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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 Bulgaria. 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, 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

The European Training Foundation, in agreement with the European Commission, has undertaken a series of in depth reviews of the labour markets in the Western Balkan countries with the aim to contribute to a better understanding of their functioning and identify areas for further work in the fields of employment policy and education and training reform. Specifically, these reviews: (1) analyse the economic context in the Western Balkan countries and in particular the pace of the economic restructuring process and its impact on jobs and employment (chapter one); (2) analyse recent trends in labour markets with the aim of identifying major challenges in the labour markets in terms of the economic restructuring process (chapter two); (3) assess policy responses and the institutional setting in which the challenges identified can be addressed, in the context of supporting economic restructuring and growth (chapter three); and (4) provide recommendations for further action (chapter four). The labour market challenges and the policy responses are examined against the four broad key objectives set out in the revised European Employment Strategy: increasing the adaptability of workers and enterprises; attracting more people to enter and remain in the labour market; investing more and more effectively in human capital; and ensuring better implementation of reforms through better governance.

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This report belongs to a series of country analyses developed by the European Training Foundation (ETF) at the end of 2005 for all countries in the Mediterranean region, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. It contains an overview of the country's social and economical contexts, an analysis of the educational system and a short review of the main initiatives in education and training carried out by international donors in the country. Assistance in Moldova should be given to strengthening the good results achieved so far in the ongoing reforms in the labour market system, keeping them in line with European standards in order to extend and better promote active labour market policies through active social partnership.

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The series of reports is indexed from TD/TNC 84.362 to TD/TNC 84.375. Show less

This report belongs to a series of country analyses developed by the European Training Foundation (ETF). It covers: Socioeconomic background; Key policy issues and strategies in the human resource development; EU (European Union) and other donor policies and interventions; Mid-term perspective ETF intervention strategies contributing to added value to national, EU and donor reform-support policies; Objectives and indicators for the Work Programme 2007. The ETF objective for 2007 is: European Commission Services are supported in the definition of relevant interventions in the field of education and training. Awareness of the need to address quality enhancement and relevance of holistic approach in education and training provision has increased.

There has been a clear shift from vocational education to general education during recent years. Participation in vocational education over the past 5 years has decreased from 22% to 8% of the population in secondary education, in a continued decline from much higher levels of participation after 1991. As a consequence, half the VET (vocational education and training) schools have already been closed. With hardly any investment in the VET sector, obsolete equipment and rapidly aging teaching staff, the sector is at risk of shrinking further and may even disappear in the coming 5 years. VET is more expensive than general education and often HE (Higher Education), since it requires equipment and consumables for training. Instructors in practical training have often left the schools in search of better employment elsewhere. The government has been trying to turn around the demise of VET schools. It is planning to abolish craft schools and introduce a new type of full-secondary VET, the professional lyceum. A new VET strategy is under discussion, proposing to turn group schools into regional training centres that can respond better to regional needs, starting a decentralisation process of VET, and increasing the role of stakeholders.

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The series of reports is indexed from TD/TNC 90.820 to TD/TNC 90.844. Show less

This report provides an overview of key policy developments in education, training and employment in Tunisia. The municipal elections that took place successfully in May 2018 brought the democratic transition to various regions in Tunisia. The relative stability of the coalition government and an improved security situation is helping to shift priorities towards economic development. Relaunching the economy, while maintaining social stability, is the main concern in Tunisia. The EU remains a key partner and donor for Tunisia. In May 2018, a second round of negotiations on the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) took place between Tunisia and the EU. Also in 2018, the EU and Tunisia collaborated on a number of new projects.

