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This publication has been prepared by the interagency technical vocational education and training (TVET) group on skill mismatch in digitised labour markets, to support experts and policy-makers who wish to engage in discussion on the potential of web-based big data for skills policy. It outlines how such data can be used to mitigate labour market challenges, reduce skills mismatches and strengthen the links between the labour market and education and training.

The focus is on overcoming conceptual and practical challenges and limitations, system development and using big data for skills policy in practice. Examples of big data initiatives from around the globe illustrate its potential and provide insight into how big data are already supporting policy-makers in shaping the futures of work and education.

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This report is one in a series that were prepared as part of an international research project on 'The assessment of management training needs at the achieved level of transition' in various Central and Eastern European countries. The project was implemented by the Central and East European Management Development Association (CEEMAN) and was sponsored by the European Training Foundation (ETF). This report presents the results of the cross-country analysis based on the five country reports from the first phase of the research. These country reports covered selected enterprises in Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Slovenia, and Moscow and the Ural Region, and concentrated on the issue of management training needs in manufacturing and service sector industries. The research was based on questionnaires which were sent out to general, human resources and individual managers. The aim was to understand training processes, approaches and practice in order to evaluate how training had been used as a response to evolving business needs and how it could be further developed in the future. This comparative report aims to review the main issues related to management training needs in this region and to identify some general issues and recommendations.

The five country reports are indexed from TD/TNC 64.52 to TD/TNC 64.56. Show less

This is one in a series of analytical reports that have been based on discussions and debates among the key actors within the Advisory Forum. Subgroup B was given training and retraining in regions as the theme for discussion and debate. Three principles were used to produce operational outputs. The principles were that: (1) it was accepted that regional level was opportune for running training and retaining programs within the framework of national orientations; (2) it rejected any model taken from an existing national situation but considered the regional approach of training and retraining as a long-term process; and (3) it gave no precise blueprint but rather general conditions for a successful management of training and retraining at the regional level. Two approaches are taken. Firstly, training and retraining are considered as a factor of regional development. Secondly, the region has to be regarded as an arena within which vocational education and training and the process of regionialising training and retraining systems and policy can operate. Show less

The European Union (EU) European Training Foundation (ETF) Frame Skills for the Future initiative, implemented in 2013 and 2014, has supported the development of comprehensive long-term visions for skills development for 2020, and the planning of comprehensive human resource development (HRD) policies in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey (the [South East Europe and Turkey] SEET countries). This report has three primary objectives: to outline the overall Frame process; to provide a general overview of the findings across the countries, comparing experiences and insights and the potential for follow-up action; and, to flag new proposals that can help to inform future initiatives. The report outlines the main achievements of the ETF Frame initiative, which rolled out a unique approach for using foresight to address, in a more coherent and comprehensive way, national skills needs up to 2020. A further innovation was the idea of combining foresight with a review of capacities for policy delivery and guidance and support for monitoring progress. The regional component provided the backdrop for peer learning, knowledge sharing and policy dialogues to promote regional cooperation.

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This report is one in a series prepared as part of an international research project on ‘The assessment of management training needs at the achieved level of transition’ in various Central and Eastern European countries. The project was implemented by the Central and East European Management Development Association (CEEMAN) and was sponsored by the European Training Foundation (ETF). This report covers selected enterprises in the Russian Federation and concentrates on the issue of management training needs in manufacturing and service sector industries. The study was carried out during 1998. The research was based on questionnaires, which were sent out to general, human resources and individual managers. The aim was to understand training processes, approaches and practice in order to evaluate how training has been used as a response to evolving business needs and how it can be further developed in the future. Show less

This is one in a series of analytical reports that have been based on discussions and debates among the key actors within the Advisory Forum. Subgroup D was given innovative practice in teacher training in vocational education and training as the theme for discussion and debate. This report is based on a survey that had the following four aims. The aims were: (1) to identify examples of innovations in initial and in-service vocational teacher and trainer training in EU, Phare and Tacis countries; (2) to collect Advisory Forum members' perceptions of problems and priorities relating to vocational teacher and trainer training; (3) to report on and disseminate conclusions relating to innovation in vocational teacher and trainer training; and (4) to inform the Work Programme of the European Training Foundation in which the development of teacher and trainer training is a priority. The report is set out in a number of sections. They cover examples of innovation in vocational teacher and trainer training, problems and priorities for vocational teacher and trainer training, identification of areas of innovation, strategies for vocational teacher and trainer training innovation, and recommendations for the future. Show less

The objective of this Issues Paper is to analyse the impact of global developments on skills demand in the ETF's partner countries and discuss implications for policy reforms to manage the transition of education, training and lifelong learning systems of the future. A team of international and national experts contributed to the paper by (i) collecting and analysing information, data and new ideas on the skills demands of the future in ETF partner countries; and (ii) exploring responses for the better management of the transition towards an inclusive future for the benefit of individuals and societies.

