This book presents a comprehensive overview of extant literature on competence-based vocational
and professional education since the introduction of the competence concept in the 1950s. To
structure the fi eld the book distinguishes between three approaches to defi ning competence
based on 1.functional behaviourism 2. integrated occupationalism and 3. situated
professionalism. It also distinguishes between two ways of operationalizing competence: 1.
behaviour-oriented generic and 2. task-oriented specifi c competence. Lastly it identifi es
three kinds of competencies related to: 1. specific activities 2. known jobs and 3. the
unknown future. Competence for the unknown future must receive more attention as our world is
rapidly evolving and there are many 'glocal' challenges which call for innovation and a
profound transformation of policies and practices. Th e book presents a range of diff erent
approaches to competence-based education and demonstrates that competencebased education is a
worldwide innovation which is institutionalized in various ways. It presents the major
theories and policies specifi c components of educational systems such as recognition
accreditation modelling and assessment and developments in discipline-oriented and
transversal competence domains. Th e book concludes by synthesizing the diff erent perspectives
with the intention to contribute to further improving vocational and professional education
policy and practice. Joao Santos Deputy Head of Unit C5 Vocational Training and Adult
Education Directorate General for Employment Social Aff airs and Inclusion European
Commission: This comprehensive work on competence-based education led by Martin Mulder
provides an excellent and timely contribution to the current debate on a New Skills Agenda for
Europe and the challenge of bridging the employment and education and training worlds closer
together. Th is book will infl uence our work aimed at improving the relevance of vocational
education to support initial and continuing vocational education and training policy and
practice aimed at strengthening the key competencies for the 21st century. Prof. Dr. Reinhold
Weiss Deputy President and Head of the Research Federal Institute for Vocational Education
and Training (BIBB) Bonn Germany: This book illustrates that the idea and concept of
competence is not only a buzzword in educational debates but key to innovative pedagogical
thinking as well as educational practice. Prof. Dr. Johanna Lasonen College of Education
University of South Florida Tampa USA: Competence-based Vocational and Professional Education
is one of the most important multi-disciplinary book in education and training. Th is
path-breaking book off ers a timely rich and global perspective on the fi eld. Th e book is a
good resource for practitioners policymakers and researchers.
