Socio-technical imaginary of the fourth industrial revolution and its implications for vocational education and training: a literature review
Journal article
Authors | Avis, James |
---|---|
Abstract | This literature review engages with a diverse and sometimes contradictory body of work, employing an analytic stance rooted in policy scholarship. It discusses rhetorical constructions of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4th IR), locating these in understandings of the economy rooted in a neo-liberalism which rests upon a capitalist terrain. The 4th IR is an ideological construct which reflects specific material interests and has particular implications for education and training. The 4th IR’s association with digitalisation and artificial intelligence is ambivalent. For some writers, this leads to technological unemployment while for others, even though there is labour market disruption, there is no employment crisis that cannot be resolved. The strong connection between the 4th IR and labour market requirements is softened by those writers who adopt a qualitative analysis of advanced manufacturing work. These scholars suggest that the relationship between technology and skill is rather more complex than the protagonists of technological unemployment describe. Neo-Marxist writers develop a qualitatively different account of the current conjuncture to the imaginary of the 4th IR. In this instance, the analysis turns towards the elimination of labour from paid employment, together with the falling rate of profit and bypasses the former arguments. This review concludes by arguing that technology and artificial intelligence are entwined with social relations, being sites of class struggle. How this is played out is an outcome of the balance of power, not only within the social formation but also globally. How far the development of the forces of production is compatible with capitalist relations is a moot point, as this is also a site of struggle. The paper draws out the implications for VET and considers progressive educational responses. However, such a practice needs to be set within a broader politics that is committed to the development of a socially just society. |
Keywords | Education; Literature review,; The fourth Industrial revolution |
Year | 2018 |
Journal | Journal of Vocational Education and Training |
Publisher | Informa UK Limited |
ISSN | 1363-6820 |
1747-5090 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1080/13636820.2018.1498907 |
Web address (URL) | http://hdl.handle.net/10545/625299 |
hdl:10545/625299 | |
Publication dates | 21 Aug 2018 |
Publication process dates | |
Deposited | 28 Oct 2020, 11:47 |
Accepted | 02 Jul 2018 |
Contributors | University of Huddersfield |
File | File Access Level Open |
https://repository.derby.ac.uk/item/93x53/socio-technical-imaginary-of-the-fourth-industrial-revolution-and-its-implications-for-vocational-education-and-training-a-literature-review
Download files
76
total views0
total downloads2
views this month0
downloads this month
Export as
Related outputs
Thinking about the future: the fourth industrial revolution, capitalism, waged labour and anti-work
Avis, R. 2023. Thinking about the future: the fourth industrial revolution, capitalism, waged labour and anti-work. in: Malloch, M., Cairns, L., Evans, K and O'Connor, B. (ed.) The SAGE Handbook of Learning and Work London SAGE Publications. pp. 497-511Review of John Preston (2022). Artificial Intelligence in the Capitalist University: Academic Labour, Commodification, and Value
Avis, R. 2022. Review of John Preston (2022). Artificial Intelligence in the Capitalist University: Academic Labour, Commodification, and Value. Postdigital Science and Education. Vol 4 (2022), p. 1104–1109. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42438-022-00287-3A critical review of debates surrounding race/ethnicity and TVET
Avis, R. 2022. A critical review of debates surrounding race/ethnicity and TVET. Journal of Vocational Education and Training. pp. 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1080/13636820.2022.2158360Anti-work, TVET and employer engagement
Avis, R. 2022. Anti-work, TVET and employer engagement. Journal of Education and Work. 35 (5), pp. 585-598. https://doi.org/10.1080/13639080.2022.2092606Beyond ‘Migration’ and ‘Inclusion’ in Work-Life: racialisation and VET
Avis, R., Orr, Kevin and Warmington, Paul 2022. Beyond ‘Migration’ and ‘Inclusion’ in Work-Life: racialisation and VET. in: Herrera, L. M., Teräs, M., Gougoulakis, P. and Kontio, J. (ed.) Migration and Inclusion in Work Life: The role of VET Stockholm Atlas Akademi. pp. 27-59Beyond Neo-Liberalism a New Settlement - Three Crises and Post-Secondary Education
Avis, R. 2021. Beyond Neo-Liberalism a New Settlement - Three Crises and Post-Secondary Education. Journal for Critical Education Policy Studies. 19 (1), pp. 158-183.
Race and vocational education and training in England
Avis, James, Orr, kevin and Warmington, Paul 2017. Race and vocational education and training in England. Journal of Vocational Education and Training. 69 (3), pp. 292-310. https://doi.org/10.1080/13636820.2017.1289551
HE in FE: vocationalism, class and social justice
Avis, James and Orr, kevin 2016. HE in FE: vocationalism, class and social justice. Research in Post Compulsory Education. 21 (1-2), pp. 49-65. https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2015.1125666
“It’s all about work”: New times, Post-Fordism and vocational pedagogy
Avis, James 2018. “It’s all about work”: New times, Post-Fordism and vocational pedagogy. in: Routledge.
Re-conceptualising VET: responses to covid-19
Avis, R., Atkins, L., Esmond, B. and McGrath, S. 2020. Re-conceptualising VET: responses to covid-19. Journal of Vocational Education and Training. 73 (1), pp. 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1080/13636820.2020.1861068Youth transitions, VET and the making of class: changing theorisations for changing times?
Avis, J. and Atkins, L. 2017. Youth transitions, VET and the making of class: changing theorisations for changing times? Research in Post Compulsory Education. 22 (2), pp. 165-185. https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2017.1314678Workplace learning, VET and vocational pedagogy: the transformation of practice
Avis, R. 2014. Workplace learning, VET and vocational pedagogy: the transformation of practice. Research in Post Compulsory Education. 19 (1), pp. 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2014.872920