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This report describes a study designed to identify opportunities within Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan, for improving the support available for management and entrepreneurial development in order to stimulate the growth of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The focus of the study is on the supply or provider side of management development support but also considers the demand for such support from SMEs and the role of intermediaries in assisting enterprises to access this support. The study includes individual entrepreneurs, micro enterprises (those with up to four employees) and SMEs (those employing between five and 49 people). Management development support is defined as any type of intervention used to help SMEs survive and grow, including all forms of management and entrepreneurial training and other types of support such as information, advice and guidance. The report is divided into two sections. The first provides a cross-country analysis of the current situation in Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt and attempts to identify some common trends in management development support for SMEs in these three countries. The second part provides an individual country analysis of the situation in each country. Each country analysis includes the following sections: (1) an overview of the socioeconomic context; (2) a summary of the situation in regard to SMEs, the environment within which they operate and their potential for growth; (3) a critical overview of the training and support currently available to managers and entrepreneurs in SMEs; (4) an overview of the support and the impact created by donors’ interventions; and (5) recommendations on how to improve this training and support. Where relevant, case studies in a box format provide illustrative examples of how concepts have been put into practice. Show less

In its work programme for 2005 the European Training Foundation (ETF) included a glossary presenting the Russian language version of key terms used in European vocational education and training (VET) policy. The aim of the project was to support cooperation with ETF partner countries in the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy and EU [European Union] development policy. The glossary is based on the publication 'Terminology of vocational training policy: a multilingual glossary for an enlarged Europe' published in 2004 by the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) [indexed at TD/TNC 82.187] and is intended for researchers and practitioners and more generally for all those involved in VET policy. It does not represent an exhaustive inventory of the terminology used by VET specialists; rather it identifies key terms that are essential for an understanding of current VET policy in Europe. This work has been prepared in collaboration with ETF partners and VET experts in Russian-speaking countries. It is in two languages, namely English as included in the Cedefop glossary, plus Russian. The glossary is presented in English alphabetical order. Each term is presented in the following order: English and Russian. Each entry consists of the following elements: (1) term (in English); (2) definition: gives the meaning of the term; (3) comment (optional): illustrates the definition; (4) source: indicates the origin of the information; (5) related term(s) (optional): gives cross-references to terms that are related, opposite, etc.; and (6) the above elements in Russian. Annexes contain: an alphabetical permuted index, allowing terms to be found using one word from which they are composed; and an alphabetical index for each of the two languages, in the following order: English and Russian.

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Evidence-based policy making is widely discussed in many countries as a way of ensuring more transparent and robust policies, and making policy-makers more accountable for meeting the needs and expectations of the constituencies they serve. In 2010, the [European Training Foundation] ETF launched the Torino Process with a view to offering interested partner countries a framework and technical support aimed at supporting progress in the [vocational education and training] VET area. The exercise, which will be repeated every two years, is ultimately intended to respond to the interest in robust assessment and in resources for VET policy making. This report presents the main findings of the Torino Process 2010, consolidating the findings of the individual country reports along the different dimensions deemed relevant to assessing VET systems and measuring VET policy progress.

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The theme of this yearbook is evaluation and monitoring of vocational education and training (VET) systems and the role of evidence-based policy in VET reforms in [European Training Foundation] ETF partner countries. Chapters include: Introduction: concepts and methodologies underpinning the ETF’s analytical reviews and policy facilitation / Soren Nielsen; The Torino process: concepts, approach, methodologies and findings / Marie Dorleans; The Torino Declaration and key messages from the Torino conference / Peter Greenwood and Dagmar Ouzoun; The Torinet case / Madlen Serban; From policy analysis to policy facilitation, the key is capacity building / Manuela Prina; From analysis to understanding / Evelyn Viertel and Soren Nielsen; Understanding vocational education and training as a ‘system’ / Manfred Wallenborn; Evidence-based policy: the right category in education? / Jean-Marc Castejon, Lida Kita and Soren Nielsen; Vocational education and training policy in practice: the role of VET agencies in evidence-based policy / Margareta Nikolovska and Vincent McBride; Data, benchmarks and policy indicators as tools for international comparisons and for advising national policymakers / Jens Johansen; Knowledge management in a time of turmoil: the ETF’s role as a knowledge broker for policy learning and facilitation / Ian Cumming; The use of Web 2.0 technologies in policy development in vocational education and training / Danijela Scepanovic and ETF; Accountability: measuring institutional performance / Xavier Matheu de Cortada; Methods and instruments for the evaluation of vocational education and training systems: requirements of practitioners and the claim for evidence / Philipp Grollmann and Birgit Thomann; Evidence-based policy learning: the ETF context / Cesar Birzea; Providing evidence to improve vocational education and training policies: the role of research / Philipp Gonon; Knowledge production and political decision making: the controversy over Mode-1 and Mode-2 research / Jens Rasmussen; Evidence-based policy: importance and issues for development countries / Anis Zakhary; Concluding chapter / Soren Nielsen and Peter Greenwood. Show less

This paper is primarily intended as a ready source of information for national policy-makers and the international community on the state of play of [vocational education and training] VET policies and systems in [European Training Foundation] ETF partner countries. By including data for the [European Union] EU-27, the report also sets out to inspire policy learning and dialogue both between the European Union (EU) and partner countries, and among the partner countries themselves. The paper is intended to enhance awareness among policy-makers in partner countries of the importance of indicators in driving the policy cycle, and of the availability and sources of VET policy and system indicators in their country and region. Given the increasing international attention on the contribution of skills in international development, and the related need to enhance the availability of robust information for policy-makers, the paper also shares the ETF approach to this field. The paper presents a brief overview of the methodology used by the ETF and the partner countries to collect and analyse the indicators. It also provides a schematic illustration of the state of play of VET policies and systems in the ETF partner regions, as illustrated by a selected group of 'key indicators'.

