Call for Papers—Apprenticeships: Surviving, reviving, thriving
2026-01-19
Apprenticeships are a very traditional form of vocational education and training (VET). In many countries they still exist or even are pushed politically. Also, they continually undergo modernisation, besides other forms of VET, and some are institutionalised as dual systems or alternating approaches of skill formation.
The 10th INAP conference will be exploring recent developments of apprenticeships in a global perspective by looking at their potential as a model of learning and access to work.
Keynote speakers will include
• Professor Stephen Billett, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
• Professor Stephanie Allais, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa (tbc)
The International Network on Innovative Apprenticeship (INAP) invites contributions to its tenth international research conference. The working language is English.
The conference will address several topics on apprenticeship, including:
•Topic 1: History of apprenticeships
•Topic 2: Standing of apprenticeships
•Topic 3: Governance and institutional realisation of apprenticeship
•Topic 4: Apprenticeship curriculum, standards and delivery
•Topic 5: Apprenticeship delivery and teaching/training issues
•Topic 6: Apprenticeship and the "twin transition": digitalisation and sustainability
•Topic 7: Apprenticeship, gender and diversity General guidelines for presenters The conference organizers welcome contributions based on original research that facilitate knowledge transfer to regional, national and international policy-makers, VET actors and researchers. Papers will be selected for presentation on the basis of the recommendation of an academic review panel. Contributors are asked to submit a two-page abstract for their paper, that includes: •The conference topic to which the paper most closely relates, or specify "open topic"; •The research question, a brief overview of the research methodology, and a brief summary of the findings (around 500 words); •A provisional table of contents; •A brief bibliography of four to five references. Proposals should be sent to the organizers at https://www.conftool.com/inap2026/ by 15th February 2026. Following completion of the review process (end of March 2026), the successful authors will be invited to give a presentation at the conference in Konstanz. In order to be included in the conference proceedings, authors will be required to submit a 2,000 word summary of their papers by 31st May, 2026. These summaries will also be published in the VTE special collection. Conference proceedings with summaries of papers will be handed out to all people attending. See the website of the conference For guidance, previous INAP conference programmes and papers can be seen at https://www.voced.edu.au/special-collections-key-conferences Each topic could be approached in a variety of ways. Illustrative issues are shown below. Topic 1: History of apprenticeship How and when did apprenticeships develop in various countries? What was the role of the state and the role of employers in establishing apprenticeship as an institutional form? Topic 2: Standing of apprenticeship What value do countries attach to VET in general and apprenticeships in particular? How do apprenticeship systems in various countries attract employers to offer apprenticeships? How are potential apprentices, both young and mature, attracted to apprenticeships? What ideas are shared across the globe? How can apprentice completion rates be improved? Topic 3: Governance and institutional realisation of apprenticeship What are the varying roles of governments, vocational schools and colleges, employers, industry bodies, trade unions and intermediary organizations across the globe? What are the relations to other sub-systems. Topic 4: Apprenticeship curriculum, standards and delivery How are apprenticeship standards and curriculum developed in different countries? Who are the stakeholders involved in these processes, and how effective are they? What are the trends in partnerships between employers and vocational schools/colleges? How do apprenticeship credentials interface with university credentials? What is the role of higher apprenticeships and other new forms of apprenticeships? Topic 5: Apprenticeship delivery and teaching/training issues What strategies for formal and informal learning, both on and off the job, are effective in apprenticeships? What is the role of technology assisted learning, including online learning and A.I.? What characterises good VET teachers, how do they engage diverse learners, and what are the qualification and professional development regimes for teachers? What provisions and requirements are there for workplace trainers of apprentices? Topic 6: Apprenticeships and the "twin transition": digitalisation and sustainability What role do technological developments play when it comes to apprenticeships, above all digitalization? How can the VET system, and apprenticeship in particular, cope with challenges associated with sustainability and environmental issues? Topic 7: Apprenticeships, gender and diversity How do, or could, apprenticeship systems encourage the equal participation of women? How do apprenticeship systems engage people from differing groups (age, ethnicity and socio- economic status) and support their success? How do apprenticeships interact with migration and other movements of people around the globe? Conference location, organization and fees INAP 2026 will take place in Konstanz, Germany, at the University of Konstanz, situated on Lake Constance (Bodensee) and near the border of Switzerland—one hour by train from Zurich Airport. There are a number of hotels in Konstanz. Please have look atthe link of theTourist Information. Registration details will be provided in March 2026. The registration fee for the conference will be kept as low as possible, with an early-bird rate made available. There will conference dinner (extra cost) on the evening of Thursday, September 24th in a Konstanz restaurant near the lake. The international conference committee includes: Prof. Thomas Deissinger, University of Konstanz; Prof. Philipp Gonon, University of Zurich; Prof. Erica Smith, Federation University Australia, INAP Co-Chair; Prof. Zhiqun Zhao, Beijing Normal University, INAP Chair; Prof. Philipp Grollmann, Technical University of Dortmund.
