Vocationalism in Higher Education: The Triumph of the Education Gospel

Vocationalization in the Research Intensive University

“…According to him, whereas in 1968, 47% of first degree graduates were from the liberal arts sectors, twenty years later, the percentage dropped to 27% in favour of vocational (professional) degrees (Rhodes, 2001). This data is corroborated by Grubb & Lazerson (2005) who note that at the beginning of the 21st Century, at least two thirds of first degree students enrolled in American universities were from the professional (vocational) sectors, and their goals for future studies were clearly vocational. Moreover, according to them, the growth of education sectors in the last decades has taken place principally in occupational domains including management, the health professions, biology, computer sciences and specific aspects of recreational studies.…”

Authenticating the learning environment

“…Current changes in the labour market and the economy create a 'turning' point for curriculum development with longstanding debates between higher education institutions and the business community acknowledged in the literature (Airey, 2015;Alexander, Lynch & Murray, 2009;Duane, 2012;Grubb & Lazerson, 2005;Morrison & O'Mahony, 2003).…”

From Rhetoric to Reality: Business Games as Educational Tools

“…Integration also mirrors the dominant management paradigm, the resource-based view of the firm (Stephen et al, 2002). Yet, despite the literature advocating curriculum integration, which is neither sparse nor new (Bruner, 1977;Collins, 1996;Dewey, 1966, Fogarty, 1999Grubb, 2005;Huber and Hutchings, 2004;Lorents et al, 2003), business schools often operate as a loose amalgam of independent, miscellaneous units. Business curricula are poor at offering students the opportunity to develop integrated knowledge (Stephen et al, 2002).…”