Positioning Research and Practice in Career and Technical Education: A Framework for College and Career Preparation in the 21st Century

Workforce preparation, including career and technical education (CTE), provides opportunities for people to become successful participants in the global workplace. To accomplish this purpose, people must be equipped with knowledge and skills necessary to fulfill personal interests and goals, develop leadership skills, and become qualified and competent members of the workforce. CTE educators are challenged with determining the best ways to prepare people for work when, in many cases, the types of work those people will perform does not yet exist. Twenty-first century jobs are evolving rapidly with some jobs going away and other types of work appearing. For CTE to remain relevant, a framework is needed that will shape and guide research and curriculum development to address an increasingly volatile and uncertain future. This article describes and explains such a framework. The authors argue that three key components - career navigation, work ethic, and innovation - can support educational and vocational outcomes that will be lasting and durable in the 21st century workplace.