1 “ Social partners: the role in governance and monitoring VET systems in Europe” J.Manuel Galvin Brusels,26 March 2007

2 CONTENTS 1.CEDEFOP mission supporting VET community. 2.The Social Dialogue in LLL in Europe: a brief chronological review of the Social Partners role. 3.The key contribution of framework of actions for the lifelong development of competencies and qualifications ( ): 4.The role of sectoral social dialogue in governing and monitoring in VET systems. 5. What is at stake for SP governing and monitoring VET? Some challenges and topics for governing and monitoring lifelong learning.

3 1.CEDEFOP mission: producing, exchanging and disseminating knowledge producing, exchanging and disseminating knowledge Main activities :  Detecting and selecting information sources: dates analysing and wide dissemination to European community on VET.  Promoting and carrying out researching on education and training.  Stimulating approaches and joint conclusions as regards European challenges concerning education and training topics ( stakeholders, researchers, social partners)  Setting up a reference point oriented to exchange and production of new ideas.

4 2.SOCIAL DIALOGUE IN LLL IN EUROPE: A BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL REVIEW OF SOCIAL PARTNERS ROLE (I) KEY MILESTONES IN SOCIAL PARTNERS GOVERNANCE IN VET:THE PERIOD OF JOINT OPINIONS (addressed to EU Commission and Member States,1989):  (1990) Basic education, initial, vocational and adult training.  (1990) Transition from school to adult and professional life.  (1991) The best methods for enabling the broadest effective access to training.  (1992) Vocational Qualifications and their validation.  (1993) Women ant training.  (1994) Future actions of EU in Vet field and role of Social Partners.  (1995) Contribution of VET to fight against unemployment. Broad definition: All types of negotiation, consultation, information sharing relation among representatives of governments, social partners or, exclusively between social partners at different levels, focussing on aspects to promote LLL and/or VET policies mainly aimed to support and/or facilitate employability of workers and companies competitiveness

5 2.SOCIAL DIALOGUE IN LLL IN EUROPE: A BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL REVIEW OF SOCIAL PARTNERS ROLE (II) KEY MILESTONES IN SOCIAL PARTNERS GOVERNANCE IN VET: CHRONOLOY OF PERFORMANCE OF SOCIAL PARTNERS (PRACTICAL ACTIONS). J (1988) COMET II. J (1989) EUROTECTNET. J (1990) FORCE. J (1991) PETRA (II)--- J (1994) LEONARDO Da VINCI. J (1998) JOINT OPINION ON DRAFT DECISION FOR LEONARDO DA VINCI II PROGRAMME. J (1998) ADAPT--- J (2000). EQUAL

6 2.SOCIAL DIALOGUE IN LLL IN EUROPE: A BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL REVIEW OF SOCIAL PARTNERS ROLE (III) KEY MILESTONES IN SOCIAL PARTNERS GOVERNANCE CONTRIBUTING IN PROGRESSIVE DEVELOPMENT OF EMPLOYMENT & VET POLICIES: J (1995) Essen Employment council. J (1997) Luxembourg process “Jobs summit" (European employment strategy on Treaty of Amsterdam-,1999). J (1998) Employment Pact J (2000) Lisbon strategy. J (2001) Laeken summit. J (2002) Barcelona summit. J ( ) Copenhagen- Maastricht-Helsinki process J ( ) Lifelong learning programme

7 3.The role social partners governing and monitoring VET: the key contribution of the framework of actions for the lifelong development of competencies and qualifications ( ). VET: the key contribution of the framework of actions for the lifelong development of competencies and qualifications ( ).

8 Evolution analysis of the practices related to social partners participation on LLL ( )(I). The first follow up report (2003), four main types of actions:  Dissemination activities of the framework of actions.  Discussion on the framework between SP and its inclusion on collective agreements.  Promotion on the approach through a tripartite concertation.  Follow up of one or several priorities through more focussed actions and projects. The four priorities: A.To identify and anticipate competencies and qualifications needs B.To recognise and validate competencies and qualifications C.To inform, support and provide guidance D.To mobilise resources.

9 Evolution analysis of the practices related to social partners participation on LLL ( )(II). The main traces of the contents of second and third follow up report ( ) are:  More implication of social partners in tripartite activities as regards of design of National LLL policies.  Increase of bipartite activities focussed on developing competences at national, sectoral and company levels.  Stronger efforts of social partners in more countries to anticipate and identify key competencies.  More involvement of social partners in actions improving conditions for adult learning.  Mobilising resources area is clearly a increasingly measure: improvement of financial regulations on countries and new initiatives co-financing training are the main tools supported and developed by social partners.

10 Evaluation report (March 2006): some remarks about main trends. Some observed trends for developing researching strategies:  Framework results environment: more based in Vocational Continuous Training systems than in VET (learning in employment).  Strategies and experiences are linked mostly to NAEP’s: important for further impact evaluation.  The Sectoral and companies successful experiences must be spread it between countries and testing feasibility connected to partnership with education and training. institutions.  Clustering on social partners involvement: strategy is more developed in those countries with strong collective bargaining culture. Challenge for transferring experiences to East a New member countries is a clear challenge.

11 The role of sectoral social dialogue in governing and monitoring in VET systems. 4. The role of sectoral social dialogue in governing and monitoring in VET systems.

The sectoral Social Dialogue: sectoral committees

13 CONCRETE DOMAINS AND ACHIVEMENTS AT SECTORAL LEVEL: A.Partnerships between VET providers and sector bodies. B.Sectoral collective agreements. C.Sector funds. D.Sectoral vocational training councils. E.Sector bodies offering training, advise and guidance. F.Sectoral qualifications. 4.2 Brief overview of sectoral approach to LLL in Europe EXAMPLES OF CONSOLIDATED PRACTICES AT SECTORAL LEVEL:  Sector skills councils (UK – 2002)  Network of competencies centers (BE -Wallonia- 1998)  Knowledge Centers (NL – 1954).  Joint sectoral committees (ES )  Sectoral committees (RO )

What is at stake for SP governing and monitoring VET? Some challenges and topics for governing and monitoring Lifelong learning.

15  The link of the LLL policies and the functioning of European labour markets  The need for moving gears as regards of recognition of qualifications and non formal/informal learning ( motivating learners to learning).  Implementation of European Qualification Framework (EQF) and European Credit Transfer System (ECVET).  Developing supporting measures and experiences for risk groups: connecting labour market to social inclusion measures supported by VET/CVT.  Promoting partnerships between companies and formal educations centres: The link between Higher education and VET  Encouraging value of sectoral approach as a bridge between national and European LLL systems.  The collective bargaining as a tool for universalizing VET in sectoral and company level.  Innovative measures for establish permanent ways of financing LLL systems: particularly urgent for SME’s.  To raise awareness about benefits of training for European citizenship.  Improving statistical tools following up SP involvement on VET (Regulation 1552/2005 VT enterprise, art 3 –c- ): CVT survey (2007). 5.1 What is at stake ? Some key topics for in the field of Lifelong learning.

16 Political context  Strengthened role of Cedefop to support implementation of the Copenhagen priorities in the framework of EU Education and Training 2010 work programme 5.2 What is at stake ? Some current contributions of Cedefop supporting social partners policies and strategies in LLL Some ongoing initiatives  Researching in social partners developments and needs in LLL supported by Cedefop (Copenhagen-Helsinki).  Researching in sectoral funds managed by social partners in Europe.  Supporting implementation of EQF & ECVET  Higher Education & VET and Continuing Training.  Working in partnerships (Eurofound -ETF-OCDE)

17 Thanks for your kind attention!