BIBB / Partner conference with 16 European national vocational training institutes

Partner conference with 16 European national vocational training institutes

Published: May 8, 2006

The exchange of views and information on the development of a European Qualifications Framework (EQF) for assessing vocational skills was the focus of a conference held in Bonn from 20 - 21 March 2006 which 16 vocational training institutes from various European countries attended at the invitation of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training. This first "partner conference" also offered an opportunity to establish new contacts and identify areas for future collaboration.

The European Qualifications Framework is an instrument for making education systems and the skills learned in them more transparent and for fostering permeability between different education pathways and systems. Questions arise for Germany 0 and other European countries 0 regarding the subsequent effects that an EQF will have on national vocational training systems. National qualifications frameworks have the potential to effectively improve mobility in a country's education and employment systems. Given the heterogeneity of the education systems in Europe, the individual countries will respond differently to the European Qualifications Framework. A cross-border exchange of information at an early point in time is vital and beneficial to the development of a national qualifications framework in Germany.

Four countries with different types of vocational training systems reported on their experience to date: Great Britain, Spain, Hungary and Germany. Spain and England have already set up a national qualifications framework whereas Hungary and Germany have only just begun to develop a national framework in the wake of the consultations being held in connection with the European Qualifications Framework.

Tom Leney, QCA

Like most Anglo-Saxon countries, England has a long tradition of outcome-based qualifications frameworks. The government's Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) was also involved in the work on the draft European Qualifications Framework. It was found that not only do significant differences exist between qualifications systems in Anglo-Saxon countries, but also that these differences are growing as the systems progressively develop. In this connection, it is interesting that the different parts of the UK (Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, England) have different frameworks. Apparently, frameworks are a vehicle for demonstrating differences. The QCA's contribution revolved primarily around the question of how European policies influence national systems:
According to the QCA, the Bologna Process has developed into a powerful instrument for harmonizing certificates and degrees, even though it was initiated from the bottom up by universities. The European Qualifications Framework on the other hand was put on the agenda by the European Commission. However, in light of the sizable differences between vocational training systems, the QCA assumes that the process in this case will take a different course and not have a "standardizing" effect. The European Qualifications Framework could however be used as a point of reference for work at sectoral and national level.

Paula Greciet, INCUAL

Spain set up a national framework for qualifications some 30 years ago, anticipating at national level fundamental elements and flanking measures of the European Qualifications Network. However, the Spanish framework covers only vocational skills and consequently has only five levels. These levels can be "matched up" with the levels in the European Qualifications Framework. However, the Spanish framework does not have a counterpart for the two levels at the top and the bottom of the EQF scale. Assigning the other levels presents problems in so far as some of the levels in the European Qualifications Framework are not described precisely enough or, rather, are not sufficiently delineated from one another. Improvements are necessary here. This was also criticized in Germany's advisory opinion on the European Qualifications Framework.

Zsolt Bartus, NIVE

The European Qualifications Network is very important for Hungary where it is viewed as a challenge that must provide the point of reference for the country's own national qualifications system. Hungary does not however see any fundamental contradiction between a national system and the European Qualifications Framework. It also has no doubts whatsoever about its applicability. Complete application is to be achieved in steps and will be undertaken as part of an extensive modernization and restructuring of the Hungarian education system (under the National Development Plan). These activities will focus primarily on:

Establishing a closer connection between the education system and the employment system,
Redefining the relationship between initial and continuing vocational training,
Reducing the number of vocational certificates,
Modernizing training content and
Establishing a system of skill-based modules.

Dr. Volker Rein, BIBB

In Germany, the debate on the European Qualifications Framework has worked as a catalyst. Government and industry have submitted separate advisory opinions. The Board of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training has drafted a joint platform. A roadmap was developed and a steering group set up for developing a national qualifications framework.

However, a wealth of questions still has to be settled before the country can implement a national qualifications framework. These questions include whether vocational training and general education are to be placed together under one "roof", and which dimensions are to be differentiated between in connection with skills (e.g., technical, methodological, social and personal skills).

Standards for qualifications and for skill assessment procedures, criteria and procedures for recognizing / crediting equivalents (including skills that are acquired through work experience) and procedures for certifying non-formally and informally acquired knowledge also have to be developed.

The willingness of all players to work together is the primary prerequisite for a qualifications framework. Also necessary are a central steering body and flanking research and development activities. A possible timeframe for developing and implementing a national qualifications framework in Germany would be 2006 - 2010.

Vocational training institutes from Denmark, Estonia, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Spain, the Czech Republic, Turkey, Hungary and the United Kingdom attended the partner conference. Most of them were represented by their respective director. By organizing this high-level international meeting in Bonn for European vocational training institutes, the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training has launched a forum for intensifying international contacts and opportunities for collaboration. This conference was the kick-off for regular exchanges. A follow-up conference is slated to be held in Madrid in 2007.

Point of contact regarding the partner conference:
Hans-Joachim Kissling, Tel.: ++49/228/107-2002, E-Mail: kissling@bibb.de

Point of contact regarding the European Qualifications Framework:
Dr. Georg Hanf, Tel.: ++49/228/107-1602, E-Mail: hanf@bibb.de

Further information regarding the European Qualifications Framework >>

Gruppenfoto aller Teilnehmer

Group photo of all participants

Selected BIBB publications on this subject:

Grünewald, Uwe; Moraal, Dick
Betriebliche Weiterbildung in Deutschland und Europa
(In-company continuing vocational training in Germany and Europe)
Krekel, Elisabeth M.
Controlling in der betrieblichen Weiterbildung im europäischen Vergleich
(Controlling in in-company continuing vocational training 0 A European comparison)
Grünewald, Uwe
Duale Ausbildungssysteme
Institutionelle Rahmenbedingungen und Leistungsfähgikeit der dualen Ausbildung im Baugewerbe
Berichte zur beruflichen Bildung; Heft 245
(Dual vocational training in the construction industry 0 Institutional conditions and efficiency)
Berichte zur beruflichen Bildung; Issue 245
Koch, Richard
Duale und schulische Berufsausbildung zwischen Bildungsnachfrage und Qualifikationsbedarf
Ein deutsch-französischer Vergleich
(Dual and school-based vocational training between training demand and qualification needs; A Franco-German comparison)
Busse, Gerd; Paul-Kohlhoff, Angela; Wordelmann, Peter
Fremdsprachen und mehr
Internationale Qualifikationen aus der Sicht von Betrieben und Beschäftigten
(Foreign languages and more; International qualifications from the vantage point of companies and employees)
Grünewald, Uwe
Modelle zur Finanzierung der beruflichen Weiterbildung Beschäftigter und Arbeitsloser
Dokumentation eines LEONARDO-Projektes mit Beteiligung von Dänemark, Deutschland, den Niederlanden und Norwegen
(Models for financing continuing vocational training for employees and unemployed persons; Documentation of a Leonardo project with the participation of Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands and Norway)
Weiterbildung in der europäischen und deutschen Bauwirtschaft
Ansätze und Strukturen
(Continuing vocational training in the European and German construction industry; Approaches and structures)

Erscheinungsdatum und Hinweis Deutsche Nationalbibliothek

Publication on the Internet: May 8, 2006

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