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In 2010 and 2012 the European Training Foundation (ETF) launched the first two rounds of the Torino Process, in which most of its partner countries participated. In May 2013 the ETF organised a conference entitled ‘The Torino Process: Moving skills forward’, which was attended by some 200 policy makers, experts and practitioners of vocational education and training (VET) from ETF partner countries, the European Union (EU) and international organisations. Both in the Declaration of this conference (see Annex 2) and in the external evaluation covering both rounds of the Torino Process, the relevance of this exercise is acknowledged by the partner countries and the international community. The Torino Process is perceived as a useful tool for policy analysis and the identification of priorities and challenges in the sector, and as an important step on the road towards evidence-based policy making in the partner countries. The Torino Process has been inspired by policy assessment processes at EU level, notably the Copenhagen Process in VET and the 2010 Bruges Communique. Indeed, the Torino Process in partner countries complements the review of progress towards the common EU VET policies, objectives and tools under the Bruges Communique. This complementarity facilitates mutual learning between the EU and its partner countries. Following a similar biennial format as the Bruges Process, the Torino Process is now entering its third edition in 2014.

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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 looks at the demand for career guidance services in [European Union] EU neighbouring countries and provides a comparative analysis as well as policy and practical examples of career guidance in Montenegro, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Albania, Ukraine, Georgia, Russia, Egypt and Jordan. The issue of demand for career guidance services and provision has been somewhat neglected or underrepresented in similar and previous studies on less developed countries. However, this dimension is of crucial importance, in particular for transition economies and low- and middle-income countries, for which whether career guidance should be a policy priority or an issue at all may be questioned. The report therefore analyses factors that influence demand for career guidance in the labour market and the economy, in education systems and in the policy climate. It examines the empirical evidence for career guidance demand and then analyses some of the factors that act as barriers to this demand being realised. The report also describes and analyses existing provision and models of career guidance in EU neighbouring countries, and introduces examples of innovative policies and interesting practices that are being adopted in order to respond to demand. It concludes with an analysis of the ways in which response to demand can be improved by strategic leadership, and discusses opportunities and constraints in responding to demand for services in the future. Finally, the report closes with some key policy messages for EU neighbouring countries and the European Commission.

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This report presents an assessment of the quality and the level of implementation of small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) policy in the Western Balkans, comparing results with a previous assessment conducted in 2006 and published in 2007.The report covers Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo. The assessment framework is based on the European Charter for Small Enterprises (the Charter), a set of policy guidelines endorsed by the European Union Member States and a key component of the European Union Lisbon Agenda. The report covers the 10 policy dimensions included in the Charter. It applies a methodology known as the SME Policy Index, which makes it possible to quantify and compare qualitative policy features. The first part of the report reviews progress by policy dimension. The second part focuses on policies supporting high-growth SMEs. The intention is to provide a comprehensive review of good practices, introduce country assessment methods through two case studies (the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia) and open a debate on what is likely to be a key component of the SME agenda for the next few years. The third part of the report includes stocktaking and progress reviews for each of the seven Western Balkan economies. The key finding is that over the last two years there has been good progress in elaborating and implementing policies supporting small enterprises all across the Western Balkans and there is clear convergence towards the adoption of the policy guidelines set in the Charter. However, progress has been uneven across the 10 dimensions and the seven economies covered by the report.

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While economic, social and environmental challenges are increasingly complex, national authorities are facing growing pressure to deliver more and better for less. Policy monitoring and evaluation has a critical role to play in effectively designing, implementing, and delivering public policies and services. This paper presents the collected intelligence from the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) member states that volunteered to provide an overview of the state of the art, trends and progress on the four priorities of the UfM Ministerial Declaration on Employment and Labour adopted in 2019: (1) more and better jobs: employment creation and entrepreneurship; (2) working together for better results: mobilising stakeholders, creating partnerships and synergies; (3) making labour markets more inclusive for workers and potentially vulnerable groups; and (4) preparing for work: skills and employability in a changing world of work.

The objective of this process is to foster a culture of monitoring and evidence-based policy making in view of improving efficiency of policy design and implementation. This process is based on a policy learning approach and accompanies and facilitates sharing and peer learning. This pilot UfM initiative to monitor some key areas of labour and employment shows that, despite the limited data availability, countries are able to monitor most of their policies and thus ensure that policy making is informed by sound evidence to achieve key long-term objectives. The report is structured around three main sections: the socio-economic context, the results of the monitor by priority (pillar) and concluding remarks.

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