Internationalising the Curriculum for Vocational Education: problems and possibilities

This paper deals with the discrepancy between the stated national curricular goals for vocational education in Norway regarding the teaching of “International co‐responsibility” values to students, and the failed strategy for implementation throughout the curriculum. The paper investigates possible reasons for the existence of negative attitudes towards immigrants and development aid among vocational students, male students in particular. It also describes some of the historical and sociological background of the vocational curriculum that pertains to these issues. The paper suggests there is an urgent need to support curriculum development in such a way that “International co‐responsibility” can be realised within a vocational learning context, and puts forward some ideas in this direction.