Youth guarantee and policy reform in VET in Denmark

Workshop 1 Senior Adviser Mr. Jan Reitz Jørgensen

Ministry of Education

15. October 2014

The Danish VET-system – Key features

1. The Danish VET-system plays a major role for growth and employment – demand for skilled labour will increase towards 2020.

2. VET-programmes qualifies students for the labour market as skilled workers – high performance in terms of transition to employment.

3. Based on the dual education and training principle – alternation between school-based and work based learning in a company (apprenticeship).

4. More than 100 main programmes are offered at three NQF levels of 2, 31/2 and 5 years duration.

5. Programmes offering double qualification in selected fields.

Side 2

Key features: continued

1. Shared responsibility between the state and social partners on:•Development and provision of programmes•Legal framework and governance including quality assurance •Financing and framework for company training (apprenticeship).

2. Programmes are developed by 50 sector skills committees (social partners) and is approved by the Ministry of Education.

3. Programmes are provided by more than 100 accredited self-governing VET-colleges (technical, business and social- and health schools).

4. Ministry of Education (Agency for quality and inspection) is responsible for monitoring the VET-system.

Side 3

Overall governance of IVET

Ministry of Education Legislation Financing Approve programmes and providers Monitoring/quality assurance

National Council - IVET Demand for new programmes Provision and accreditation Legal framework Demand for financing

50 Vocational Commitees Asses demand for training Develop training programmes Approve companies for training Advise national council

Provider Provider ProviderProviderProvider Provider Provider

Side 5

Basic programmes

The dual princple in Danish VET

Flexible durance typically 3 - 3½ years

School based training Work based training

Main programmes

ACCES TO PROGRAMMES

Side 6

VET - Programmes

Basic programmes Main programmes Specialisationsand steps

1 Motor vehicle, aircraft etc. 6 programmes 22

2 Building and construction 15 programmes 38

3 Construction and services 3 programmes 6

4 Animals plants and nature 9 programmes 31

5 Body and style 3 programmes 4

6 Human food 11 programmes 29

7 Media production 7 programmes 10

8 Business 8 programmes 25

9 Production and technology 30 programmes 71

10 Electricity, IT and management 7 prorammes 27

11 Health, care and pedagogy 4 programmes 7

12 Transport and logistics 7 programmes 31Side 7

A few figures on VET - 2013

•46.000 enrolled in basic programmes

•80.000 enrolled in a main programmes – Apprenticeships

•8.000 enrolled in school based main programmes

50.000 new apprenticeship agreements in companies with in a year - still lack of company training placement

Side 8

Key challenges for VET

•Number of young people in VET has decreased from 32% in 2001 to 19% in 2012.

•To many low performers in Danish and Math among many young people who starts on a VET programme – 1 out of 5.

•High drop out rates in VET – 28% in basic programmes and 19% in main programmes.

•Lack of apprentice placements in many sectors despite a number of initiatives – Initiatives in 2013 to increase placements has been taken.

• 1/3 of students in VET is beyond 25 years (adult apprentices) which to some extend is making it more difficult for young people to get apprenticeship contract in companies.

Youth guarantee policy initiativesPolicy agreement on better VET programmes and

a strengthened education guarantee, Nov. 2012:

Overall objective:

• Increase number of young people completing a VET-programme (95% target)

3 key elements:

• A reinforced education guarantee promoting more training places including 12 initiatives – 50 Placement Training Centres in VET

• Increase quality in vocational education and training programmes including 7 initiatives -

• Improve guidance to 15 -17 years young people and bridge building programmes from compulsory school to upper secondary education including 6 initiatives

Financing: 400 million euro (2013-2016)

Side 10

VET - Placement Training Centres

Overall objectives:

•Provide practical training for VET - students without an apprenticeship

agreement to complete a main programme

• Support VET- students in getting a apprenticeship agreement in a

company

ensures that all VET- students acquires a VET qualification

a school based alternative to an apprenticeship incl. work based learning

provides opportunities for short term agreements in companies.

increase number of companies training apprentices

Side 11

Reform 2015 in the Danish VET system

Four clear goals:

1. The vocational education and training programmes are to be an attractive first choice for more young people.

2. More VET students to complete a vocational education and training programme.

3. Students at vocational education and training colleges to become as competent as possible.

4. Trust in and wellbeing at vocational education and training colleges must be strengthened.

Side 12

VET -reform key elements

1. An attractive youth education environment - one year basic programmes for students coming from compulsory school

2. A Simpler and more transparent structure - 4 new broad basic programmes in stead of 12

3. Better opportunities to move on to higher education (NQF 5 and 6) including more VET double qualification programmes

4. New VET programmes for adults +25 years old (short track programmes + recognition of prior learning)

5. Improve quality in education and teaching including

interplay between school- and work based learning

Other VET- reform elements

1. Clear admission requirements and offers for all young people to access basic programmes

2. New VET-oriented stream in compulsory school at 10th

grade

3. New combined 2 year post compulsory Youth Education

4. Continued efforts increasing training places in companies and promoting the youth guarantee

5. Focusing of guidance activities and efforts

Side 14

Implementation and supporting initiatives

•VET –reform to bee in force from august 2015

• Implementation in close dialog with social partners and schools

•New framework on performance output and outcome key indicators

•Management and teacher development

•Learning consultants to improve practices and results.

Side 15

Questions