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This report is one in a series prepared as part of an international research project on ‘The assessment of management training needs at the achieved level of transition’ in various Central and Eastern European countries. The project was implemented by the Central and East European Management Development Association (CEEMAN) and was sponsored by the European Training Foundation (ETF). This report covers selected enterprises in the Poland and concentrates on the issue of management training needs in manufacturing and service sector industries. The study was carried out during 1998. The research was based on questionnaires, which were sent out to 20 industrial and service companies. The aim was to understand training processes, approaches and practice in order to evaluate how training has been used as a response to evolving business needs and how it can be further developed in the future. Show less

This report is one in a series that were prepared as part of an international research project on ‘The assessment of management training needs at the achieved level of transition’ in various Central and Eastern European countries. The project was implemented by the Central and East European Management Development Association (CEEMAN) and was sponsored by the European Training Foundation (ETF). This report covered selected enterprises in the Russia Federation and concentrates on the issue of management training needs in manufacturing and service sector industries. The study was carried out during 1998. The research was based on questionnaires, which were sent out to general, human resources and individual managers. The aim was to understand training processes, approaches and practice in order to evaluate how training has been used as a response to evolving business needs and how it can be further developed in the future. Show less

This issue contains the following vocational education and training (VET) related articles: 'Cooperation on education - making a difference to ordinary people's lives: Europe's education Commissioner on qualifications frameworks' by Rebecca Warden (p. 4-6), Jan Figel, Europe's Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth talks to the [European Training Foundation] ETF about the advantages of the European Qualifications Framework [EQF] and why entrepreneurial learning will be important in 2009; 'New regulation: a historic day for the ETF' by Bent Sorensen (p. 7-8), on Tuesday 16 December 2008, the European Parliament adopted a regulation reforming the mandate and governance of ETF; 'Francesco Panzica - the changing role of the ETF in Serbia: fourteen years of service to VET and labour market reform' by Rebecca Warden (p. 9), the ETF's country manager for Serbia, Francesco Panzica, has the distinction of working for the ETF before it even existed; 'Serbia country focus: reforms begin in earnest in Serbia' by Rebecca Warden (p. 10-11), European Union cooperation with Serbia has taken on a fresh impetus since the new government assumed power in April 2008. After years of relative isolation, the signing of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between Serbia and the [European Union] EU in April 2008 was a significant milestone. The agreement will strengthen trade and political links and paves the way for Serbia to be considered for EU accession at a later date; 'Education goes global with the ETF's contribution' by Fernando Heller (p. 12), the EQF was conceived as an instrument to promote internal mobility within the European single market. It is a common instrument which links national qualifications systems together, promoting worker mobility. ETF expert Vincent McBride tells 'Live and learn' why the EQF can be used as a 'link between local and global experiences' in education and training and why the European model can be a 'source of inspiration' for other countries; 'VET in Central Asia: the ETF as facilitator' by Fernando Heller (p. 13), VET has been marginalized for years in the debate on education reforms, but in recent times it has been back on government and donor reform agendas. To capitalize on its long experience in VET, the ETF is promoting an increased exchange of experience between the five Central Asian countries, looking at their challenges, plans and lessons learned in VET; 'Turin schools social inclusion: Balkan network studies Turin's drive for social inclusion' by Ard Jongsma (p. 14-15), a city with more than 100 different nationalities among its citizens, Turin has a lot of experience to share with its Balkan counterparts who are confronted with the dilemmas of social exclusion and the role that education and training can play in fighting it; 'MEDA-ETE dissemination days: MEDA-ETE - positive proof that countries can learn from each other' by Rebecca Warden (p. 16-17), after four years of hard work building regional cooperation, the MEDA Education and Training for Employment (MEDA-ETE) project is entering its final phase, that of publicising the results. Dissemination days have been held in nine participating countries, keeping the MEDA-ETE team constantly on the move from late October through to the last event in Ankara on 16 December last year; 'Enterprise spirit must break out of business schools: entrepreneurial learning - showing us how to get by in uncertain times' by Rebecca Warden (p. 18-19), the need for our education systems to teach people how to be entrepreneurial, take risks and seize new opportunities has been working its way up the political agenda for some time. The current economic crisis is only making this clearer as people realise that a range of new skills will be necessary if they are to weather the storm; and 'Is the new understanding of skills reflected in ways of measuring human capital?' by Siria Taurelli (p. 20-21), Siria Taurelli is ETF country manager for Moldova and project manager for knowledge management. She recently returned from a 13-month secondment to the World Bank in Washington where her work focused on how to measure human capital. While education policy thinking is constantly evolving, the same cannot be said for the ways of measuring human capital. In this article, Ms Taurelli looks at the mismatch in detail and explains why organisations such as the ETF should strive to back up their innovative policy thinking with equally innovative data, statistics and indicators. Show less