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The reform of education systems to provide for lifelong learning is a challenge for Central, East and South East European transition countries. This publication is the outcome of the European Training Foundation (ETF) project on the integration of work and learning, focusing on the experience of Hungary and Slovenia. The project was based on the view that a better integration of work and learning would increase the quality and relevance of vocational education and training for young people before entering the labour market and would become increasingly important for adults during their working life. A number of vocational schools and enterprises participated in pilot projects. National project teams cooperated with selected vocational training centres and enterprises. Training institutions were assisted in becoming ‘training companies’ and enterprises were assisted in becoming ‘learning organisations’. The cycle of activities included identifying the ‘work’ of the training company or the ‘learning’ potential of the enterprise, development of concepts, methods and materials, implementation of measures, development of the ‘train-the-trainers’ program, evaluation and dissemination. A change development approach focused on process learning was applied. The chapters are: Integration of work and learning: a challenge for education and employment systems in transition countries / Peter Grootings; Integration of work and learning: acting in processes - companies and schools on the way to a learning organisation / Gerhard Herz; The context for integration of work and learning in Hungary / Istvan Bessenyei, Gyorgy Martonfi; The context for IWL [integration of work and learning] in Slovenia / Ivan Svetlik; The Hungarian IWL cases / Gyorgy Martonfi, Istvan Bessenyei, Judit Saad, Eva Tot, Anna Imre; The Slovene IWL cases / Ivan Svetlik, Martina Trbanc, Anja Kopac; Policy recommendations for Hungary / Istvan Bessenyei, Gyorgy Martonfi, Eva Tot; Lessons and policy recommendations for Slovenia / Ivan Svetlik; Integrating work and learning: a lifelong learning perspective / Richard Sweet; Integration of work and learning: changing perspectives on human resources / Ben Hovels. Show less

The Torino Process is a review of vocational education and training (VET) policies and systems launched by the European Training Foundation (ETF) in all its partner countries in 2010. The aim of the exercise is to analyse the internal efficiency of VET systems and the contribution of VET policies and systems to broader policy objectives relating to sustainable economic and social development. The aim of this report is to make a contribution to the ongoing debate within the Egyptian [technical and vocational education and training] TVET community (national authorities, private sector and civil society together with international donors) on the current situation regarding the reform process and the future directions that must be taken if the TVET system is to fulfil the ambitious objectives and aspirations of Egyptian society.

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This report stresses the urgent need for redirection of [vocational education and training] VET to meet economy and labour market demand and to provide for the acquisition of new skills. Such action requires improvements in the quality, relevance and efficiency of VET provision and enhanced cooperation between educational service providers and the labour market. This paper calls for better balance between supply and demands in the labour market, principally through effective cooperation between educational institutions and employers.

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This report on curriculum reform in Central and Eastern Europe, is based on ten individual candidate country case studies derived from brief evaluation visits to each country, and the analysis of a detailed, standardised questionnaire distributed to the staff of local project management units (PMUs). The report sought to identify significant issues for a more extensive evaluation and recommendations for further reform action. The report contains a cross country analysis and individual summaries of the case studies. The summaries describe for each country the findings, the vocational education and training (VET) system, the new curriculum content and goals, the curriculum design process, and the challenges posed by the new curriculum. The analysis traces issues that form the evaluative framework for the outcomes of the Phare vocational training programs in the ten candidate countries. Two major perspectives provide the basis for the analysis and its conclusions; the policy and strategy perspective, and the individual and pedagogic perspective. The analysis begins with a brief overview of the change process undergone by VET training systems in Europe in recent years. The authors then examine issues of policy and strategy including diminishing resources, qualifications and youth unemployment, and lifelong learning and adult education. The analysis of the curriculum content and process involves issues such as the integration of general education and VET, teacher training, and translating labour market needs into curricula. Recommendations are discussed in relation to both major perspectives. Show less

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 Torino Process analysis in Kosovo (under United Nations Security Council resolution 1244) has been a participatory process, engaging all the key Kosovo institutions and stakeholders including the development partners active in the VET sector in Kosovo. The aim of this report is to provide a concise, documented analysis of VET reform in Kosovo, including the identification of key policy trends, challenges, constraints, good practices and opportunities. The analysis of the report builds on a range of complementary quantitative and qualitative evidence, such as statistical data and indicators, good practices, qualitative assessments and existing studies and reports, drawn from different stakeholders in Kosovo and the donor community.

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