1. Current VET policy context and EQAVET
Annual Forum, EQAVET April 2010
Part I
João Delgado
DG Education and Culture
Unit B5 – Vocational education and training, Leonardo da Vinci
Dear members,
I woudl like to present you today the economical and political context in which the recommendation evolves the last updates in the field of European VET policy and also refocus on the content of the recommendation itself.

2. Joint Challenges Ageing population
Role for initial and continuing VET in terms of update and upgrade of skills
Low-carbon economy
Technological
changes
I have looked for demographic trends using the scenarios prepared by Eurostat for the year By that time, the median age of the EU-27 population will rise from 40.4 years to 47.9 and the share of people aged 65 or more will increase from 17.1% to 30.0%. This means that whereas in 2008 there were 4 persons of working age (15-64 years old) for every person aged 65 years or over; in 2060 the ratio will be 2 to 1.
Shift to low-carbon economy linked to accelerated technological changes will impact the content of the jobs in the future - the need to equip people with skills for "green" jobs will imply changes in every workplace, being a comparable phenomenon to the ICT boom in the past years.
An ageing population will imply shrinking young cohorts entering initial E&T systems and labour markets. In view of the high youth unemployment in Europe, it is extremely important for initial vocational education and training (IVET) to equip the learners with skills relevant to evolving labour markets and key competences.
The traditional life sequence of "training-work-retirement" will be replaced by mid-life changes of careers and occupations. This will imply that also adults will increasingly be called to update their skills and competences through continuing vocational education and training (CVET). The recent Experts Report on New Skills for New Jobs contains a series of recommendations to address such challenges, a large number of which call on reforms of the VET systems.

3. A need for higher levels of skills
Past and future structure of jobs by education attainment level 0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
1996
2001
2006
2015
2020
High
Medium
Low
+ 15,6 million
high qualified level
+ 3,7 million qualified
at medium level
! Up-skilling !
According to the forecasting of future skills needs up to 2020 carried out by Cedefop in February 2010, there will be 15,6 millions new jobs in the EU for graduates from the tertiary level and 3,7 million new jobs for secondary level graduates. In contrast, those with no or low formal diplomas will have to compete for fewer jobs; almost 12 million fewer.
The forecasts of future skills needs show a greater demand for medium and high level qualifications up to 2020 combined with a need to replace a significant number of people leaving for retirement and to react to evolving skills requirements. In conclusion, the demand for medium-level VET qualifications will increase.
- 12 million qualified
at low level
Source: Cedefop, data for EU 27 + Switzerland and Norway

4. The Copenhaguen process
Bruges Communiqué (2010)
Bordeaux communiqué (2008)
It is in the economical context described before that the Copenhaguen process will be reviewed this year.
For the moment , the Bordeaux communiqué is the current guide for VET policy orientations
The Bordeaux communiqué highlighted in November priorities:
Implementing the tools and schemes recently adopted in the field of VET, be it at national or European level (EQF, Europass, ECVET, EQAVET)
Heightening the quality and attractivness of VET systems
Improving the links between VET and the labour market
Strengthening European cooperation arrangements
The Bordeaux communiqué highlights 3 major areas where work is necessary in order to promote the excellence of quality of VET, namely through developing quality assurance mechanisms by promoting the Recommendation on the establishment of a European quality assurance reference framework, participating in the European network for quality assurance and supporting the implementation of EQF by promotin,g mutual trust
Copenhaguen Communiqué (2000)

5. VET communication Education & Training 2020 Europe 2020
New skills for new jobs
Bruges Communiqué (2010)
Bordeaux communiqué (2008)
It is in the economical context described before that the Copenhaguen process will be reviewed this year.
Bruges review
The EU Ministers in charge of VET, European Social Partners and the European Commission will review the priorities under the Copenhagen process in December 2010
The Bruges review builds on the following main references
Of course on the Bordeaux communiqué
but also on
Europe 2020
EU is setting the strategy for the next decade - The Europe 2020 Strategy puts a strong emphasis on education and training to promote “smart, sustainable and inclusive growth”. The Bruges review will strongly support the Europe 2020 Strategy, particularly map out the potential of VET to its two Flagship Initiatives "An Agenda for new skills and jobs" and "Youth on the Move", including its Youth employment framework.as one can see the quality of human capital is seen as crucial for Europe's success and will be one of the main priority for the policy efforts in the EU in the next decade.
Then:
E&T 2020
The 4 priorities of E& T 2020 are the base for the Bruges review
and also for the VET communication I will come back on it later in this presentation
New skills for new jobs
The communication new skills for news jobs also put the emphasis on the need to better anticipate and match labour market and skills needs. In this context, it is important to reflect on the role of vocational education and training (VET) as a major source of skills and knowledge in Europe.
Communication on VET
The Communication will be the contribution of the Commission to the Bruges Review. The aim of the upcoming Communication is therefore to propose a vision for the future of VET and so contribute to the Bruges Review process.
Copenhaguen Communiqué (2000)

