IER News & blogs
VET2050 In-person Vision Workshops in May
VET2050 is entering a new phase this spring with a series of in-person Vision Workshops beginning in May 2026, bringing together stakeholders to explore what a high quality vocational education and training system in England should look like by 2050. Alongside the workshops, the project invites wider engagement through an online feedback form as part of its commitment to long-term, collaborative thinking beyond short-term reform cycles.
Find out more in the VET2050 Project's April Newsletter.
The Future of Work
As part of the ESRC Festival of Social Sciences, a panel of experts, including IER鈥檚 Prof Gill Dix, Dr Emily Erickson, Prof Trine Pernille Larsen and Dr Katharina Sarter, discussed the future of work. The panel shared thoughts on the present and potential futures of work in the face of digital technologies and AI, which have the potential to create and reinforce inequalities or reduce them. Creating and maintaining good, secure, and healthy work will remain a priority, given the rapidly changing context and the inevitable uncertainty that the future holds.
Image Credit: Social Sciences Connect Programme
Join us for an online event about skills policy and the future of work 鈥 2 December, 2:30-3:00 pm
In conversation with Chris Warhurst, the author of a new book, , Tom Bewick, will explain his motivation for writing this study; what he has learnt from a 30-year career as both a policy maker and practitioner in post compulsory education and training; and what specific skills policy does he believe countries should adopt in pursuing new approaches to human capital.
Please contact Lynne Marston via email to register for the event before 2 December: L.Marston@warwick.ac.uk
Question Time: The Future of Work
Join us for a Question Time-style in-person event on 5 November to explore the future of work. Our experts from the Faculty of Social Sciences, including the IER, will answer your questions on all things work: What will be the impact of AI and digitalisation on the future of work? Will that future be one of good and healthy jobs for everyone? And will the future of work deliver greater productivity? The event is part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2025.
Please register here for the-in person event at the University of 糖心TV.
Re-thinking Europe鈥檚 skill needs: Reflections following the European Year of Skills
This , which will mark the official launch of the book 鈥溾, will bring together experts and professionals to explore how we can tackle the skill needs in today鈥檚 ever-changing world.