Networks
ReferNet - Details
ReferNet is a network created by Cedefop in 2002 to provide information on national vocational education and training (VET) systems and policies in Member States, Iceland and Norway. This information is displayed in Cedefop databases and is used for comparative studies. At country level it gives valuable insights into national VET systems. The network builds upon national consortia in each partner country. Every consortium is led by a coordinating institution and consists of key organisations involved in VET activities, including social partners.
Why should you be interested in ReferNet?
Whenever you need information on national and European VET issues, you can easily access a wealth of reports, publications and other sources of information:
- National VET policy reports – provide information on progress in VET policy at national level. These reports are one of the main sources for the comparative Cedefop Policy Report, which monitors progress in modernising VET systems in Europe.
- National research reports – update you on most recent national VET research. Based on these reports, Cedefop publishes European research overviews on issues of cross-national interest, e.g. on the benefits of VET or labour market transitions.
- VET in Europe country reports – Cedefop’s database provides descriptions of national VET systems in all partner countries and helps you select information on any aspect of VET: policy developments, allocation of VET programmes, the impact of the crisis on VET.
- Short descriptions of national VET systems – provide you with the most up-to-date overview of the VET system in the country holding the EU Presidency. To make them easily accessible to more readers, we offer them in several European languages.
- National news on VET – inform you on the latest developments related to vocational education and training in all partner countries, including employment and labour market issues.
- Bibliographic references – ReferNet contributes to developing and maintaining Cedefop’s bibliographic database (VET-Bib) which has the largest collection of VET literature in Europe (more than 70 000 records).
- European training thesaurus – constitutes the controlled vocabulary of reference for vocational education and training in Europe. Using ETT you can retrieve information and news from Cedefop’s online catalogue on vocational training (VET-Bib).
- ReferNet national websites – share and disseminate information produced by the consortium and by Cedefop in national languages, focusing on national VET issues.
- More information provided by ReferNet can be found in Cedefop newsletter, in VET Alert and in the list of the main VET events in Europe. By subscribing to RSS feeds you can receive news and information from ReferNet national websites and Cedefop.
ReferNet Plenary meeting 2011
The ninth ReferNet Plenary meeting took place in Thessaloniki on 13 and 14 December 2011 with ReferNet members selected for the 2012-2015 Framework Partnership Agreement. Four new partners have joined the new network and were warmly welcomed by all participants.
During the meeting the 2012 work plan has been presented and discussed, with a particular focus on policy reporting based on the short-term deliverables of the Bruges Communiqué, and on the new approach adopted for describing the national VET systems (VET in Europe country reports).
The new participative approach allowed all members of the network to submit proposals, take an active part in the discussions and shape the future work.
The event will be followed by regional meetings organised in Spring and hosted by ReferNet partners.
More about ReferNet
ReferNet activities are cofinanced by Cedefop and Member States under a framework partnership agreement. Activities are of common benefit to participating countries and Cedefop.
Regular meetings are organised at a central and regional level to promote exchange of information between partners, discuss the activities planned and improve the overall cooperation.
Contact at Cedefop
ReferNet team: 
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