6. A new impetus for VET for 2020
VET should be:
Attractive
Accessible
Flexible
Inclusive
Supporting mobility
The communication “A new impetus for VET 2020”
We need a new vision for VET and with elements clearly linked to the 4 priorities of the Strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training - ET 2020:
1. Key role of VET in lifelong learning and mobility,
2. Increasing attractivness of VET quality and efficiency
3. equity and active citizenship -inclusive VET for inclusive societies
4. innovation and creativity including entrepreneurship
We believe that vocational education and training in Europe by 2020 should contribute to both excellence and equity in EU lifelong learning systems and thereby to the Europe 2020 objectives of smart and inclusive growth, with:
IVET as an attractive learning option with high relevance to labour market needs and pathways to higher education,
easily accessible CVET for people in different life situations facilitating skills development and career changes,
flexible systems based on the recognition of learning outcomes and supporting individual learning pathways,
adequate support for those at a disadvantage, and
cross-border mobility as an integral part of VET practices.

7. Recommendation on the establishment of a European quality assurance reference framework for VET – 18 June 2009
Legislative part
Recommendation to Member States
Intentions of the Commission
Technical annexes
Description of quality cycle
List of quality criteria and indicative descriptors
Quality indicators for VET

8. Regional and local authorities
The main stakeholders
European Parliament
Council
European Commission
EQAVET Network
Member States
Social partners
Nat.ref.points
VET providers
Regional and local authorities

9. Outcomes expected from the Member States
Design an approach to best use EQAVET and improve QA systems by June 2011
Use and develop EQAVET
Designate a Quality Assurance National Reference Point
Participate actively in EQAVET network
Undertake a review and report on the implementation process every four years
définir chacun, dans un délai de deux ans à compter de la date d'adoption de la présente recommandation, une stratégie visant à améliorer les systèmes d'assurance de la qualité au niveau national, le cas échéant, et à exploiter au mieux le cadre européen de référence pour l'assurance de la qualit
d'utiliser et de développer le cadre européen de référence pour l'assurance de la qualité,
de mettre en place, où cela n'existe pas encore, un point de référence national pour l'assurance de la qualité dans l'EFP
participer activement à un réseau européen pour l'assurance de la qualité dans l'EFP
tous les quatre ans à un réexamen, accompagné d'un rapport, du processus de mise en œuvre

10. Outcomes expected from national reference points (QANRPs)
Ensure that information is disseminated to stakeholders effectively
Inform stakeholders about the European Network activities
Brings together relevant bodies and involve social partners and all stakeholders concerned at national and regional levels
Take concrete initiatives to promote further development of EQAVET in the nat. context
Support actively implementation of European Network’s work programme
Support self evaluation as a complementary and effective means of QA in respect of the implementation of the European Network’s work programme
Maximising stakeholder involvement
Dissemination of information
Resources and technical & scientific support (to ensure the development of tools)
Building national and European HE/VET cooperation contact points
Supporting the EQF process (in terms of tools and guidelines)
Co-operate
Network
Share experience
Maximise effort and output
Learn from each other
Make different and diverse contributions

11. EQAVET governance Member States EQAVET Network Secretariat
ACVT DGVT LLP
Member States
EQAVET Network
European Commission
Steering committee
BodyCompositionRoles and tasks
1) The EQAVET network
Composition: two Member States' representatives, notably the QANRP and a second member officially appointed by the relevant ministries for VET quality assurance in the member States the social partners at European level, the European Commission, ETF and Cedefop.
Role: Contributes to the quality and overall coherence of the cooperation process for the implementation of EQAVET. Reports to ACVT and DGVT. Decides in cooperation with the EU Commission to the validation of the work programme of the secretariat
The QANRPs
Their responsibilities and/or legal competence should be clearly determined and published by the competent public authorities.They should be linked to the particular structures and requirements of each Member State and , in accordance with national practice, bring together existing relevant bodies and involve social partners and all stakeholders concerned at national and regional levels
2) The steering group
Composition: The European Commission, four representatives of the member States elected for two years renewable, one representative of each of the past, current and future Presidencies, the social partners.
Role
Insures continuity and linkage on behalf of the EQAVET Network and gives advice to the work of the secretariat.
3) The Secretariat
Composition: Contractor appointed by the Commission
Role: Supports and organises the activities of the network, develops service offers to the network (information, expertise etc.), assists the Commission in the process of technical and administrative management of the network
4) The Commission
Takes initiatives and supports the implementation of EQAVET in Member States. Chairs the EQAVET Network and the steering group. Reports to the European Parliament and to the Council.
Secretariat

12. Thank you for your attention!