Managing vocational education and training in central and eastern European countries: report of a programme on the training of researchers in the management of vocational education and training

The vocational education and training systems of countries in central and eastern Europe require major reform in terms of structure, curriculum and teaching methods in order to build and sustain the qualified workforce necessary to support the development of an economy able to compete on international markets. This reform requires changes in the management of the vocational education and training system and all countries in this region have initiated reforms in the structure, organisation and management of their systems. The ability to monitor changes, analyse present conditions and evaluate the impact of reforms is essential for policymakers and educational administrators. A program undertaken by the UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) trained researchers in these countries in the area of the management of the vocational education and training system. The aim was to build national research capacity and a network for exchange of information and experience between countries in the region. In the framework of this program, five researchers from Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania and Poland undertook research in their own countries and the resulting reports were discussed during a workshop held at the IIEP. This volume contains the four country reports along with an outline of the major research findings and a summary of the workshop discussions. Part one, 'Major issues in the management of vocational education and training: summary of the debates in the final workshop' contains: Managing vocational education and training in Central and Eastern Europe: outline of recent developments and major issues / Olivier Bertrand and Francoise Caillods (p. 7-24); Workshop papers: The process for changing the architecture of the education system in Eastern Europe / Peter Grootings (p. 27-36); Improving the responsiveness of vocational education and training: flexibility and/or consistency? / Marianne Durand-Drouhin and Olivier Bertrand (p. 37-46). Part two, 'Country reports' contains: Questions and answers in Hungarian vocational education during the transition period / Judit Lannert (p. 49-130); Restructuring vocational education in Poland within the context of a free market economy / Stefania Szczurkowska (p. 131-191); Changing teaching/learning conditions in the industrial vocational training institutions and employment situation of graduates in Lithuania / A. Vidimantas Bumelis and Violeta Rimkeviciene (p. 193-274); Diagnosis of the Estonian vocational education system: indicators for evaluation and monitoring / Reet Neudorf (p. 275-353). Appendices list the workshop program and the list of participants.

The vocational education and training systems of countries in central and eastern Europe require major reform in terms of structure, curriculum and teaching methods in order to build and sustain the qualified workforce necessary to support the development of an economy able to compete on international markets. This reform requires changes in the management of the vocational education and training system and all countries in this region have initiated reforms in the structure, organisation and management of their systems. The ability to monitor changes, analyse present conditions and ...  [+] Show more