A laminated, emergentist view of skills ecosystems

Ramsarup, P., Lotz-Sisitka, H. and McGrath, S. (2022) A laminated, emergentist view of skills ecosystems. Journal of Critical Realism, 21(5), pp. 571-588. (doi: 10.1080/14767430.2022.2145768)

Abstract

In this paper we present a model of vocational education and training (VET) that can be used to guide decisions relating to VET in Africa today. This model takes the critique of the neoclassical, neoliberal model of VET as its starting point. Guided by Bhaskar's Critical Naturalism, we use immanent critique to consider the adequacy of proposed alternatives to the neoclassical approach, such as: the heterodox approach, which foregrounds explanations based on human capital and political economy; and Hodgson and Spours' social ecosystem model, which addresses some of the limitations of the heterodox account by including, social and ecosystem elements. Finally, we offer a version of the social ecosystem model that, according to our analysis, explains more of the empirical evidence than previous models. Our version of the social ecosystem model differs from earlier versions in terms of its explicit reference to the critical realist ideas of position- practices and emergence.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: McGrath, Professor Simon
• Authors: Ramsarup, P., Lotz-Sisitka, H., and McGrath, S.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Education
• Journal Name: Journal of Critical Realism
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• ISSN: 1476-7430
• ISSN (Online): 1572-5138
• Published Online: 28 November 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor and Francis Group
• First Published: First published in Journal of Critical Realism 21(5): 571-588
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy