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The outcomes of a special Eurobarometer survey, carried out in spring 2005, provided for the first time an insight into attitudes and opinions of citizens in the new Member States towards lifelong learning. The present report provides a detailed analysis of this survey. Taking into account the results of an analogous survey in the EU-15 in 2003, the authors try to capture major differences or possibly coherences in the perceptions, needs, motivations and preferences of citizens in the new and old Member States. The results of the 2005 Eurobarometer survey on lifelong learning show that new Member States' citizens are highly conscious about the importance of learning a lifetime, for both economic and social reasons. Results provide evidence that EU policies on lifelong learning gained a foothold in the new Member States. However, details of the analysis reveal the potential for further targeted policy intervention and measures.

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This Cedefop-Lifelong Learning Platform joint briefing paper aims to inform European institutions as well as national policy and decision makers on the issue of [an] integrated and holistic approach to lifelong learning. It also provides the context at a high level and share a few recommendations on ways to establish lifelong learning systems at local, regional and national level.

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The knowledge, skills and competences Europe needs to compete successfully in a global labour market is a major question on the European Union policy agenda. It is a question directly relevant to European citizens who want to know which knowledge, skills and competences will help them find or keep a job. Acknowledging the challenge, the 2007 Council Resolution 'New skills for new jobs' stressed the need to anticipate the skill needs - and skill gaps - emerging in the European labour market. In the short term, information on emerging skills needs is crucial, especially as several sectors already face skill shortages. The 2008 Spring European Council called for a comprehensive assessment of skill requirements in Europe up to the year 2020. This request has also been taken up in the June 2008 Council conclusions 'Anticipating and matching labour market needs, with special emphasis on youth - a jobs and skills initiative'. Information on skill needs at national level is no longer enough. A European labour market requires European-level information. Through its analysis of skills needs at European level, Cedefop took the initiative to help fill this knowledge gap. Cedefop's analysis, carried out in 2007, provides a consistent and comprehensive medium-term forecast of employment and skill needs across Europe and has made a major contribution to identifying labour market trends. To complement the information, in 2009, Cedefop will publish a skill supply forecast analysing possible future labour market imbalances. Cedefop intends to produce demand and supply forecasts regularly to help make skill needs in Europe more transparent. Cedefop's original analysis covered 2006-15. This booklet extends its forecast on skill needs in Europe to 2020. The forecast covers 25 EU Member States plus Norway and Switzerland. It analyses skill needs by broad sectors, occupational groups and broad qualifications levels and discusses possible policy implications. It is hoped this text will support not only policy-makers and researchers working on skill needs, but also social-partners and practitioners.

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The aim of the ADAPT community initiative was to help the workforce adapt to industrial change and to promote growth, employment and the competitiveness of companies in the European Union. This report, aimed at contributing to the current debate on lifelong learning in Europe, was commissioned by CEDEFOP at the end of the initiative to analyse those projects which illustrated good practice in lifelong learning. The focus of the report is on the key findings of ADAPT projects on workplace-oriented learning and learning networks. Suggestions are made based on project results and structured around the key messages of the European Commission’s ‘Memorandum on lifelong learning’ (indexed at TD/IRD 88.400). The chapters are: Introduction; New basic skills for all; More investment in human resources; Innovation in teaching and learning; Value learning; Rethinking guidance and counselling; Bringing learning closer to home; Learning networks; Lifelong learning, innovations from ADAPT. Show less

This booklet focuses on some of the main aspects of vocational education and training (VET) in Italy. It provides an outline of the structure and characteristics of the training system and the challenges it faces. The booklet includes a chart of VET in the Italian education and training system and some education and training statistics. Show less

