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Vectors in InnovationVectors in Innovation

Innovation in vocational educationInnovation in vocational education

and trainingand trainingJohan van Rens, Director

European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training

(Cedefop)

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Competitiveness

EU is weak on many competitiveness and performance indicators

Disappointing economic and labour market development

Lisbon will not be reached without more action and innovation

Political agenda of meeting the Lisbon goals of 2010

not matched by economic developmentsEuropean demographic forecasts show a shrinking

and ageing work force

Older workers forming the core of the workforce

- Unsettling prospects in the current European economy

- SME’s in Europe account for 99% of all businesses

- Employ 74 million people (outside agriculture)

Decisive factors of influence for training in SMEs are:

- lack of a training culture within SME’s

- lack of appropriate training materials

- the attitude of individual managers

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Educational attainment

General comparison

Educational attainment of adults in selected OECD countries, 2002-2003

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

EU 25 Australia Canada Japan South Korea USA

Low skilled ISCED 0-2 Upper/post secondary ISCED 3-4 Tertiary ISCED 5-6Source : OECD 2004

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Low and unskilled

At present 80 million EU citizens between 25 - 64 are

low skilled

By 2010 almost half of additional jobs will require

tertiary level education and almost 40 % upper

secondary level

A major decline in job prospects for the low skilled is

expected

Half of EU workforce (± 100 million) has to upskill

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Early school leavers

Policies exist but benchmark of 10 % will

not be reached by all countries

Vocational streams and work-based

learning help, but innovative links to the

world of work are necessary

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Geographical and professional mobility

Low level of mobility - more move from outside than

than inside EU

Selective immigration is needed, but not enough to

resolve the situation

Copenhagen/Maastricht priorities are essential to

remove obstacles

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Investment in human resources and quality

EU average below USA

Investing in skills and literacy levels will

increase quality economic growth, social

cohesion and have major benefits for

individuals

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Innovation strategies

Ensuring highly skilled VET professionals. Emphasis on concrete action at de-centralised

level and by the social partners Synergy should be established between VET

policies and economic and employment policies. Innovation agreements and tripartite commitment to foster investment in human capital will help

Special attention to key competences, ICT literacy and learning partnerships

Research shows the importance of learning taking place in work situations

- Non-formal in nature

- It is a change of the learning scenario

- Must become embedded in the work organisation

Promoting innovation

The main objectives of ICT supported learning

- increase access to learning opportunities with increased flexibility and modes of delivery

- enhance the quality of the learning experiences

- increase the efficiency of the organisation, reduce costs and increase productivity

Promoting innovation

What are the obstacles facing the economy?

- the issue of the learning culture

- what motivates the learner?

- do we really know the training needs?

- do we know what elearning materials are available and appropriate?

Promoting innovation

The issue is a complex one

- what are the funding responsibilities of the public and the private sector?

- already substantial difference across occupational and social groups

- raises the issue of equal access

Promoting innovation

Teachers and trainers:

- the agents of change in the field

- their professional status must increase

- an ageing profession but innovation in pedagogy is essential

Promoting innovation

Some practical proposals:

- synergy in our communities of practice tomake innovative practice more accessible tothe practitioner

EVTA and Cedefop – an alliance of change

Some practical proposals:

- Making the use of the LLL knowledgebase on innovative policy and practiceaccessible to our joint communities

EVTA and Cedefop – an alliance of change

Some practical proposals:

- A partnership in innovation in LLL with EVTA’s “Exemplo” and Cedefop’s thematic virtual communities

- Using Cedefop’s work on teachers and trainers competences and electronic resources on ecompetences

EVTA and Cedefop – an alliance of change

Some practical proposals:

- Support EVTA’s newsletter “Ezine” with Cedefop background material

- Seek synergy with Cedefop-Info

- Promote partnerships with ReferNet

EVTA and Cedefop – an alliance of change

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Web sites:www.cedefop.eu.intwww.trainingvillage.grhttp://communities.trainingvillage.gr

Brussels Office:20, avenue d’AuderghemB-1040 Brussels Tel.: (32-2) 230 19 78Fax: (32-2) 230 58 24E-mail: info.be@cedefop.eu.int

Contacting Cedefop