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ACTE's Region III Conference 2026
Wednesday June 17, 2026 10:45am - 11:35am PDT
This session explores how vocational students in Norway and Wisconsin imagine their futures, challenging deficit narratives that frame vocational pathways as second-best. Drawing on comparative qualitative study of students enrolled in vocational education and training (VET) in Norway and career and technical education (CTE) in Wisconsin, this presentation highlights youth perspectives on hope, purpose, and opportunity, offering new insights into how institutional contexts shape future orientations. Findings reveal striking similarities in how students across both contexts articulate optimism and meaningful engagement with vocational learning, while also reflecting contextual differences related to economic security and welfare systems.
Speakers
avatar for Matt Simoneau

Matt Simoneau

Professor, University of Wisconsin-Stout
Matt Simoneau is a Professor in Career and Technical Education at the University of Wisconsin-Stout where he teaches graduate and undergraduate course in CTE. His research interests include academic and carer planning, comparative vocational systems, and policies that affect CTE... Read More →
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Eli Smeplass

Professor Section for Vocational Studies and Educational Leadership Department of Teacher Education, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
She is Professor of Vocational Pedagogy at the Department of Teacher Education. Her research explores education, inequality, and professional learning, with a particular focus on vocational pathways. She works at the intersection of sociological theory and pedagogical practice, combining... Read More →
Wednesday June 17, 2026 10:45am - 11:35am PDT
Ballroom - 2nd Floor

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