“All that remains is a diploma”: employability, policy-induced mismatch and school-to-work transitions in health vocational education
Education and Training, ss.1-17, 2026 (SSCI, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1108/et-01-2026-0083
- Dergi Adı: Education and Training
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, ABI/INFORM, Aerospace Database, Agricultural & Environmental Science Database, EBSCO Education Source, Education Abstracts, Educational research abstracts (ERA), ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts (LISTA), Psycinfo, Information Science & Technology Abstracts (LISTA), Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Social Science Premium Collection (ProQuest), Education Collection (ProQuest), Education Source Ultimate (EBSCO), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest), Materials Science & Engineering Collection (ProQuest), Pharma Collection (ProQuest), Technology Collection (ProQuest)
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1-17
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Career construction, Education–employment mismatch, Health vocational high schools, Nursing education, Policy feedback, Professional identity
- Hacettepe Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Purpose – This study examines how students in health vocational high schools (HVHS) in Türkiye perceive their employability, anticipated school-to-work transitions and developing professional identities within the post-2014 qualification structure. Design/methodology/approach – Drawing on career construction theory and policy feedback theory, the study adopts a qualitative case study design based on semi-structured interviews with students across two HVHS. Findings – The findings reveal an education–employment mismatch manifested in four interrelated patterns: externally driven school choice, inherited expectations and post-reform disappointment, perceived misalignment between vocational training and post-graduation opportunities, and the psychosocial cost of policy change. Practical implications – The findings contribute to international debates on vocationalism, youth employability and school-to-work transitions by highlighting the psychosocial and identity-related consequences of policy-induced educational mismatch. By showing how students associate perceived constraints on employability and progression with uncertainty, disappointment and identity strain, the study highlights the broader social costs of misaligned vocational education reforms. Originality/value – The study demonstrates how students interpret the misalignment between a restructured vocational qualification and historically inherited occupational expectations as weakening their employability and future career prospects.