Print version Recommend this page Press release
26/ 2007
Bonn, 05.06.2007
Exchanging information - creating transparency - sharing knowl-edge
European Reference Network for Vocational Education and Training (ReferNet)
Given the fact that educational systems in Europe display considerable differences in terms of structure, management and social significance in some areas, the motto of the German EU Council Presidency, "Europe succeeding together", has exerted a particular significance in the field of educational cooperation. It is precisely this difference which renders it even more important to exchange information and share knowledge on a regular basis, thus creating transparency and building up mutual trust in the merits and strengths of the individual systems as the struggle to find the best solutions continues. In the field of vocational education and training, this role is filled by the European Reference Network for Specialist Knowledge and Expertise (ReferNet). In Germany, the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) acts as the coordinating body for a national consortium essentially comprising institutions from the Vocational Education and Training Research Network (AG BFN).
Against the background of the most recent Helsinki communiqué issued by European educa-tion ministers, an international meeting, conducted by BIBB with the support of the Euro-pean Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP), has now been held in Bonn to hold consultations on the programme of work for the years 2008 to 2011 and dis-cuss indicators, benchmarks and knowledge management within the field of vocational edu-cation and training. The main focus of the European network of experts over the course of the next few years will be on the possible implications for European labour markets arising from the demographic change which is imminent in virtually all EU countries and on how the relatively high proportion of low skilled workers in Europe can be reduced.
The main function of ReferNet is to gather information on vocational education and training in EU member states in a decentralised way and to scientifically process and disseminate this data. In order to support effective exchange of knowledge and experiences on current VET issues, national consortia have been set up in the 27 EU states, Norway and Iceland to bring together the institutions responsible for VET policy, research and practice in the respective countries. The annual "Regional Meeting 2007" in Bonn was attended by all twelve of the so-called "Central Europe Countries" (Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, the United Kingdom, Lux-embourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Rumania, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary).
Further information in English on the German ReferNet is available at http://www.refernet.de/en/index.htm
English language documentation of the "ReferNet Regional Meeting 2007" is available on the BIBB website at http://www.bibb.de/en/29755.htm
For further information in German on the Vocational Education and Training Research Net-work (AG BFN), please visit www.agbfn.de
Points of contact at BIBB:
- Ute Hippach-Schneider, Tel.: 0228 / 107-1630, E-Mail: hippach-schneider@bibb.de
- Martina Krause, Tel.: 0228 / 107-2131, E-Mail: krause@bibb.de
- Christian Woll, Tel.: 0228 / 107-2133, E-Mail: woll@bibb.de
