET. To tackle this problem, countries have introduced courses that integrate aspects of VET and academic study, which provide the dual purpose of preparing students for work and vocational study and providing university pathways for more academic students in the VET track. In this study we assess the latter purpose by examining the outcomes of university aspirants who take these courses in their final year of school. Using rich survey and administrative data from Australia and propensity score matching we find that these courses are associated with lower academic performance and a lower chance of attaining a university offer. Decomposition results show that poor performance in integrated courses is the main driver, which points to potential tension between the two purposes.

Suggested Citation

  • Polidano, Cain & Tabasso, Domenico, 2016. "Fully integrating upper-secondary vocational and academic courses: A flexible new way?," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 117-131.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:55:y:2016:i:c:p:117-131
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2016.09.001
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    Cited by:

    1. Anton B Andersson & Carlo Barone & Martin Hällsten, 2023. "Are upper-secondary track decisions risky? Evidence from Sweden on the assumptions of risk-aversion models," Rationality and Society, , vol. 35(3), pages 311-337, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Propensity score matching; University access; Vocational education and training;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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