International Journal of Vocational Education Studies

Aims & Scope

IJVES publishes high-quality research that contributes to understanding and improving VET systems, policies, and practices internationally. Our primary focus is on the structure and function of VET systems, their genesis, and development, in order to enhance understanding of how vocational education and training operates in different contexts. Despite this focus, we welcome submissions from a broad range of perspectives. We accept contributions from various academic disciplines–including education, sociology, economics, and political science–provided they address issues relevant to VET. Articles should demonstrate critical engagement with the field, drawing on existing scholarly literature and contributing to ongoing debates in VET research. We value methodological diversity and recognizes that research in VET can take many forms. Whether a study is qualitative, quantitative, or employs mixed methods, what matters most is that the chosen approach is well-suited to the research question and context, and that the rationale for the approach is clearly explained. At the same time, openness to diverse approaches does not mean that "anything goes." High-quality research is characterized by transparency, rigor, and coherence. Authors should demonstrate careful design, clear reasoning, and credible interpretation of data, whether working with qualitative case studies, surveys, longitudinal datasets, or mixed methods. Research should engage critically with relevant literature and contribute meaningfully to ongoing debates in the field of VET. Our goal is to foster a pluralistic and reflective approach to research: one that values methodological diversity while maintaining scholarly integrity, encouraging studies that are both innovative and robust. IJVES is committed to fostering comprehensive and nuanced scholarship in vocational education and training. While many journals impose strict limits on manuscript length, we recognize that some research questions require greater space for theoretical elaboration, methodological detail, and contextual discussion. For this reason, we welcome longer submissions, typically up to around 18,000 words, provided the length is necessary for the argument and enhances the scholarly contribution. What matters most is that manuscripts demonstrate clarity, rigor, and relevance to the field of VET, rather than conformity to a restrictive word count. By allowing space for extended treatments, IJVES seeks to support work that engages critically with the literature, presents robust empirical evidence, and contributes meaningfully to international debates on vocational education and training.

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Subject Classification