Elevers vei til yrkeskompetanse (EVY-prosjektet)

The project ‘Students’ at risk. Pathways to vocational competence’ (2012-2013) is a case study of one vocational upper secondary school in which most of the students have troublesome backgrounds and school histories. It is part of the new Nordic Centre of Excellense, “Justice through Education in the Nordic Countries” under the sub-theme ‘Enabling and constraining justice in education: agency, marginalization and diversity’. The overarching aim of the EVY study is to increase the knowledge of how a school prepare young people at risk for competences needed for completing grades at vocational upper secondary education, seen from the point of view of the students, the teachers, the management and other staff. Young people at risk is defined in terms of low grades, special educational provisions and other problems that have an impact on school attainment.

By observation, expert assessment reports and individual plans, in-depth interviews of students and personnel, the aim is to explore 1) local implementation and measures to bring more students through the two first years of vocational upper secondary education, 2) how the management, the teachers of vocational and general studies and other staff work to support successful completion for the students , 3) how the young people experience their schooling, and the school’s preparation for further educational/vocational career and future life, and 4) how institutional, social and pedagogical educational contexts and processes might enhance or obstruct successful transitions to further education and work for students at risk .