Within the context of the 4th Industrial Revolution as an overall paradigm change, organization and work processes must switch together with automation following and real-time control. This applies to the contents of labor and to the interaction and connection between human and technology. Up to this point, there are only a few empirical studies about how digitized, decentralized and closely connected production system with "Cyber-Physical-Systems" change the task and and competence profiles in the workplace. One outcome will be that intelligent workpieces will manage their way into production themselves. Depending on the implementation level of Industry 4.0 in companies, vocational education and training for the workforce is highly relevant and the vocational systems have to respond to the needs and expectations of the new technological challenges. Successful reactions of the vocational systems towards the 4th Industrial Revolution have to focus on curriculum development, teacher training and training of highly skilled workers. Approaches to fulfill these requirements will be discussed in this paper.

Purpose This paper aims to explore methodological and institutional challenges on application of the work-process analysis approach in the design and development of competence-based occupational standards for Lithuania. Design/methodology/approach The theoretical analysis is based on the review of scientific literature and the analysis of documents and methodical instruments (curricula and occupational standards). Empirical research is based on the observation and analysis of the processes of designing work-process-based occupational standards for Lithuania, including the face-to-face interviews with involved work-process experts on the shop-floor and stakeholders. Findings The application of a work-process-based approach in designing sectoral occupational standards enhances comprehensive and systemic design of qualifications. Work-process analysis approach helps to focus on the holistic concept of competence by considering different dimensions of work-processes. However, design and implementation of work-process-based occupational standards for the transitional and predominantly school-based vocational education and training (VET) systems encounter multiple methodological and institutional challenges. Research limitations/implications The findings of research are based on the analysis and evaluation of the design of sectoral-occupational standards in the beginning and middle stages of this process. These findings can help to draw the assumptions about potential implications of implementation of these standards to the development of competence-based VET but are not sufficient to provide comprehensive and detailed forecasts. Originality/value The paper explores and evaluates an application of the innovative work process approach in the design and development of qualifications for the concrete country.

Purpose This paper aims to investigate issues affecting the integration of retired military officers into civilian work using a competence model as an analytical framework. Design/methodology/approach The paper combines literature review with empirical study. The primary method of data collection was a series of in-depth, face-to-face interviews with 25 retired army officers in Lithuania. Findings Despite evidence that a career as an officer in the military develops valuable competencies that have obvious potential in the civilian labour market, the integration of retired army officers into the civilian labour market is fraught with difficulties. Apart from the obvious inappropriateness of specific competencies associated with armed combat for civilian occupations, even competencies acquired in military service that align closely with those required in civilian jobs do not necessarily translate because of different contexts and different value systems. Research limitations/implications The empirical basis is limited to army officers in Lithuania, and the authors urge caution in extrapolating to other military personnel and other countries. To the extent that the approach has generic value, there are clearly implications for demobilisation after major conflicts or return to civilian life of personnel involved in international peace-keeping. Practical implications This exploratory research suggests that a competence framework can identify limits and possibilities of aligning competencies acquired in military service with those required in civilian occupations, provided context and values are incorporated as part of the analysis. The approach piloted in this paper could be useful more widely for facilitating mobility between sectors and occupations arising from the adoption of disruptive technologies. Originality/value The paper demonstrates the value of a structured approach to comparing competencies in context and the mediating role of values in moving from military to civilian occupations.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to highlight systemic factors of competence-based integration of retired military officers into the civilian labour market in terms of the perspective of the institutions and institutional settings of competence involved in the formation and deployment. Design/methodology/approach This study is based on semi-structured face-to-face interviews with 25 retired military officers in Lithuania. Findings The main institutional problems and challenges of the competence-based labour market integration of retired military officers involve are concentrated in the fields of deployment of skills in the military service, and as well as in the adjustment of acquired skills to the requirements of the civilian labour market. Research limitations/implications The main limitation of the research is the absence of perspectives and attitudes of other stakeholders such as policy makers, employers and providers of education and training. Practical implications Research identified expectations of retired military officers concerning improvement of training and labour market integration services. Originality/value The paper is focused on the institutional aspects of competence-based labour market integration of the retired military officers from their perspective.

PurposeThis paper aims to explore the development of the concept of competence in Lithuania beginning from the period of transition from the Soviet planned economy and post‐totalitarian regime to the market economy and democratic society and ending with the designing and implementation of the National Qualifications System and Qualifications Framework.Design/methodology/approachThe paper takes the form of desktop research of scientific literature and analysis of documents related to competences and qualifications in Lithuania.FindingsThe understanding of competence in Lithuania varies between the official usage in the laws and policy documents, common usage in education institutions and the approaches of employers, and this differentiation of understanding is caused by complex reasons related to the development of education, world of work and society in the socio‐economic transformations. In the National Qualifications System and National Framework of Qualifications of Lithuania competences are understood to be a bridge between the system of activities and the system of education.Research limitations/implicationsThe research involves mainly those concepts of competence that are originated by different social stakeholders and have influence on the processes of initial and continuing vocational training in Lithuania. All different scientific concepts of competence proposed by different scholars and circulating only in the scientific discourse have not been considered.Practical implicationsThe article provides useful information for the policy makers and different stakeholders looking for information on the existing variety of the concepts of competences in Lithuania.Originality/valueThe paper provides a discourse that integrates the various complex conceptual and contextual issues related to the concept of competence.