Continuing Vocational Training In Europe

Recoge: 1.Continuing vocational training in Austria - 2.Continuing vocational training in Fladers (Belgium) - 3.Continuing vocational training in the French-speaking community (Belgium) - 4.Continuing vocational training in Denmark - 5.Continuing vocational training in Finland - 6.Continuing vocational training in France - 7.Continuing vocational training in Germany - 8.Continuing vocational training in Greece - 9.Continuing vocational training in Ireland - 10.Continuing vocational training in Italy - 11.Continuing vocational training in Luxembourg - 12.Continuing vocational training in The Netherlands - 13.Continuing vocational training in Portugal - 14.Continuing vocational training in Spain - 15.Continuing vocational training in Sweden - 16.Continuing vocational training in the UK - 17.Continuing vocational training in Norway - 18.Continuing vocational training in Japan - 19.Continuing vocational training in the United States.

Recoge: 1. Quality concepts and their application to vocational education and training - 2. Quality assurance and control systems in vocational education and training - 3. Quality systems in European vocational training - 4. Vocational training quality issues in Europe - 5. Conclusions and recommendations for further research.

The EUROTECNET program was implemented to develop and improve vocational training policies and systems to meet the challenges of change in the economic and social situation through the development of innovative responses and actions. Each Member State of the European Community was asked to identify one issue of strategic and critical importance to the vocational training system that would benefit from a focused examination and debate at a national and European level. As a result, a series of conferences was launched in all 12 Member States. Each dealt with a different theme of critical importance for vocational training systems that was likely to benefit from innovative solutions. The discussions focused on the following topics: the learning organization and reinforcement of quality assurance; role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); identification of individual competencies; a continuum of lifelong learning; involvement of social partners in the strategy for vocational education; and radical change in companies' in-house training. The following conclusions were reached: training was a part of a comprehensive approach to change; the greatest challenge was unemployment; change was posing new challenges for companies; innovation was needed; a new focus on the individual was crucial; employees should have core competencies; SMEs must invest in training; and the concept of partnership between industry and the vocational education and training systems must be applied more broadly. The biggest challenge was the acquisition of the new competencies for general workers. (YLB)

The current state of continuing vocational training in Central and Eastern European countries and its most important challenges were analyzed. The analysis found that the former continuing vocational training systems in these areas were characterized by generally low training levels and interdependence among the state-owned enterprises that financed and provided staff training. At present, the transitioning countries of Central Europe are aware of the increased need for continuing vocational training to accompany large-scale economic and social restructuring processes. Continuing vocational training is seen as a means to raise the competitiveness of companies in both national and international markets and to increase the employability of workers. However, reforms of the education and training systems in Central and Eastern European countries since the early 1990s have frequently focused on institutions and programs belonging to the initial education and training area and on mainstream developments and students. All-embracing economic and social changes require new concepts and frameworks and a newly defined cooperation of key stakeholders in the system--needs not too different from those in Western Europe, even if reform needs are much more basic. (The report is based on individual country reports produced by national experts from Albania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, the Slovak Republic, and Slovenia. Executive summaries of these country reports are included.) (KC)