The European Union (EU) hopes to become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economic area in the world by 2010 and making lifelong learning a reality for all citizens is the guiding principle for meeting this goal. This booklet contains the initial highlights of the Eurobarometer survey, which directly asks citizens their opinion of lifelong learning, and includes a brief country profile of Greece, the EU Presidency country at the time of publication. Findings of the survey include: nine in 10 European citizens think lifelong learning is important, at least to some extent; the majority of citizens think they learn best in informal settings; and social and personal reasons for learning outweigh work-related motives. Policy implications of these findings are also discussed. The contents are: Creating one world of lifelong learning - an integrated approach for an inclusive society; Skills for a Europe of knowledge; Lifewide learning and the diversity of learning; Incentives, motivations and intentions; Citizens’ views on lifelong learning in Greece. Show less

This second edition (the first edition is indexed at TD/INT 58.387) updates the description of initial and continuing vocational education and training (VET) in Belgium. The report begins with a presentation of the administrative, demographic and economic background in which the training system operates. A brief historical outline of the development of the VET system is followed by a detailed description of arrangements for initial and continuing vocational training and the supportive legislative and financial framework. Qualitative aspects including qualifications and certification, the training of teachers and trainers, and the availability of educational and vocational counselling, are also outlined. The final section discusses a number of present trends and developments relating to employment, the relationship between education and the business community, and the resulting challenges for policy makers. Show less

The European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) was established in 1975 and provides information on vocational education and training (VET), promotes and interprets research and identifies innovation, supports the specific needs of Cedefop's partners and provides forums for debate and links between policy makers, social partners, researchers and practitioners. The work program for 2001 provides a coherent approach to VET within its medium-term priorities for 2000-2003. In 2001 Cedefop will undertake an external assessment of its performance and impact and take into account the outcomes. Cedefop's activities in 2001 will continue within the four themes of: (i) promoting competences and lifelong learning; (ii) facilitating new ways of learning for a changing society; (iii) supporting employment and competitiveness; and (iv) improving European understanding and transparency. Show less

This publication is based on a 1999 CEDEFOP survey undertaken at the request of the European Commission in order to contribute to the validation of the outcomes of the Leonardo da Vinci Programme I in terms of methods, tools and instruments for anticipating qualifications and competence development and adapting vocational education and training systems. It provides an overview of the approaches taken and innovations adopted at the national level and compares approaches at the European level. There are four sections to this report: Preliminary synthesis; National reports; Bibliography/country references; Annotated bibliography. The 16 national reports are: Belgium (Dutch speaking) / Leen Vanaerschot and Rien Van Meensel; Belgium (French speaking) / Marc Ant; Denmark / Bruno Clematide, Finn Tidemand and Peter Ploughmann; Germany / Peter-W. Kloas; Greece / Theo Papatheodossipu; Spain / Nuria de la Fuente Teixido; France / Henriette Perker; Iceland / CIRCA; Italy / Mario Gatti and Maria Grazia Mereu; Luxembourg / Marc Ant; The Netherlands / Ben Hovels; Austria / Jorg Markowitsch; Portugal / INOFOR; Finland / Olli Poropudas and Kirsti Stenvall; Sweden / Ingrid Levander-Bergstroem; United Kingdom / John Konrad and Catherine O’Sullivan. Show less

The 2008 financial crisis and the persistent economic downturn that has followed have had a major impact on the European labour market. Taking their effects into account, Cedefop has produced its latest forecast for skilled labour supply and demand up to 2020. Cedefop's forecasts are unique in making a comparative analysis of the major trends in employment growth and decline for sectors, occupations and qualifications both across the European labour market as a whole and for individual European Union Member States. According to the forecasts, assuming a slow but steady recovery, up to 2020, the European economy will create some eight million new jobs. However, nearly 10 times as many jobs, around 75 million, will need to be filled as people retire or leave the workforce. Although there will be job openings for all types of occupations, most new jobs will be at the higher and lower end of the skill spectrum bringing a risk of job polarisation. Weak employment growth indicates that there may be an oversupply of people with high-level qualifications in the short term, but by 2020, Europe will have the most highly-qualified workforce in its history. This publication provides the data behind these trends and discusses the challenges they pose for policy-makers.

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