ETUCE Secretariat ETUCE Secretariat VET Round Table VET Round Table Budapest Budapest October 2009October 2009

Developments and actions in the European Union’s policies on Vocational

Education and Training

In this presentationIn this presentation Overall EU policy on VET (Copenhagen Overall EU policy on VET (Copenhagen

process)process) Common European Frameworks and toolsCommon European Frameworks and tools EC Communication “New skills for new jobs” EC Communication “New skills for new jobs” ETUCE actions and positions ETUCE actions and positions National developments and challenges ahead National developments and challenges ahead

Copenhagen ProcessCopenhagen Process Part of the Lisbon Strategy (ET 2010)Part of the Lisbon Strategy (ET 2010) Refers to the competence of “supporting Refers to the competence of “supporting

and supplementing” national education and supplementing” national education policies (Art. 149 of EC Treaty)policies (Art. 149 of EC Treaty)

A set of recommendations A set of recommendations Inspired by the Bologna process Inspired by the Bologna process The implementation takes timeThe implementation takes time

Copenhagen ProcessCopenhagen Process The process is reviewed every two years The process is reviewed every two years ““CommuniquésCommuniqués””

Copenhagen 2002Copenhagen 2002 Maastricht 2004Maastricht 2004 Helsinki 2006Helsinki 2006 Bordeaux 2008Bordeaux 2008

Aim : create a political dynamic on VET, encourage Aim : create a political dynamic on VET, encourage member states to coordinate the VET systemsmember states to coordinate the VET systems

The “real job” is to be done nationallyThe “real job” is to be done nationally

The focus on learning The focus on learning outcomesoutcomes

Background question: how to measure Background question: how to measure knowledge? knowledge?

Learning outcomes can be Learning outcomes can be formalformal or or non-non-formalformal

Non-formal outcomes should be taken into Non-formal outcomes should be taken into account in the knowledge’ assessment account in the knowledge’ assessment

EU Council, May 2004 (conclusions): EU Council, May 2004 (conclusions): Towards Common European Principles for Towards Common European Principles for the identification and validation of non-the identification and validation of non-formal and informal learning formal and informal learning

A wide range of toolsA wide range of tools EuropassEuropass European Framework of key competencesEuropean Framework of key competences EQFEQF European Credit system for VET (ECVET)European Credit system for VET (ECVET) European Quality Assurance Reference European Quality Assurance Reference

framework for VET (EQARF)framework for VET (EQARF)

Translating vs. HarmonisingTranslating vs. Harmonising

Europass (2004)Europass (2004) Established by decision of Council and Established by decision of Council and

Parliament in December 2004 Parliament in December 2004 A portfolio of documents A portfolio of documents CV and language passport, managed by CV and language passport, managed by

CEDEFOP CEDEFOP http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/

Delivered by national authorities awarding the Delivered by national authorities awarding the original VET certificatesoriginal VET certificates : : Certificate supplement Certificate supplement Diploma supplement Diploma supplement Europass mobility (information on periods Europass mobility (information on periods

spent abroad by the learner) spent abroad by the learner)

The European Framework for The European Framework for Key Competences for LLL Key Competences for LLL

(2006)(2006) 1. Communication in the mother tongue1. Communication in the mother tongue 2. Communication in foreign languages2. Communication in foreign languages 3. Mathematical competence and basic 3. Mathematical competence and basic

competences in science and technologycompetences in science and technology 4. Digital competence4. Digital competence 5. Learning to learn5. Learning to learn 6. Social and civic competences6. Social and civic competences 7. Sense of initiative and entrepreneurship7. Sense of initiative and entrepreneurship 8. Cultural awareness and expression8. Cultural awareness and expression

European Qualification European Qualification Framework (EQF)Framework (EQF)

Adopted as recommendation by the Adopted as recommendation by the European Parliament and Council on 23 European Parliament and Council on 23 April 2008.April 2008.

