This research dealt with a variety of different subjects such as, the system of VET, VET program, labor market, social parter mechanism, finance and etc, to help OECD VET team research on “Learning for Jobs: the OECD policy review of vocational education and training". In order to answer the very comprehensive and difficult questions regarding VET questions in Korea, researchers reviewed literature, held expert committee, and implemented fact-finding and main visit by OECD VET team. Through this process, the voices were collected and reflected in the policy recommendations of OECD.
Recommendation 1: Stronger industry involvement in decision making over VET
Create an institutional framework(e.g. permanent bodies at sectoral/ regional/national level) which allows employers and trade unions to be represented and systematically consulted on issues related to VET (including curriculum, qualifications, work placements, definition of VET provision etc.). In addition all interested ministries (Min of Edu, Min of Labour, and others) should be involved.
Comments for Recommendation 1: The general direction of this recommendation is correct. However, as to employer participation, more concrete methods for implementation such as guidelines for providing incentives for corporations are needed,
Recommendation 2: Development of good quality workplace training
Encourage initiatives (including local innovations) of partnership between VET institutions and firms leading to good quality workplace training, support and promote successful examples as ‘best practice’. General standards should be developed on the content, organisation and oversight of workplace training (e.g. how the training should be conducted). They should be developed in cooperation with industry. (E.g. in some countries general occupational competencies to be acquired by students, and requirements for VET trainers are specified)
Comments for Recommendation 2: It is necessary to invite employer's participation by providing the employers with incentives so that good quality workplace training can be implemented in a more effective way.
Recommendation 3: Improving skills of VET teachers
Encourage potential candidates to the teaching profession to have relevant work experience prior to entering the job, thisis especially lacking in upper sec VET.
Require all VET institutions to ensure that VET teachers regularly update their skills in the vocational area (and acquire knowledge of prevailing technology and practice in firms).
Comments for Recommendation 3: It is important to emphasize and develop continuously the on-site practical capacity of VET teachers for the successful implementation of VET.
Recommendation 4: Qualifications and assessment procedures
We recommend aligning of graduation degrees and licensing exams. This could be done by creating a single qualifications framework linked to VET institutions with competence-based exit assessments carried out with the involvement of employers. The requirements of such assessments would be reflected in the curricula of VET institutions.
Comments for Recommendation 4: In case of formal educational institution, it is difficult to align graduation degree with certification tests because general curriculum as well as vocational curriculum for certification is included. However, as for the vocational training institutions, some vocational high schools, and some departments/special programs of community colleges, it is possible to apply industry(employer and unions)-initiated national skills standards and VET curriculum so that the current VET curriculum and certification tests can be adapted to the on-site practices.