SFIVET's R&D Division conducts both fundamental and applied research activities in the VET/PET field, focussing on four main research themes:
- Pedagogy and didactics
- VET/PET curricula
- VET systems
- Economics of VET/PET
The R&D Division's fundamental research activities (research projects) are based on approaches and knowledge taken from several different disciplines, especially education science, sociology, psychology and economics of VET/PET. These research projects are conducted within a specific context using theoretical principles and already existing knowledge. As there is no single VET/PET methodology, researchers draw from various specialised concepts and make use of theoretical elements and empirical instruments that are recognised by the scientific community. By their very nature, research projects are not subject to the imperative of finding immediate practical applications.
The R&D Division's applied research activities (development projects), on the other hand, focus primarily on finding ways to directly implement knowledge in school settings. Here, the essential criterion is finding practical approaches that work.
While the R&D Division places less importance on producing new knowledge (research projects) than on finding practical applications (development projects), its research projects can give rise to research questions, thereby generating productive feedback loops between the research and development sides. At the same time, development projects are generally more influenced by the political context and specific historical dynamics. Some development projects may also lead to new services and continuing training courses.
Both research projects and development projects contribute to the transfer of knowledge through publications, conferences, public relations work, etc.
Our services