UNEVOC Nottingham centre team

Professor Volker Wedekind and Dr Jo-Anna Russon manage a research portfolio that focuses on the pivotal relationship between TVET and industry, in the context of wider issues of social policy and political economy, focusing primarily on South Africa, Uganda, and the UK. 

Since 2019, they have led/co-led multiple research projects, in which the gap between TVET and industry (in both the formal and informal economy) was identified as a sub-theme. These projects include the VET Africa 4.0 project which identified the institutional and practical factors which can create barriers between TVET catering colleges/students and the catering industry in Uganda. 

The Research on Agricultural Extension through a Learning Lens (RAELL) project explored the inadequate links between TVET and food secure agriculture among small-scale, informal and conservation farmers in South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe. This theme was mirrored in a project which explored the potential for joined up approaches to training in support of sustainable food and agricultural systems in Nottingham, UK.   

More recently, they have engaged in work focused on the TVET lecturer for South Africa’s Department of Higher Education, and continue to focus on TVET lecturers as a key point of connection between the TVET classroom and the world of work.  

Go to resources from these projects

Zihao is PhD graduate and research assistant at the School of Education, passing his PhD viva in May 2025. His PhD study focused on: ‘Comparing Expectations and Experiences of Post-College Transitions for Higher Vocational Education and Training (HVET): Students in Xi’An after the Covid19 Pandemic.’

He has been involved in international TVET-related projects led by Professor Volker Wedekind and Dr Jo-Anna Russon, and in 2024 he conducted a funded comparative study of TVET between China and the UK.  

Zihao is an experienced researcher in education, particularly in vocational and higher education. He used to be a TVET college lecturer, and his interdisciplinary background encompasses social sciences, arts, and engineering, enabling him to adopt a broad, holistic perspective on educational research.

His current research focuses primarily on TVET in China and the UK, as well as examining mismatches in academic support within Chinese higher education (including HVET). He also actively contributes to coordinating networks and fostering collaborations related to TVET between China and international partners. 

Dr Imene Kassous is a dedicated youth advocate and researcher specialising in autism research in the Global South. She is a Teaching Associate at the School of Education, where she contributes to advancing inclusive education practices. Imene was awarded the prestigious International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) Cultural Diversity Internship, through which she conducted pioneering research into the lived experiences of mothers of autistic females in Algeria.

Her work has shed light on underrepresented narratives in autism research, particularly in regions where such perspectives are often overlooked. In addition to her work on autism, she is interested in exploring the vocational education landscape in North Africa. Her interests include examining the accessibility and societal impact of TVET systems, with a particular emphasis on their intersection with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Xuexing is a Phd student at the School of Education and also a lecturer/researcher at the Beijing Institute of Economics and Management. 

Her PhD study examines the dynamics of institutional logics underlying organisational change within the higher TVET sector. Xuexing brings a decade of expertise in entrepreneurship, TVET, and international collaboration to the UNEVOC Steering Committee.

Xuexing’s work with a leading higher vocational college in Beijing, China, focuses on developing industry-aligned curricula and forging strategic partnerships to bridge skills gaps. Academic contributions include peer-reviewed articles, and co-authored monographs and textbooks on TVET. Xuexing also founded and managed a language training enterprise focused on innovative language education.

Notably, Xuexing has actively advanced TVET research through participation in high-impact projects, including a China national social science project, while serving as the principal investigator for two municipal-level research projects. Furthermore, drawing on a dual perspective rooted in Eastern and Western educational systems, Xuexing specializes in fostering cross-cultural research and policy dialogue between China and Europe, with a particular interest in equitable skills development, and strong resilient TVET ecosystems that empower learners, educators, and communities worldwide.