Designed for authorities in charge of Designed for authorities in charge of national and sectoral qualifications systems national and sectoral qualifications systems

8 reference levels, based on 8 reference levels, based on learning learning outcomesoutcomes , covering all levels of Education. , covering all levels of Education.

Levels are defined by : « Knowledge », Levels are defined by : « Knowledge », « Skills » and « Competence »« Skills » and « Competence »

Examples of descriptors Examples of descriptors

Knowledge Skills Competence

Level 1

Level 5

Level 8

Basic general knowledge

Basic skills/simple tasks

Work under direct supervision

Specialised factual/theoritical

cognitive/practical skills

management/review of others

most advanced (e.g.PhD)

highly specialized skills

full autonomy/management

EQF needs related NQFEQF needs related NQF In one given country, one type of In one given country, one type of

education programme means one education programme means one level of EQFlevel of EQF

Determination of the NQF and its Determination of the NQF and its relation with the EQF is a complex relation with the EQF is a complex and sensitive process. Social partners and sensitive process. Social partners in education should be consulted. in education should be consulted.

If the system works : somebody from If the system works : somebody from one country moves to another and one country moves to another and has access to job or further education has access to job or further education according to his or her EQF level.according to his or her EQF level.

European Credit System for European Credit System for Vocational Education and Vocational Education and

Training (ECVET)Training (ECVET) Two rounds of consultation 2007-Two rounds of consultation 2007-

20082008 Recommendation by Parliament and Recommendation by Parliament and

Council : June 2009Council : June 2009 Credit system comparable to ECTS Credit system comparable to ECTS

for VET for VET

European Credit System for European Credit System for Vocational Education and Vocational Education and

Training (ECVET)Training (ECVET) A A framework to describe qualifications in framework to describe qualifications in

terms of units of learning outcomesterms of units of learning outcomes 1 year full time VET = 60 points 1 year full time VET = 60 points The qualifications acquired in different The qualifications acquired in different

contexts can be transferred in home contexts can be transferred in home context for certification context for certification

European Credit System for European Credit System for Vocational Education and Vocational Education and

Training (ECVET)Training (ECVET)

European Quality Assurance European Quality Assurance Reference framework for Reference framework for

Vocational Education and Training Vocational Education and Training (EQARF)(EQARF)

Proposed in 2008Proposed in 2008 Adopted as recomendation by Council and Adopted as recomendation by Council and

Parliament in June 2009Parliament in June 2009 A reference framework to assess the A reference framework to assess the

member states VET systemsmember states VET systems IndicatorsIndicators regard : regard :

setting of policy goals/objectives and planning, setting of policy goals/objectives and planning, implementation phase, implementation phase, evaluation phase,evaluation phase, review. review.

Common points and trends of the Common points and trends of the VET toolsVET tools

Overall objective to promote VET, LLL and Overall objective to promote VET, LLL and Mobility Mobility

Political aim to push member states in this Political aim to push member states in this direction direction

Process accelerating in 2008/2009 (adoption of Process accelerating in 2008/2009 (adoption of recommendations on EQF, ECVET and EQARF)recommendations on EQF, ECVET and EQARF)

Focus on the national implementation of NQFsFocus on the national implementation of NQFs Set-up common frameworks, including indicators, Set-up common frameworks, including indicators,

for different aspects of VET for different aspects of VET The amount of tools present a risk of confusion or The amount of tools present a risk of confusion or

“lasagna effect”“lasagna effect”

New Skills for New Jobs New Skills for New Jobs EC Communication, December 2008EC Communication, December 2008 ““Anticipating and Matching Labour Markets Anticipating and Matching Labour Markets

Needs”Needs” Invite the member states to participate in the Invite the member states to participate in the

forecasting of LM needs and develop forecasting of LM needs and develop appropriate education, VET and LLL strategies appropriate education, VET and LLL strategies

1 M supplementary teachers needed by 2015 1 M supplementary teachers needed by 2015 in EU 27in EU 27

Emphasis the role of social partners for LLL Emphasis the role of social partners for LLL and VET systems and VET systems

