In October, CERE Team joined the World Education Research Association (WERA 2025) international conference in Brazil.
Compare to Understand: CERE Team Organised a Roundtable on WERA 2025 Dedicated to Reflection of Studying TVET
The second part moved on to methodological issues, with colleagues discussing the strengths and weaknesses of existing approaches to comparative research, as well as the potential of competence-based approaches. Meanwhile, Gustavo Fischman offered a critical view of global metrics and the limits of comparison.
In the final part, colleagues from Brazil emphasised the practical implementation of policy, the ‘subtleties’ that should be considered when making decisions, and the combination of academic ideas with real reforms.
Comparing isn't about competing, but about figuring out what makes us different and what we can learn from each other. It's also about working together to build a research framework for studying TVET systems around the world, – noted Vera Maltseva, a CERE Programme Director.
We would like to thank WERA for their support in organising this event! Stay tuned — we will soon announce a CERE Seminar on Brazilian TVET.
In the final part, colleagues from Brazil emphasised the practical implementation of policy, the ‘subtleties’ that should be considered when making decisions, and the combination of academic ideas with real reforms.
Comparing isn't about competing, but about figuring out what makes us different and what we can learn from each other. It's also about working together to build a research framework for studying TVET systems around the world, – noted Vera Maltseva, a CERE Programme Director.
We would like to thank WERA for their support in organising this event! Stay tuned — we will soon announce a CERE Seminar on Brazilian TVET.
How can we compare vocational education systems in countries where the whole thing — from the labor market to teaching traditions — is set up differently? This question kicked off the roundtable discussion “Rethinking TVET in Comparative Perspective: Contexts, Challenges, and Insights,” held on October 28 as part of the World Education Research Association (WERA 2025) international conference in Brazil.
The roundtable formed part of the development of projects by the CERE Observatory, an international observatory on education. Representing CERE, Geovana Mendes, Vera Maltseva and Maksim Nikitin joined the discussion.
The session was moderated by Geovana Mendes from the University of Santa Catarina, with researchers from Russia, Germany, Japan, the United States and Brazil gathering ‘around the table’: Melanie Hochmuth, Sabrina Sailer Frank, Kuanysh Tastanbekova, Gustavo Fischman, Maria Luiza Sussekind, and Luciana Mulazani.
The first part of the discussion focused on the influence of social and economic factors on the development of vocational education. The panellists discussed graduate trajectories, language policy and educational opportunities, and how inequality shapes pathways to the labour market.
The roundtable formed part of the development of projects by the CERE Observatory, an international observatory on education. Representing CERE, Geovana Mendes, Vera Maltseva and Maksim Nikitin joined the discussion.
The session was moderated by Geovana Mendes from the University of Santa Catarina, with researchers from Russia, Germany, Japan, the United States and Brazil gathering ‘around the table’: Melanie Hochmuth, Sabrina Sailer Frank, Kuanysh Tastanbekova, Gustavo Fischman, Maria Luiza Sussekind, and Luciana Mulazani.
The first part of the discussion focused on the influence of social and economic factors on the development of vocational education. The panellists discussed graduate trajectories, language policy and educational opportunities, and how inequality shapes pathways to the labour market.
10 November 2025
Vera Maltseva
True change in vocational education depends not just on education policy, but on deeper economic and institutional reforms
CERE Co-Founder