Search Results

The authors present results towards predicting probable developments and address possible repercussions for vocational education and training (VET). The demographic development of the training population is studied with projections to 2015 in various regions. On the basis of the prognoses, the authors present the resulting challenges facing the system of VET. They conclude that in general over the mid and long term a fundamentally new understanding of the role of older persons in the workforce and society is needed. This will have consequences for VET and for continuing vocational training. Show less

This edition of the results of research carried out by BIBB (Bundesinstitut fur Berufsbildung = Federal Institute for Vocational Training) in the year 2000, contains brief summaries of 16 final reports of projects - including international projects - in various thematic areas. These include: training and prospects during the second half of working life; paths of vocational school graduates; occupational prospects as a function of educational degree; dual system vocational training on the higher education level; evaluation of office occupations; and comparability of supplementary qualifications in Europe. The publication also includes 21 reports on completed projects as well as 10 reports on on-going and current projects from 2000. Show less

This article was written to publicise the results of the Leonardo project entitled 'FLEXIFORM - Identifying future training needs resulting from flexible work organisation in firms in the metal industry'. The conclusions drawn are based on an analysis of data obtained from 175 firms located in four regions of Spain, France, Italy and Portugal. While economic and industrial factors have forced the metal industry to make its operations more flexible, both young people entering the labour market and workers already in employment lack the appropriate specific and general skills needed to cope with this organisational revolution. Methods of initial and continuing training that are able to make good these shortcomings therefore urgently need to be devised if the future of this sector and that of its employees is to be assured.

Published abstract reprinted by permission of the copyright owner. Show less

Understanding how mature age workers come to engage with training programs has become increasingly important in sustaining their employability across lengthening working lives. This paper reports the responses to an online survey of a sample of mostly white-collar mature-age workers (45+) about their experiences in undertaking accredited work-related training in Australia. It presents and discusses their motivations for undertaking further education and training and their perceptions of its relevance to their work and of the efficacy of the teaching and learning processes. The paper concludes by identifying the implications for educational institutions and training organisations.

Published abstract. Show less

The author describes the strengths and weaknesses of the German education system and formulates ten theses on reforming individual training areas. He defines education policy as a part of an economic policy that is: (1) aimed at ensuring over the long term Germany's international competitiveness as a place to do business; and (2) a potential stimulus of growth and employment. The education policy recommendations are based on an analysis of different training sectors from an economic perspective. The author considers in detail issues that are at the centre of the current debate on education policy, including the quality of general education, financing vocational training and higher education, the potential impact of education expenditures on the performance of school-goers, the contribution of education to economic growth and the possibility of increased productivity among an ageing population with the help of a continuing education campaign. Show less

The paper deals with the findings of recent studies on the issue of continuing vocational education and training (CVET) for the unemployed and others at risk of social exclusion. Those at risk of social exclusion include: low/unskilled people (lower secondary education); young people at risk; long term unemployed; people with a disability; single parents; older workers and older job seekers; job seekers re-entering the labour market; and welfare benefit recipients. The paper summarises recent research findings and focuses on the effectiveness of active labour market policy programs. The findings show that most of the common measures such as training, guidance, and counselling cannot be regarded as effective, as long as they are not combined with monitoring the job seekers. However, it is suggested that formal classroom training and on the job training helps women re-entering the labour market whilst it appears not to help older and male jobseekers. A mixture of activation measures including good management of public employment services seems to be most effective. However, it remains unclear why some measures work for some groups and not for others. Finally, the paper offers recommendations for policy and research. Show less

This study investigates whether the incidence of continued vocational education has changed as the German workforce commenced an aging process which is expected to intensify. As the lifespan in productive employment lengthens, human capital investments for older workers become increasingly worthwhile. Using the data of a German population survey we describe recent trends in the development of human capital investments and apply decomposition procedures to the probability of continued education. Holding everything else constant the shift in the population age distribution by itself would have led to a decline in training participation over the considered period, 1996-2004. However, the decomposition analyses yield that behavioral changes caused an increase in training particularly among older workers.

Published abstract reprinted by permission of the copyright owner. Show less

Articles include: 'Plus 50 initiative puts focus on older learners' (p. 10-11), the American Association of Community Colleges in partnership with the Atlantic Philanthropies, recently announced a major grant program aimed at helping aging baby boomers stay active and refocus their careers for success in the second half of life; 'Supply and demand' by John Twomey (p. 12-13), which considers how community colleges can help replenish the US labor market; 'Online programs help train more nurses' by Ed Nadworny (p. 14-15); 'Build it and they will come: innovative facilities help colleges meet their academic goals' by Alan Joch (p. 16-18, 20-22), 'The heart of rural health care: programs supply nurses, allied health workers to nation's most remote locales' by Corey Murray and Roxanne Fulcher (p. 24-29); 'A new standard of care: despite opportunity, gerontology programs face obstacles' by Kim Fernandez (p. 30-33); '50 plus: encore careers provide success, fulfillment in second half of life' by Marc Freedman and Judy Goggin (p. 35-36, 38); and 'Facts at a glance... community colleges essential to nursing, allied health professions' (p. 40). Show less

In 1998, more than 100 researchers and vocational training experts from most European Union (EU) Member States and other countries in Central and Eastern Europe attended a conference that was held in collaboration with the German Federal Ministry for Education, Science, Research and Technology and the European Training Foundation (ETF) to: examine how comparative vocational training research is related to policy and practice and how it contributes to the transfer of innovation in the European context; and assess the current situation and highlight prospects for the development of comparative vocational training research in future.

This paper from the third workshop addresses the issue of how to combine an ageing workforce with the operational requirements of modernising work organisations. It reports on an international pilot project, IG-Metall’s Leonardo project, which develops a useful tool in the form of qualification modules for personnel managers who have the task of integrating older people into new and constantly changing forms of cooperation within companies. IG-Metall’s partners in this project were the Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union (AEEU) in Great Britain and the Metal Workers Union in Sweden. The paper outlines the focus of the project (vocational training and trade union training) and the pitfalls of transnational comparative research, with illustrations of how these pitfalls were dealt with.

The volume of papers is indexed at TD/TNC 72.305; selected papers are indexed from TD/TNC 72.306 to TD/TNC 72.330. Show less

A growing body of research and policy focused on 'older workers' is attempting to address perceived concerns that older workers’ skills are declining, along with their participation in employment and in employment-related learning opportunities. The discussion here seeks to contribute to this research. Its focus is the learning of older professional workers, about comparatively little has been published. The article presents research conducted in Canada involving 60 personal interviews with older Certified Management Accountants (CMAs). This qualitative study was designed to understand older professionals' participation in learning through their reports not only of when, how and why they participated in specific learning activities, but also through their stories of practice and work, their understandings of knowledge, and how they view themselves as knowers and as knowledge workers. The findings showed that older CMA professionals appeared to position themselves deliberately as knowers, performing particular knowledge orientations aligned with their work priorities, and to resent external provisions for and assessments of their 'learning'. Four orientations appeared most prominently, which are here described as 'consolidating', 'outreaching', 're-positioning', and 'disengaging'. The concluding section argues that far from withdrawing from learning, these older professionals are particularly strategic in what, when and how they engage. In fact most are astute in employing diverse strategies and resources in knowledge development, according to the knowledge orientation they adopt in their practice. These understandings may suggest ways to more effectively recognize and support older professionals' learning in organizations and professional associations.

Published abstract Show less