Varieties of Capitalism (VoC) and competencies of higher education graduates

“It’s the Method, Stupid.” Interrelations between Methodological and Theoretical Advances: The Example of Comparing Higher Education Systems Internationally

“…While traditional techniques (exploratory factor analysis) supported the hypothesis again, improved techniques of data analysis (Multigroup SEM) found measurement inequivalence of the instrument, thereby impeding a straightforward test of the hypothesis. It is important to mention, though, that while these two examples are critical about the applicability of the VoC approach to a comparison of higher education systems, other analyses support a relationship between the VoC and their respective higher education systems (Graf, 2009; Hoelscher, 2012b, 2013, 2016; Leuze, 2010).…”

The Hybridization of Vocational Training and Higher Education in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland

“…In this context, another question is why integrating HE and the relationship between VET and HE is helpful or significant for VoC theory. So far, the VoC analysis of skill formation has paid little attention to higher education (but see Graf, 2009;Leuze, 2010;Hoelscher, 2012;Andres and Pechar, 2013), with the focal point up to now resting on vocational training (e.g., Crouch, Finegold, and Sako, 2004). The fact that VoC theory focuses on VET is problematic, especially given that in developed countries the knowledge that workers acquire in HE is gradually becoming a larger share of firms' overall productive capacities (e.g., Barrow, Didou-Aupetit, and Mallea, 2003;Coulby, 2005).…”

How Employer Interests and Investments Shape Advanced Skill Formation

“…Thus, given recent developments, the political-economy approach to skills requires adaptation to account for more recent developments in higher education (Graf 2009 ;Hölscher 2012 ). When political economists analyze skill formation, they tend to be especially interested in the role of firms (or employer associations) and trade unions in the VET system.…”

“…However, research on the political economy of skills thus far has mainly focused on the study of the traditional dual-training system at the secondary level as one of the hallmarks of corporatism in German capitalism (Hall and Soskice 2001). Thus, given recent developments, the political-economy approach to skills requires adaptation to account for more recent developments in higher education (Graf 2009; Hölscher 2012). When political economists analyze skill formation, they tend to be especially interested in the role of firms (or employer associations) and trade unions in the VET system.…”