Helsinki, 5 December 2006 Informal meeting of Education Ministers 1 Four years on Reviewing the priorities for cooperation in vocational education and training Aviana Bulgarelli Maastricht 2004 Lisbon 2000 Copenhagen 2002 Helsinki 2006

Helsinki, 5 December 2006 Informal meeting of Education Ministers 2 Taking stockCopenhagen – Maastricht – Helsinki 4 years on Enhanced European cooperation in VET Outline  Progress in VET policy areas  Challenges from research & reporting  Some Conclusions

Helsinki, 5 December 2006 Informal meeting of Education Ministers 3 Taking stock Copenhagen – Maastricht – Helsinki 4 years on Enhanced European cooperation in VET Copenhagen 2002 strengthen the European dimension improve transparency, information & guidance systems recognise competences & qualifications promote quality assurance Maastricht 2004 national priorities make aware of and apply the common European instruments improve public/private investment, training incentives address the needs of groups at risk develop flexible pathways and progression use European social and regional funds to develop VET strengthen VET planning, partnerships, identify skill needs develop pedagogical approaches & learning environments expand teachers’ & trainers’ competence development

Helsinki, 5 December 2006 Informal meeting of Education Ministers 4 Progress 4 years on Reviewing the priorities Where countries report most progress:  National qualifications frameworks (NQF)  Validation of non-formal and informal learning  Quality improvement and assurance – CQAF  Integrating learning with working  Access and equity  Guidance and counselling

Helsinki, 5 December 2006 Informal meeting of Education Ministers 5 educational / VET standards competence-based curricula assessing learning outcomes entrepreneurship language learning Progress 4 years on The EQF is setting the trend 8 COMMON REFERENCE LEVELS  Developing NQF … in more & more countries, gaining in speed in 2005/2006 linked toemphasis on learning outcomes and progress in:

Helsinki, 5 December 2006 Informal meeting of Education Ministers 6 Progress 4 years on Learning outcomes gaining ground  Validating non-formal and informal learning Slow but steady progress in valuing what people have learned at work and elsewhere to: improve lifelong learning opportunities make VET systems more flexible improve employability & career Some progress in higher education, but less inclined to open up for non-traditional learners Lifelong Learning Pathway Informal Formal On the job Formal

Helsinki, 5 December 2006 Informal meeting of Education Ministers 7  Improving and assuring quality Progress in: improving VET infrastructure, increasing efficiency ensuring trust in the value of learning outcomes (NQF) (e.g. through standards, competence-based curricula, qualifications register, provider accreditation) Countries recommend to apply the European Common Quality Assurance Framework (CQAF) Progress 4 years on NQF and quality go hand in hand

Helsinki, 5 December 2006 Informal meeting of Education Ministers 8  Integrating learning with working Progress in: providing learner-need oriented, individualised pathways work-based training to attract and retain ‘non-academic’ learners marrying theory and practice to develop high skills New types of apprenticeship and traineeships in: initial and continuing training higher education (designed by institutions and industry) active labour market measures Progress 4 years on VET for excellence and inclusion

Helsinki, 5 December 2006 Informal meeting of Education Ministers 9  Ensuring access and equity Progress in: preventing drop out from initial VET enabling low qualified and migrants to acquire skills giving all employed chance for continuing training  Guidance and counselling Progress in improving access and quality to: assist disadvantaged help the young to make right VET choice Tools: electronic information systems 11 countries (intend to) use Europass for guidance Progress 4 years on Supporting individuals & those at risk

Helsinki, 5 December 2006 Informal meeting of Education Ministers 10 Challenges The demographic time bomb ÂBy 2030 …  almost 14 million more older people  9 million fewer young people  2 million fewer learners in VET (at secondary & tertiary level, if participation doesn’t change)  Future labour markets will rely more on older workers and migrants  Chance to improve the quality of initial VET and provide better opportunities for adult learning

Helsinki, 5 December 2006 Informal meeting of Education Ministers 11 Challenges Worldwide skills competition 72 million Europeans formally low skilled – as many as the inhabitants of France + Ireland + the Baltic States together  Europe scores: low on high skills high on low skills strong at intermediate skills  Europe’s competitive advantage  necessary to cope with increasing demands and diffusion of new technologies  high skilled jobs require both vocational qualifications (secondary & tertiary level) and academic skills

Helsinki, 5 December 2006 Informal meeting of Education Ministers 12  Older workers’ lifelong learning Develop age-sensitive HRD policy build on and value older workers’ skills & competences recognise their experience & knowledge gained at work engage them in workplace learning & teaching (e.g. by mentoring) provide suited learning environments and pedagogies Participation in LLL in % by age groups, 2005, EU25 Age group Total (25-64) Benchmark for 2010 Participation rate Source: Eurostat, Labour Force Survey Challenges Maintaining human capital

Helsinki, 5 December 2006 Informal meeting of Education Ministers 13 FACILITATE LEARNING link school & enterprises be familiar with new work processes (co)design curricula work in teams make progress happen… Challenges VET teachers & trainers - The forgotten change agents ? assess learning outcomes guide & counsel learners but they receive little support to cope with these 1/3 – 2/3 of upper secondary teachers work in VET but we know little about them even less about trainers in VET (co)decide VET offer … They are getting older, their role is changing, their tasks are getting more varied & complex

Helsinki, 5 December 2006 Informal meeting of Education Ministers 14 Challenges Show that VET is worth investing in Total public expenditure on education & training at lower, upper & post secondary level  expenditure on VET ranges from 0.3 to 1.1% of GDP Private expenditure on VET  data not available in all countries  data on enterprise spending expected end-2007 (CVTS 3) Data available for the first time

Helsinki, 5 December 2006 Informal meeting of Education Ministers 15 Reinforce efforts, consolidate and build on achievements Continue at national level to … establish NQF related to learning outcomes and linking to EQF through cooperation with all players and mutual learning develop Europass certificate supplements which inform on learning outcomes and make EQF mapping easier develop validation of non-formal learning central to lifelong learning improve quality assurance and encourage implementing the CQAF Conclusions Four years to go until 2010 Helsinki 2006 Stay focused

Helsinki, 5 December 2006 Informal meeting of Education Ministers 16 Attractiveness and quality of VET: Consolidate and build on achievements  Support VET teacher & trainer development, value them as change agents  Develop in-company learning pathways and improve older workers‘ lifelong learning  Adequately invest in VET, make benefits visible and encourage cost-sharing  Develop shared policies with other ministries, social partners and other actors Conclusions Helsinki 2006 Maastricht priorities still valid

Helsinki, 5 December 2006 Informal meeting of Education Ministers 17 To support evidence-based policy making we need  joint efforts to collate more, more accurate and more reliable statistical data  comprehensive initiatives to identify and anticipate skill needs  research to evaluate policy impact and prepare VET for future challenges Conclusions Helsinki 2006 Maastricht priorities still valid

Helsinki, 5 December 2006 Informal meeting of Education Ministers 18 Contact Cedefop’s policy analysis & research reporting team: Pascaline Descy, Patrycja Lipinska, Anelia Miteva, Lore Schmid and Manfred Tessaring Helsinki follow-up 2007 Thank you for your attention Cedefop’s AGORA event 26 – 27 April 2007: ‘Building a European VET area’ Conference to present and discuss:  analyses on progress in VET policies  findings from research and statistics  future challenges