How do young people in vocational education imagine their futures?

Youth, VET and the Future is a collaborative research project between NTNU (Norway) and the University of Wisconsin–Stout (USA). The project explores how students in vocational education and training (VET) in Norway and career and technical education (CTE) in Wisconsin experience their education and imagine their future paths.

Through interviews with young people in Norway and the US. The project investigates how aspirations, identity, and life plans are shaped by structural conditions such as welfare systems, labor market expectations, and educational opportunities. We pay special attention to how gender, class, and culture influence students’ choices and how they perceive the value of vocational education.

The study includes students from male-dominated, female-dominated, and gender-integrated vocational programs. By comparing the experiences of youth across two different national contexts, the project contributes to a deeper understanding of how vocational education can support inclusion, motivation, and future-oriented thinking.

The project is led by Eli Smeplass (NTNU) and Matt Simoneau (University of Wisconsin–Stout).

We aim to build long-term international collaboration on research in youth transitions, vocational education, and educational equity.