Professor Bill Esmond

About

I am an international researcher in systems and spaces connecting education and work: technical and vocational education and training (TVET), professional higher education and transitional spaces that mediate access to higher-level study.

Teaching responsibilities

Developing new researchers is central to my work for the University. I currently supervise the following doctoral students:

Jade Palmer - PhD
Libby Ford - PhD
Rida Tariq - PhD
Louise Neale - PhD
Kayte Haselgrove - PhD
Mayapee Chowdhury - PhD
Tracey Whitmore - EdD
Peter Stones - EdD

I can support further candidates for full-time study in the field of TVET and professional higher education.

I examine doctoral theses at universities across the UK, Europe, Australia and Africa and mentor emerging scholars.

Research interests

Education and training policy
Practices of skill formation

Membership of professional bodies

Vocational Education and Training Network (VETNET), European Educational Research Association
Vocational Aspect of Education
British Educational Research Association (BERA)

Qualifications

Postgraduate qualifications

Doctor of Education, University of Sheffield
Postgraduate masters, Sheffield Hallam University
Postgraduate Certificate in Online Education and Training, Institute of Education, University College London

Recent conferences

European Educational Research Conference (ECER), Tampere, Finland, August 2026
ECER, University of Belgrade, September 2025
VET and Culture Conference, Derby, July 2025
Journal of Vocational Education and Training Conference, Oxford, July 2025
Nordyrk, Bergen, Norway, June 2023

Experience in industry

Before joining the University, I taught higher education programmes within further education institutions for twelve years, including teaching on the University's teacher training programmes in a partner college. Prior to this, I worked in various industrial roles including construction supply and vehicle manufacture.

International experience

My work centres on international policies, practices and research traditions. A recent monograph with international colleagues examined the theoretical foundations of German vocational education.

Additional interests and activities

Associate Editor, Journal of Vocational Education and Training

Associate Editor, Europe, History of Vocational Education and Training for Women, edited by A. Broberg, S. Choy, V. Lindberg and G.-B. Warvik (Springer, forthcoming)

Special Issue Editor, Bwp@ Special Issue 19: Retrieving and recontextualising VET theory, Bwp@ 2023

In the media

I write, and my work is referenced in news media on education and skills. I am no longer on Twitter at @bill_esmond.

These videos are 'video abstracts' in which I discuss recent work with academics and practitioners:

Recent publications

Monographs:

Esmond, B, Schmees, J.K. & Wedekind, V. (2026). Emancipation and vocational education: Skills, Bildung and the subject. Routledge. (

Esmond, B., & Atkins, L. (2022). Education, Skills and Social Justice in a Polarising World: Between Technical Elites and Welfare Vocationalism. Routledge. OA chapters at https://bit.ly/ESJtand

Recent peer-reviewed articles in international journals:

Maurer, M., & Esmond, B. (2026). Institutional theory and vocational education: a discussion. Journal of Vocational Education & Training, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/13636820.2026.2721612

Haselgrove, K., Williams, D., Breuing, K. & Esmond, B. (2026). Life histories of transition and trajectory from English vocational education, 1988–2025: Reframing policy and socio-economic change. Bildung und Erziehung 79(3), 289–306. Special Issue, Youth in transition from school to vocational training, edited by M. Eckelt & K. Buchter. https://doi.org/10.7788/buer.2026.79.3.289

Porcher, C., & Esmond, B. (2026). Fabricating the ‘dual system’. Conservative resistance against progressive TVET reforms in West Germany 1969–1982. Journal of Vocational Education & Training, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/13636820.2026.2626291

Esmond, B., Kaur, B., & Atkins, L. (2025). Beyond subjects and skills or crossing the divide? From additionality to complementarity in college enrichment. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 57(2), 133–149. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220272.2024.2425629

Esmond, B., Kaur, B., & Atkins, L. (2025). Enrichment in colleges after COVID: spaces for agency and/or cultural reproduction. Journal of Vocational Education & Training, 77(1), 121–143. https://doi.org/10.1080/13636820.2024.2393105

Esmond, B., & Wedekind, V. (2023). Theorising VET without ‘VET theory’? Foundations and fragmentation of Anglophone VET research. Bwp@-online Special Issue 19: Retrieving and recontextualising VET theory, edited by B. Esmond, T.J. Ketschau, J K. Schmees, C.Steib & V. Wedekind. https://www.bwpat.de/ausgabe/spezial19/esmond-wedekind

Hordern, J., Shalem, Y., Esmond, B., & Bishop, D. (2022). Editorial for JVET special issue on knowledge and expertise. Journal of Vocational Education & Training, 74(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/13636820.2022.2028365

Avis, J., Atkins, L., Esmond, B. & McGrath, S. (2021). Re-conceptualising VET: Responses to Covid-19, Journal of Vocational Education & Training, 73(1), 1-23. Doi: 10.1080/13636820.2020.1861068.

Full publication list on Google Scholar at https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=oBBntI0AAAAJ&view_op=list_works