The ETUCE Action : The ETUCE Action : Representations Representations

Member of the ET 2010 Coordination GroupMember of the ET 2010 Coordination Group Participation in Clusters :Participation in Clusters :

Teachers and trainers Teachers and trainers Sub-group on VET and Trainers Sub-group on VET and Trainers Key competences Key competences Higher Education Higher Education

Member of the NESSEMember of the NESSE EC’s Advisory Panel on EQFEC’s Advisory Panel on EQF EC’s Liaison Forum EC’s Liaison Forum Tripartite SD meetings Tripartite SD meetings Advises the ETUC for the Advisory Committee on VET Advises the ETUC for the Advisory Committee on VET Member of ETUC Task force on VET Member of ETUC Task force on VET MemberMember of CEDEFOP Board (consultant) of CEDEFOP Board (consultant) Invited to education and VET- related events (EC, EU Presidencies Invited to education and VET- related events (EC, EU Presidencies

and and CEDEFOP)CEDEFOP)

The ETUCE Action : The ETUCE Action : StatementsStatements

EQF : December 2005, October 2006EQF : December 2005, October 2006 Consultation on ECVET : April 2007, Consultation on ECVET : April 2007,

November 2008November 2008 ET 2010 : December 2005, May 2006, ET 2010 : December 2005, May 2006,

December 2007 December 2007 ET Beyond 2010: May 2008, February ET Beyond 2010: May 2008, February

2009 2009 New Skills for New Jobs : February 2009 New Skills for New Jobs : February 2009

The ETUCE positions The ETUCE positions Welcome the VET tools but points out :Welcome the VET tools but points out :

Risk of confusion between the toolsRisk of confusion between the tools Shouldn’t lead to administrative burdensShouldn’t lead to administrative burdens Require appropriates investments Require appropriates investments Require the participation of social partners for national Require the participation of social partners for national

implementation implementation ““Educate for life” vs. “Match the market’s needs”Educate for life” vs. “Match the market’s needs” VET and LLL do not replace welfare VET and LLL do not replace welfare The link between mobility and socio-economic The link between mobility and socio-economic

background must be take into considerationbackground must be take into consideration Ministers have to be coherent between Brussels and Ministers have to be coherent between Brussels and

back home back home

National implementation National implementation All the VET tools can work only with a All the VET tools can work only with a

strong national implementation strong national implementation This implementation is a sensitive process, This implementation is a sensitive process,

in which the ETUCE MOs are to be in which the ETUCE MOs are to be involved in. involved in.

ETUCE MOs are also to be involved in the ETUCE MOs are also to be involved in the national design of the tools, e.g. the EQF national design of the tools, e.g. the EQF

If it is not the case yet, ETUCE will support If it is not the case yet, ETUCE will support demanding members in their contacts with demanding members in their contacts with national authorities national authorities

National Implementation National Implementation : usefull links : usefull links

Annual CEDEFOP/DG EC Report monitoring the Annual CEDEFOP/DG EC Report monitoring the Development of National Qualifications Frameworks in Development of National Qualifications Frameworks in Europe. Country by Country with contacts details of Europe. Country by Country with contacts details of relevant authorities. Latest version : September 2009. relevant authorities. Latest version : September 2009. http://www.cedefop.europa.eu/etv/Information_resourchttp://www.cedefop.europa.eu/etv/Information_resources/Bookshop/publication_details.asp?pub_id=562 es/Bookshop/publication_details.asp?pub_id=562

National Europass Centres: National Europass Centres: http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/europass/home/vernhttp://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/europass/home/vernav/Information+and++Support/av/Information+and++Support/National+Europass+Centres.csp National+Europass+Centres.csp

DG EC, VET Policy : DG EC, VET Policy : http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-policy/dhttp://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-policy/doc60_en.htm oc60_en.htm

Thanks for Thanks for attention !attention !www.csee-etuce.org www.csee-etuce.org dpoissonneau@csee-dpoissonneau@csee-

etuce.org etuce.org