Vocational pathway to empowerment for at-risk youth in Lithuania - a typical case of neoliberal reforms?

ENThe focus of this chapter is on the critical analysis and review of the implications of the institutional, procedural and curricular reforms of VET provision for their potential to empower socially vulnerable youth in Lithuania. Particular attention is paid to the shifts of the VET policy and the reform goals between the social integration and development of human capital according to business needs and the implications of such double orientation for the potential of VET schools to facilitate vocational and labour market integration of socially vulnerable youth. The chapter presents the findings of the qualitative study carried out in the VET schools of Lithuania through interviewing vulnerable VET students and teaching staff. This research discloses various supportive and hindering factors which affect the empowerment of these vulnerable VET students.