Svein Michelsen is Professor in Political Science at the Department of Administration and Organization Theory, University of Bergen, Norway.Marja-Leena Stenström is Professor Emerita in Education and Working Life at the Finnish Institute for Educational Research, University of Jyväskylä, Finland.

"The book is significant in many aspects. Providing thorough analysis of historical evolution of Nordic countries´ VET systems over more than a millennium, it enables the reader to understand better contemporary VET systems not only in Nordic countries, but also in many other European countries. Because of its systematic approach to the evolution of VET systems, looking at the development of VET systems in parallel with development of economic and welfare systems, the book contributes to the understanding of VET as highly complex systems. At the same time, the book exemplifies how the culturally embedded value of equality manifests itself in the Nordic VET systems."Krista Loogma is professor of vocational education at Tallinn University, Estonia. Her scientific interests cover education sociology, vocational education, workplace learning. Currently, she leads the research group of studies in vocational education and is engaged in the research of teachers´ professionalism. "Creating and sustaining effective and inclusive vocational education and training is highly challenging. Governments worldwide seek answers and often look to the Nordic countries. This impressively researched book, providing the first comparative account of the evolution of VET in Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark, presents the detailed critical analysis required for a more sophisticated approach to transnational policy learning. It should be required reading for policymakers and researchers who seek to understand the complex nature of national VET systems."Lorna Unwin is Professor Emerita for Vocational Education at the Institute of Education, University College London.

• 1. The historical evolution of vocational education in the Nordic countriesSvein Michelsen2. The development of Finnish vocational education and training from 1850 to 1945Marja-Leena Stenström and Maarit Virolainen 3. Sweden: The formative period for VET (1850– 1945)Jonas Olofsson and Daniel Persson Thunqvist 4. The case of Norwegian VET- origins and early development 1850- 1945Svein Michelsen and Håkon Høst 5. Historical evolution of vocational education in Denmark until 1945Christian Helms Jørgensen and Gudmund Bøndergaard 6. The modern evolution of vocational education and training in Finland (1945–2015)Marja-Leena Stenström and Maarit Virolainen 7. The modern evolution of VET in Sweden (1945-2015) Jonas Olofsson, and Daniel Persson Thunqvist 8. Norwegian VET and the ascent and decline of social democracy 1945-2015Svein Michelsen and Håkon Høst 9. The modernisation of the apprenticeship system in Denmark 1945 - 2015 Christian Helms Jørgensen 10. ConclusionsSvein Michelsen

Svein Michelsen is Professor in Political Science at the Department of Administration and Organization Theory, University of Bergen, Norway.Marja-Leena Stenström is Professor Emerita in Education and Working Life at the Finnish Institute for Educational Research, University of Jyväskylä, Finland.

"The book is significant in many aspects. Providing thorough analysis of historical evolution of Nordic countries´ VET systems over more than a millennium, it enables the reader to understand better contemporary VET systems not only in Nordic countries, but also in many other European countries. Because of its systematic approach to the evolution of VET systems, looking at the development of VET systems in parallel with development of economic and welfare systems, the book contributes to the understanding of VET as highly complex systems. At the same time, the book exemplifies how the culturally embedded value of equality manifests itself in the Nordic VET systems."Krista Loogma is professor of vocational education at Tallinn University, Estonia. Her scientific interests cover education sociology, vocational education, workplace learning. Currently, she leads the research group of studies in vocational education and is engaged in the research of teachers´ professionalism. "Creating and sustaining effective and inclusive vocational education and training is highly challenging. Governments worldwide seek answers and often look to the Nordic countries. This impressively researched book, providing the first comparative account of the evolution of VET in Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark, presents the detailed critical analysis required for a more sophisticated approach to transnational policy learning. It should be required reading for policymakers and researchers who seek to understand the complex nature of national VET systems."Lorna Unwin is Professor Emerita for Vocational Education at the Institute of Education, University College London.

• 1. The historical evolution of vocational education in the Nordic countriesSvein Michelsen2. The development of Finnish vocational education and training from 1850 to 1945Marja-Leena Stenström and Maarit Virolainen 3. Sweden: The formative period for VET (1850– 1945)Jonas Olofsson and Daniel Persson Thunqvist 4. The case of Norwegian VET- origins and early development 1850- 1945Svein Michelsen and Håkon Høst 5. Historical evolution of vocational education in Denmark until 1945Christian Helms Jørgensen and Gudmund Bøndergaard 6. The modern evolution of vocational education and training in Finland (1945–2015)Marja-Leena Stenström and Maarit Virolainen 7. The modern evolution of VET in Sweden (1945-2015) Jonas Olofsson, and Daniel Persson Thunqvist 8. Norwegian VET and the ascent and decline of social democracy 1945-2015Svein Michelsen and Håkon Høst 9. The modernisation of the apprenticeship system in Denmark 1945 - 2015 Christian Helms Jørgensen 10. ConclusionsSvein Michelsen

Svein Michelsen is Professor in Political Science at the Department of Administration and Organization Theory, University of Bergen, Norway.Marja-Leena Stenström is Professor Emerita in Education and Working Life at the Finnish Institute for Educational Research, University of Jyväskylä, Finland.

"The book is significant in many aspects. Providing thorough analysis of historical evolution of Nordic countries´ VET systems over more than a millennium, it enables the reader to understand better contemporary VET systems not only in Nordic countries, but also in many other European countries. Because of its systematic approach to the evolution of VET systems, looking at the development of VET systems in parallel with development of economic and welfare systems, the book contributes to the understanding of VET as highly complex systems. At the same time, the book exemplifies how the culturally embedded value of equality manifests itself in the Nordic VET systems."Krista Loogma is professor of vocational education at Tallinn University, Estonia. Her scientific interests cover education sociology, vocational education, workplace learning. Currently, she leads the research group of studies in vocational education and is engaged in the research of teachers´ professionalism. "Creating and sustaining effective and inclusive vocational education and training is highly challenging. Governments worldwide seek answers and often look to the Nordic countries. This impressively researched book, providing the first comparative account of the evolution of VET in Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark, presents the detailed critical analysis required for a more sophisticated approach to transnational policy learning. It should be required reading for policymakers and researchers who seek to understand the complex nature of national VET systems."Lorna Unwin is Professor Emerita for Vocational Education at the Institute of Education, University College London.

• 1. The historical evolution of vocational education in the Nordic countriesSvein Michelsen2. The development of Finnish vocational education and training from 1850 to 1945Marja-Leena Stenström and Maarit Virolainen 3. Sweden: The formative period for VET (1850– 1945)Jonas Olofsson and Daniel Persson Thunqvist 4. The case of Norwegian VET- origins and early development 1850- 1945Svein Michelsen and Håkon Høst 5. Historical evolution of vocational education in Denmark until 1945Christian Helms Jørgensen and Gudmund Bøndergaard 6. The modern evolution of vocational education and training in Finland (1945–2015)Marja-Leena Stenström and Maarit Virolainen 7. The modern evolution of VET in Sweden (1945-2015) Jonas Olofsson, and Daniel Persson Thunqvist 8. Norwegian VET and the ascent and decline of social democracy 1945-2015Svein Michelsen and Håkon Høst 9. The modernisation of the apprenticeship system in Denmark 1945 - 2015 Christian Helms Jørgensen 10. ConclusionsSvein Michelsen