Investigating competence-based VET in The Netherlands: backgrounds, pitfalls and implications

Abstract

In the Dutch VET system, competence-based education is the leading paradigm for innovation both on systems´ level and on the level of teaching and learning arrangements. This phenomenon was the impetus for organising a scientific conference in October 2002, under the umbrella of the Dutch Educational Research Association (VOR), to bring to the fore a diversity of results of educational research related to competence-based VET. This paper provides an analysis of the competence concept and its popularity and an internationally embedded historical analysis of the development of competence-based education. Moreover, based on the presentations of the October conference, (possible) pitfalls and roads for future development will be sketched