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The term Vocational Education and Training refers to practical
activities and courses related to a specific occupation or vocation, aimed at
preparing participants for their future careers. Vocational training is an
essential means to achieve professional recognition and improve chances to get a
job. It is therefore vital that vocational training systems in Europe respond to
the needs of citizens and the labour market in order to facilitate access to
employment.
Vocational education and training has been an essential part of EU policy
since the very establishment of the European Community. It is also a crucial
element of the so-called EU Lisbon Strategy, which aims at transforming
Europe into the world’s most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based society.
In 2002 the European Council reaffirmed this vital role, and established yet
another ambitious goal – to make European education and training renowned
globally by the year 2010 – by championing a number of world-class
initiatives, and in particular by strengthening cooperation in the area of
vocational training.
EU initiatives for the promotion of vocational training cooperation
In its efforts to promote a collaborative approach to the development of
vocational training systems in Europe, the European Union makes use of a variety
of instruments and implements a wide series of programmes and initiatives.
- Socrates
Socrates advocates European cooperation in all areas of education. This
cooperation takes different forms:
- mobility (moving around Europe),
- organising joint projects,
- setting up European networks (disseminating ideas and good practice),
and
- conducting studies and comparative analyses.
In practice, Socrates offers people grants to study, teach, undertake a
placement or follow a training course in another country. It provides support
for educational establishments to organise teaching projects and to exchange
experiences. It helps associations and NGOs in organising activities on
educational topics, etc.
- Leonardo da Vinci
The Leonardo da Vinci programme, adopted in 1994, has as a main objective the
implementation of the EU’s training policy. It is one of the major instruments
supporting trans-national mobility in Europe and provides funding to public and
private organisations active in training issues. Leonardo also supports
placement and exchange projects, study visits and trans-national networks,
amongst others.
Adult Education and Lifelong Learning in Europe
Lifelong learning is a process that involves all forms of education –
formal, informal and non-formal – and lasts from the pre-school period until
after retirement. It is meant to enable people to develop and maintain key
competencies throughout their life as well as to empower citizens to move freely
between jobs, regions and countries. Lifelong learning is also a core element of
the previously mentioned Lisbon Strategy, as it is crucial for self-development
and the raising of competitiveness and employability. The EU has adopted several
instruments for the promotion of adult education in Europe.
A European area of lifelong learning
In order to make lifelong learning a reality in Europe, the European
Commission has set itself the objective of creating a European Area of
Lifelong Learning. In this context, the Commission focuses on identifying
the needs of both learners and the labour market in order to make education more
accessible and subsequently create partnerships between public administrations,
suppliers of educational services and civil society.
This EU initiative is based on the objective of providing basic skills – by
strengthening counselling and information services at a European level, and by
recognising all forms of learning, including formal education and informal and
non-formal training.
Grundtvig
Grundtvig is one of the actions of the EU education programme Socrates and
aims primarily at improving the quality of vocational adult education. It also
seeks to promote exchanges and cooperation that facilitate opportunities and
access to lifelong learning for EU citizens.
EU Organisations Promoting Vocational Education in Europe
With the objective of facilitating cooperation and exchange in the field of
vocational training, the EU has set up specialised bodies working in the field
of Vocational Training.
The European Centre for Vocational Training (CEDEFOP /
Centre Européen pour le Développement de la Formation Professionnelle) was
created in 1975 as a specialised EU agency for the promotion and development of
vocational education and training in Europe. Based in Thessaloniki, Greece, it
carries out research and analysis on vocational training and disseminates its
expertise to various European partners, such as related research institutions,
universities or training facilities.
The European Training Foundation was established in 1995 and
works in close collaboration with CEDEFOP. Its mission is to support partner
countries (from outside the EU) to modernise and develop their systems for
vocational training.
Source: European Union
© European Communities, 1995-2007
Reproduction is authorised.
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