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This document brings together the latest information that the European Training Foundation (ETF) has compiled on the situation of vocational education and training in the countries [Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey] that will be covered by the Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA) to be launched by the European Union at the beginning of 2007. The country sections present an overview of the social and economic context of each of the IPA countries, an analysis of the education system and a short review of the main initiatives in education and training carried out by international donors in the country. Each country chapter also puts forward suggestions for future donor investments in the human resources development (HRD) sector.

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As part of the European Commission's support for the preparation of the second cycle of the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA II), the [European Training Foundation] ETF is facilitating the process in the enlargement countries through the Future Frame initiative. In Turkey there is a long tradition of technology foresight, and a nationwide exercise involving an extensive and broad range of stakeholders had already been undertaken in the country starting from 2003 to develop 'Vision 2023'. The Frame initiative has therefore focused its efforts on defining a skills vision and roadmap, identifying key targets and priority measures for the human resources development (HRD) sector within Vision 2023. The review of institutional arrangements (RIA) and monitoring components have been approached in a similar way and the results are presented in this report.

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Information and communication technologies are considered as particularly relevant in providing a foundation for lifelong learning of citizens. Making the new technologies work for the requirements of knowledge-based economies is a challenge for South Eastern Europe (SEE). This survey on technology enhanced learning in SEE countries offers policy-makers a means to better understand the ways in which e-learning as a tool can complement ongoing reform in the education and training sector. The survey highlights existing gaps and the policy measures that might be recommended to feed into the overall reform process in SEE countries.

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This paper provides an analytical review of the current state of vocational education and training (VET) in the candidate countries in Eastern and Central Europe and the MEDA region (Cyprus and Malta). It is intended to form the basis for further discussion between representatives of the candidate countries and the European Training Foundation’s Governing Board, to support the accession process of the candidate countries through the definition of their human resource needs, and to support strategic planning of future work by the ETF in these countries. The paper is based on in-depth discussion with representatives from the countries and the experience and expertise gained by the ETF in the last five years.

The paper consists of two parts. The first part presents a cross-country overview based on the analysis of the development of VET in each individual country. This section draws together common key areas where further improvement is required. The second part contains the study of the current state of development of VET in Latvia. The country study begins with an overall assessment and then examines initial vocational training and continuing vocational training. Elements such as the legal and conceptual framework, the administrative and institutional system, financing, human resources in VET administration and the key features of VET delivery, are described. The study concludes with an overview of key employment issues and identifies priority areas for future development assistance. The range of candidate country reports are indexed from TD/INT 60.291 to TD/INT 60.300 and from TD/INT 61.101 to TD/INT 61.102. Show less

This report provides an overview of key policy developments in education, training and employment in Georgia. In late 2017 and mid-2018, Georgia went through two rounds of government restructuring. The government is in the process of developing a new Labour Market Strategy, which is expected to be approved by the end of 2018. It is also discussing the draft Employment Service Act, which is expected to be adopted in 2019. In September 2018, the parliament adopted a new Law on Vocational Education and Training (VET), which is an important milestone for skills development and VET in Georgia. The VET law is a framework law that allows the government to develop the VET system with a lifelong learning perspective, giving it the flexibility to adjust the legal provisions to the needs of the labour market, economic development and learners. The law will also help better connect VET qualifications with higher education qualifications by ending the 'dead-end' perception of the current VET system.

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The Torino Process was launched by the European Training Foundation (ETF) in 2010 and is a biannual participatory analytical review of the status and progress of vocational education and training (VET) in the ETF partner countries. The aims are to acquire current knowledge about policies and their outcomes in a country, and to strengthen ownership, participation and the evidence base of policy formation.

The report provides an overview of the region based on the national reports, including a review of trends since the initial 2010 Torino Process regional report. The regional report follows the analytical framework of the national reports and in doing so is organised in line with the following building blocks: vision and state of the art in [vocational education and training] VET; external efficiency in terms of addressing demographic, economic and labour market needs; external efficiency in terms of addressing social demands for VET and promoting social inclusion; internal quality and efficiency of initial and continuing VET delivery; and governance and financing of the initial and continuing VET system and institutional capacities for change. The analysis finds that there is on-going progress in the region towards improved VET systems in policy formulation and implementation. It also finds that this policy progress is being made in a challenging context due to structural adjustments in national labour markets, either because of the transition to more market-oriented economies or as a result of recovery from the global financial crisis. In all countries, VET has grown in importance as a policy area. However, there is still a gap between policy progress and implementation.

