Cedefop

New approaches to adult learning, both for enterprises and for learners, and closer cooperation between higher education institutions and enterprises are necessary to stimulate learning and to foster excellence in and through continuing vocational training (CVET).

Cooperation between higher education and enterprises in CVET offers many benefits for all parties, but studies show that the extent to which it is used varies between countries. While cooperation in form of special learning alliances and tailored programmes in CVET seems comparatively widely practiced in some countries, it remains exceptional in others. Generally, cooperation between higher education and enterprises is mostly promoted and taking place in  research, development and innovation. Cooperation in education is much less practiced, especially when it goes beyond initial higher education and comes to continuing education and training, for example systematically linking work-based learning in enterprises with learning at higher education institutions.
The workshop will provide a platform for key experts to share experience and results of previous and on-going research and activities, and to discuss ways forward. Among the issues that will be discussed are:

• Which forms/models of cooperation exist in Europe, and what are their key features? E.g.: types of programmes, types of alliances, degree of cooperation (regarding content, joint implementation, etc.)?
• In how far do approaches explicitly link learning in enterprises to learning in higher education? What is the role of work-based learning?
• What are barriers and drivers for cooperation?
• What are future developments and challenges? How to deal with them?