Digital and methodological transformation of Vocational Education and Training in the post-COVID era

Abstract

In recent years, there have been various initiatives for the modernisation of Vocational Education and Training (VET) with regard to teaching strategies and the use of digital technologies. This study aims to analyse the digital and methodological transformation of VET that the pandemic may have generated. To this end, a sequential mixed methodology has been used, based on a survey of VET teachers (N=158) and interviews with 11 cycle coordinators during the 2021-2022 academic year. The results show that the most innovative teaching staff are women, young and involved in innovation projects. Also noteworthy is the increase throughout the pandemic in the variety of teaching strategies used by the teaching staff, with particular growth in active learning. Finally, there is a greater use of varied teaching strategies both on the teaching platform and in external tools. In conclusion, the pandemic has contributed to a transformation that had been trying to be activated for years.