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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 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.

Published abstract. Show less

Cedefop is the European Union's (EU's) agency to support the development of vocational education and training (VET) policies. Cedefop's work programme for 2011 is grouped around the following priorities: (1) informing European VET policies; (2) interpreting European trends in and challenges for skills, competences and learning; (3) assesing VET's benefits; and (4) raising the profile of VET. Show less

The main stories in this issue are 'Are we prepared for the future of work?' in which Konstantinos Pouliakas explains the impacts of digitalisation on skills and jobs and 'VET for prosperity in Europe' in which Bulgaria's Education Minister Krasimir Valchev talks about the role of vocational education and training in bringing prosperity to Europe. Other articles include: Visiting MEPs praise Cedefop's work / Rosy Voudouri; Learning providers at the heart of VET / Tina Bertzeletou; EQF celebrates 10th anniversary / Slava Pevec Grm; Weaving a stronger social fabric for Europe: the European pillar of social rights / Eleonora Schmid; Australia seeks real skills for real careers / Karen Andrews, Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills. The issue also contains information about the latest Cedefop publications and upcoming events. Show less

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

This journal caters for the interests of academics, decision-makers and practitioners in the field of initial and continuing training and is published three times a year in several official languages: German, English, Spanish and French.

Articles in this issue include: d'Iribarne traces trends in European education and vocational training policy from the Treaty of Rome to the present day; Ruberti looks at the Union's vocational training policy; Clemenceau cites the aims of vocational training policy in relation to the Treaty on European Union and the main orientations of the Leonardo programme; Kastrissianakis outlines the achievements of the European Social Fund (ESF); Petrella addresses the four snares within which an ever more liberalised, deregulated, privatised and competition-driven market economy has imprisoned vocational training policy; Planas and Casal evaluate the European Social Fund (ESF) projects and programmes; Seyfried examines the significance of the Community initiatives 'Human resource' of the European Social Fund; Lorenzen reports on the development of two projects which were devised by young people and their trainers in training centres in Germany, Spain, Italy and Denmark from 1991 to 1994; Lenske comments on the organisation of binational pilot projects for the vocational training of young foreigners; Freitas looks at programmes to promote cooperation and mutual exchange of knowhow among local authority officers of cities in Europe dealing with ethnic minority policies; Sorge analyses the way international comparative research is conducted.

For individual entries see TD/INT 55.224 to TD/INT 55.234. Show less

This information note examines work based learning in the form of apprenticeships in three member states: Latvia, Lithuania and Malta. Latvia is developing a new apprenticeship-type scheme which was piloted in six vocational schools, beginning in September 2013. In Lithuania, the policy framework supports apprenticeship, but more work needs to be done. Malta is reforming its apprenticeship system in order to increase quality and labour market relevance. Show less

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

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