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In June 2000, the Human Resources Development Working Group of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe identified employment and skills as a priority area for development in the international community’s support for the reconstruction of the Balkans region. The Group commissioned the European Training Foundation (ETF) to develop proposals for strategically addressing employment and manpower issues in the region. As a consequence, a meeting of experts was held in Tirana in November 2000 to discuss training issues for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the region. This report addresses the issues raised by one workshop from the meeting on employment and skills for SMEs in the construction sector. The working group concluded that the region’s construction industries require trade and management skills to meet the demands of the infrastructure improvements to be supported by the international community. The working group proposed three specific measures: (1) regional and national training centres for construction trade skills; (2) regional and national training centres for management disciplines; and (3) on-the-job training in trade and management skills for SMEs providing services on large infrastructure projects. The report contains the following chapters: Background; Manpower, small and medium-sized enterprises and the construction sector; The construction skills’ workshop; Results of workshop: practical training projects; Issues for construction skills development in South Eastern Europe; Conclusions and recommendations. Show less

This report is one of a series of country reports and factsheets which the European Training Foundation (ETF) is currently producing on the reform process in each of the partner countries. The ETF intends to produce these documents on an annual basis. The intention is to provide accurate, up to date information on the progress of reform. The sections of the report are: basic data, recent developments in the vocational education and training system, international assistance and co-operation, challenges and further needs, and possible priorities for future assistance. Show less

This report is one in a series published by the European Training Foundation (ETF) on the current vocational education and training (VET) systems in countries of the MEDA (Southern Mediterranean) region. The report provides an overview of the national vocational training system in Jordan along with coverage of the key challenges facing the country in the development of vocational training systems. The evaluation finds a high level of commitment in Jordan to a reform of the VET system as part of overall reform of the human resource development system. VET reform is already part of the Education Reform Programme begun in 1988 and international donors have played an important role in financing educational expenditure in Jordan. However, despite these efforts, reform of training for semi-skilled and skilled workers and the development of a continuing vocational training system still need more work. Another shortcoming is the lack of involvement of social partners. Improving the quality and reputation of the lower segments of the education system is a priority area. A number of recommendations are made: improving the lower and middle segments of the qualification structure; developing a modern apprenticeship type of vocational education for young people and continuing VET for adults; entrepreneurship training and training for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); and the development of an experimental training scheme for the hotel and tourism industry as a means of integrating a European VET approach within the existing Jordanian policy concept. The chapters are: Introduction; Executive summary; The changing context for vocational education and training; Analysis of the vocational education and training system; Summary and conclusions; Recommendations for further assistance in restructuring the vocational education and training system; Annexes.

This series of reports is indexed from TD/TNC 71.707 to TD/TNC 71.712. Show less

This brief paper stresses that education and training are essential for economic development and civil society and must be central to the reconstruction process in South-Eastern Europe. It outlines the social and economic benefits of a commitment to human resource development (HRD) and outlines the main principles underpinning the European Training Foundation's HRD priorities. It provides a brief and broad overview of the transition process within South-Eastern European countries such as Bulgaria and Romania and discusses some of the challenges facing the countries that have been directly affected by the recent conflicts in South-Eastern Europe. The author stresses that while, at the macro level, South-Eastern Europe suffers from economic collapse and ethnic tension, at the micro level there are also many examples of economic development and cooperation. Ten key points are addressed in this paper, including the need for: a detailed national development plan for HRD; increased institution-building and staff development; clarity and streamlining of the legal, financial and institutional environment for HRD; provision of adult education for the economy of the region; ensuring the quality and content of training for both economic development and civil society; and increased coordination of donor interventions.

The full volume of papers is indexed at TD/INT 61.20. Show less