1. Network of VET institutions Olav Aarna TAIEX expert Estonian Qualifications Authority

2. Keywords of the VET (and HE) reform Labour market relevance In all three aspects the draft Law on VET is a substantial step forward! Decentralisation Optimisation

3. Types of VET institutions Regional VET centre – a multi-disciplinary VET institution that delivers training, re-training and in-service training of junior specialists and skilled workers VET college – a VET institution that delivers multi-level training, re-training and in-service training of junior specialists and skilled workers VET lyceum – a VET institution that delivers multi-level training, re-training and in-service training of workers VET centre – a VET institution that may be founded as a legal entity or without the status of a legal entity (as part of an enterprise, institution or organization) and delivers training, re-training and in-service training of skilled workers VET institution may be established as a structural unit of a higher education institution according to the Law of Ukraine “On Higher Education” VET institution itself can be a founder of VET institution?

4. VET institutions (1) VET institutions shall have the right to: develop and implement VET programmes for professional development of employees and/or life-long vocational education (continuous VET) and provide education services stipulated by the legislation at their own discretion, introduce fields of specialisation, define their content scope and structure of variable component of VET content at their own discretion, develop and duly approve curricula and syllabi develop and approve their own VET programmes (including the ones in the form of practical learning, seminars, courses, workshops, etc.) accompanied by issuance of internal VET documents issue internal VET documents within non-accredited education programmes confirm professional qualification of individuals, including the one acquired through non-formal or informal vocational training

5. VET institutions (2) VET institutions shall be obliged to: deliver quality education activity within the scope set by the legislation on the principles of transparency and openness to the public ensure the right of individuals to acquire occupation and specialization according to their interests, abilities and capacity create proper conditions for evaluation of quality of content and/or results of education activity by independent institutions for assessment and assurance of vocational education quality establish associations of vocational education institutions on the regional or sectoral principle submit state and sector-based statistic reports according to the established procedure

6. Licencing and accreditation Licence for educational activities in a particular field (group of occupations or specializations) to deliver VET and issue nationally recognized document on attainment of VET qualification to its graduates Accreditation of individual study programmes In Estonia: licensing and accreditation is conducted by study programme groups Initial and continuous VET qualifications on the EQF levels 2-5

7. Decentralisation and governance The draft law presents a clear trend to decentralisation and involvement different stakeholders Better integration of initial and continuing vocational education and training The role, functions and responsibilities of the Ministry of Education and Science are very vast and many of them are of a technical and operational nature and could be delegated to a national VET agency (or similar body) It is important not only to describe the powers of the Ministry of Education and Science but also its duties How will the Ministry ensure that it will get feedback to make improvements in policies and practices, how will the Ministry consult other stakeholders? In each region and for each school there will be a board of stakeholders, but the question on how dialogue on VET polices is organised, is not addressed in the legislation

8. Rеstructuring of the VET institutions network in Estonia Started as strategically planned process in 1998 Aim: to optimise the VET institutions network creating large regional VET centres (at lease one in each county) and specialised VET institutions Forms of ownership: state owned, municipal and private More than 90 VET institutions in 1991, 78 in 2000 In 2015/16 academic year initial and continuous VET is provided by 37 VET institutions and 5 professional HEIs in 160 specialities The Ministry of Education and Research is administers 29 state owned VET institutions (https://hm.ee/en/activities/vocational-education)https://hm.ee/en/activities/vocational-education Each VET institution has an advisory board

9. Thank you! olav.aarna@kutsekoda.ee olav.aarna@kutsekoda.ee