Quality Issues And Trends In Vocational Education And Training In Europe

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.

This book deals with teacher training for vocational education and training. In individual chapters next to the positions of relevant international organizations, donors and development banks, it also covers selected countries in their ways of shaping of Technical Vocational Education and Training and teacher training. The structure of the book aims at two objectives: To outline positions of important stakeholders of the international Technical Vocational Education and Training policies and international cooperation in TVET teacher training. To discuss the current status of Technical Vocational Education and Training and teacher training in selected countries, from developing countries, countries with emerging economies to industrialized countries. The book is meant to create a platform that supports a reference concept within international cooperation for the further development of Technical Vocational Education and Training and teacher training up to a higher quality and performance.

For the first time in many years, VETNET publishes a collection of short papers in an edited book of proceedings, which is available online and as a printed version. VETNET has had a long tradition in making ECER presentations and full papers open to a broader public. So, what's the purpose of having "a real book"? We see it as an opportunity for VETNET to in-crease the visibility of current research in vocational education and training - and as an oppor-tunity for its researchers to talk about planned, ongoing and finalised pieces of work. VETNET lives, if knowledge is shared, discussed and challenged by others. The people involved are ready to cross boundaries in their theoretical and methodological thinking and acting.

This report describes the background and links among education, training, labor market, economy, and society. Part 1 deals with the statutory, institutional, and political background to vocational education and training (VET), steering of VET systems, funding, and performance of VET systems and the European context. Part 2 discusses research on the socioeconomic frame of VET; developments and changes to the supply and demand sides; macro- and microeconomic costs and benefits of VET; and research on increasing employment by creating new jobs, and future trends in work and skills. Part 3 analyzes individual education and training decisions and implications for vocational guidance; correlation of structural change with apprenticeship training; transition from VET to the labor market; CVT's objectives and actual situation; and problems of disadvantaged groups in training and work. Part 4 discusses proposals on how to proceed with curricular research, role of key qualifications, new learning formats and venues using new technologies, and nonformal learning. Part 5 focuses on principles, methods, and limitations of comparative VET research; European mobility; and recognition and transparency of skills and qualifications. Part 6 offers general conclusions. Appendixes contain 895 references and include: information on VET research institutions, selected networks for research cooperation, sources for descriptions of VET systems in Europe, European Union programs related to VET, and international statistics and classifications. (YLB)

This six-volume handbook covers the latest practice in technical and vocational education and training (TVET). It presents TVET models from all over the world, reflections on the best and most innovative practice, and dozens of telling case studies. The handbook presents the work of established as well as the most promising young researchers and features unrivalled coverage of developments in research, policy and practice in TVET.

Indicators are used in quite different ways in vocational education and training, from control and accountability to performance and quality purposes. A classification model has been proposed in which many indicators can fit. It is based on two important dimensions of indicators: (1) the "message" relating to the information content, meaning, and signification of the indicator and (2) the "purpose" relating to the function and use of the indicator. Four main areas on the scale for the message dimension are as follows: exclusively descriptive, management and policy, performance, and quality. Three areas on the scale for the purpose dimension are indicators used for analysis, used for communication, and with a normative purpose. The two main driving forces for the use of indicators are public authorities and institutions. International and European achievements in the work on quality indicators are illustrated by the following: the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's INES (Indicators of National Education System) project, the Eurostat key data, and the European Training Foundation key indicators on vocational education and training (VET). At the level of VET institutions, a wide range of performance and quality indicators have been developed across Europe in the Netherlands, Italy, Portugal, Denmark, and Western Australia. The advantages of using quality indicators can be achieved only if 10 conditions---5 design requirements and 5 requirements for processing and use--are met. (Appendixes contain 77 references, design methodology for quality indicators, and glossary.) (YLB)

This book brings together a broad range of approaches and methodologies relevant to international comparative vocational education and training (VET). Revealing how youth in transition is affected by economic crises, it provides essential insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the various systems and prospects of VET in contexts ranging from North America to Europe, (e.g. Spain, Germany or the UK) to Asia (such as China, Thailand and India). Though each country examined in this volume is affected by the economic crisis in a different way, the effects are especially apparent for the young generation. In many countries the youth unemployment rate is still very high and the job perspectives for young people are often limited at best. The contributions in this volume demonstrate that VET alone cannot solve these problems, but can be used to support a smooth transition from school to work. If the quality of VET is high and the status and job expectations are good, VET can help to fill the skills gap, especially at the intermediate skill level. Furthermore, VET can also offer a realistic alternative to the university track for young people in many countries.