•Topic 1: History of apprenticeships
•Topic 2: Standing of apprenticeships
•Topic 3: Governance and institutional realisation of apprenticeship
•Topic 4: Apprenticeship curriculum, standards and delivery
•Topic 5: Apprenticeship delivery and teaching/training issues
•Topic 6: Apprenticeship and the "twin transition": digitalisation and sustainability
•Topic 7: Apprenticeship, gender and diversity General guidelines for presenters The conference organizers welcome contributions based on original research that facilitate knowledge transfer to regional, national and international policy-makers, VET actors and researchers. Papers will be selected for presentation on the basis of the recommendation of an academic review panel. Contributors are asked to submit a two-page abstract for their paper, that includes: •The conference topic to which the paper most closely relates, or specify "open topic"; •The research question, a brief overview of the research methodology, and a brief summary of the findings (around 500 words); •A provisional table of contents; •A brief bibliography of four to five references. Proposals should be sent to the organizers at https://www.conftool.com/inap2026/ by 15th February 2026. Following completion of the review process (end of March 2026), the successful authors will be invited to give a presentation at the conference in Konstanz. In order to be included in the conference proceedings, authors will be required to submit a 2,000 word summary of their papers by 31st May, 2026. These summaries will also be published in the VTE special collection. Conference proceedings with summaries of papers will be handed out to all people attending. See the website of the conference For guidance, previous INAP conference programmes and papers can be seen at https://www.voced.edu.au/special-collections-key-conferences Each topic could be approached in a variety of ways. Illustrative issues are shown below. Topic 1: History of apprenticeship How and when did apprenticeships develop in various countries? What was the role of the state and the role of employers in establishing apprenticeship as an institutional form? Topic 2: Standing of apprenticeship What value do countries attach to VET in general and apprenticeships in particular? How do apprenticeship systems in various countries attract employers to offer apprenticeships? How are potential apprentices, both young and mature, attracted to apprenticeships? What ideas are shared across the globe? How can apprentice completion rates be improved? Topic 3: Governance and institutional realisation of apprenticeship What are the varying roles of governments, vocational schools and colleges, employers, industry bodies, trade unions and intermediary organizations across the globe? What are the relations to other sub-systems. Topic 4: Apprenticeship curriculum, standards and delivery How are apprenticeship standards and curriculum developed in different countries? Who are the stakeholders involved in these processes, and how effective are they? What are the trends in partnerships between employers and vocational schools/colleges? How do apprenticeship credentials interface with university credentials? What is the role of higher apprenticeships and other new forms of apprenticeships? Topic 5: Apprenticeship delivery and teaching/training issues What strategies for formal and informal learning, both on and off the job, are effective in apprenticeships? What is the role of technology assisted learning, including online learning and A.I.? What characterises good VET teachers, how do they engage diverse learners, and what are the qualification and professional development regimes for teachers? What provisions and requirements are there for workplace trainers of apprentices? Topic 6: Apprenticeships and the "twin transition": digitalisation and sustainability What role do technological developments play when it comes to apprenticeships, above all digitalization? How can the VET system, and apprenticeship in particular, cope with challenges associated with sustainability and environmental issues? Topic 7: Apprenticeships, gender and diversity How do, or could, apprenticeship systems encourage the equal participation of women? How do apprenticeship systems engage people from differing groups (age, ethnicity and socio- economic status) and support their success? How do apprenticeships interact with migration and other movements of people around the globe? Conference location, organization and fees INAP 2026 will take place in Konstanz, Germany, at the University of Konstanz, situated on Lake Constance (Bodensee) and near the border of Switzerland—one hour by train from Zurich Airport. There are a number of hotels in Konstanz. Please have look atthe link of theTourist Information. Registration details will be provided in March 2026. The registration fee for the conference will be kept as low as possible, with an early-bird rate made available. There will conference dinner (extra cost) on the evening of Thursday, September 24th in a Konstanz restaurant near the lake. The international conference committee includes: Prof. Thomas Deissinger, University of Konstanz; Prof. Philipp Gonon, University of Zurich; Prof. Erica Smith, Federation University Australia, INAP Co-Chair; Prof. Zhiqun Zhao, Beijing Normal University, INAP Chair; Prof. Philipp Grollmann, Technical University of Dortmund.
