Amman, Dec. 9 (Petra) The Audit Bureau held a specialized workshop titled "The Added Value of Using Mixed-Methods Approaches in Performance Auditing of Vocational Education: The Dutch Experience as a Model," delivered by Dutch performance and social audit expert Egbert Jongsma, with wide participation from Bureau staff.

Audit Bureau President Radhi Al Hamadeen underlined, in opening remarks, the importance of technical and vocational education as a core component of the education system aimed at supplying the labour market with essential technical and applied skills.

Al Hamadeen noted that ensuring equal opportunities in vocational education is a key factor in guaranteeing fair access to educational programs and directing public resources toward achieving the highest developmental and economic returns.

He said strengthening this track is directly linked to the value-for-money principle, which forms one of the main pillars of oversight work, particularly in sectors targeting human capital development and increasing the efficiency of public spending.

He reaffirmed the Bureau’s commitment to developing evidence-based audit tools, focusing on performance audit tasks, and adopting advanced analytical methodologies that enhance its capacity to assess public policies, contributing to better utilization of public resources and supporting national development, especially in areas tied to human capital enhancement and equitable educational opportunities.

The workshop included a focused presentation on the Dutch experience in auditing technical and vocational education through a practical case study. Jongsma explained that using mixed-methods approaches allows evidence to be collected from both quantitative and qualitative sources, providing an in-depth analysis of the vocational education landscape.

The presentation covered extensive data analysis of more than 1.5 million students, alongside field interviews with 310 students, 75 teachers, and 20 institutions in the technical and vocational training sector. It also applied the Student Journey methodology to evaluate factors influencing equal opportunities across stages of the educational pathway.

The workshop reviewed ways to link statistical analysis with field findings and engage stakeholders including students, teachers, boards of directors, and training institutions in all stages of the audit process.

The event included a wide technical discussion with Bureau auditors, focusing on mechanisms for measuring equal opportunities, the importance of developing oversight indicators capable of assessing the impact of education policies, and improving data quality used in performance analysis.

Participants also discussed the strategic role of supreme audit institutions in supporting government policies aimed at advancing vocational education and monitoring spending efficiency.

//Petra// AF