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The amendments to the Crafts Act from December 2019, which entered into force as of January 2020, introduced a shift in governance that transferred more responsibility to the Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts (HOK), in particular, and the ministry responsible for economy (MINGO). Accordingly, MINGO and HOK now have a more prominent role in drafting curricula, while the ministry responsible for education keeps its role in adopting curricula, which are proposed by the Agency for Vocational...

INCoDe.2030 is an integrated inter-ministerial strategy bringing together and encouraging collaboration between people with different experiences and knowledge as well as multiple public and private organisations.

This initiative has five major priorities:

1. inclusion: to reach the entire population and promote digital skills;
2. education: to provide training to young people and reinforce digital skills at all levels of education and lifelong learning;
3. qualification: to promote the professional...

The committee had a broad methodological approach and developed a new knowledge base. The committee also facilitated an open dialogue and discussion about society's competence needs with various interest groups.

The committee has issued two annual reports:

1. NOW 2018: 2. Future competence needs I – the knowledge base;
2. NOU 2019: 2. Future competence needs II – challenges for the competence policy.

A forecasting model was developed in 2015 under the supervision of the Central Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family (COLSAF, public employment services authority). The labour ministry presents the forecast of labour market needs, structured by fields of study and regions, every year.

Sponsored by ESF and the labour ministry, two new tools ‘odborogram’ and ‘profesiometer’, focusing on human resource planning and career guidance and counselling, were developed and launched in...

The 2015 action plan highlighted the importance of key competences. It provides small-scale training in career management skills and is expanding entrepreneurship education as a key competence through training (simulation) companies, young entrepreneur fairs and by establishing training enterprises in arts and sports VET schools. The 2016 action plan, approved in April 2016, provides for the further development of career guidance and planning for pupils, students and adults. The project...

From March 2015 until June 2016, HZZ developed and conducted occupational standards survey for 50 occupations. The results were used as an analytical basis for the development of occupational standards and disseminated through 60 workshops throughout Croatia. From August 2016 until October 2018, the survey questionnaire was adapted and the implementation of the occupational standards survey was conducted for further 40 occupations.

In 2018, the ministry in charge of labour (MROSP) produced the CROQF web portal (currently: portal for advanced labour market monitoring), the central portal of labour market and education indicators. The portal offers insights into current labour market trends, rather than forecasts for the future. It integrates data on employment from the Croatian Pension Insurance Institute (HZMO), data on unemployment from the Croatian Employment Service (HZZ), enrolment in secondary and higher education...

This policy development started within the Erasmus+ project Benchmarking for quality assurance in apprenticeships and work-based learning (BEQUAL.app). The project coordinator is the Kaunas Chamber of Industry and Crafts, Lithuania, with project partners from Belgium, Germany, Greece, Italy, Croatia and Slovenia representing public institutions responsible for VET, SMEs, consulting organisations and education institutions. Croatian partners are the Agency for Vocational Education and...

Its first report was published on 31 January 2018. Findings suggested that: competence levels in Norway were good, but can be improved; some vocations faced recruitment challenges; learners were confronted with bottlenecks in accessing relevant competences. The report also confirmed the central role of the workplace in lifelong learning, and the impact of digitalisation and automation on competence needs.

The project ‘Development of programmes for upskilling in continuing vocational education and training 2017–22’ (the PINPIU project) aims to develop formal VET programmes for upskilling employees, helping them to respond to changing needs in the labour market. It targets mainly employees in small companies which are less likely to participate in CVET. The Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for VET (CPI) is coordinating the project, preparing 20 pilot programmes in cooperation with...

In July 2016, the Slovenian Qualifications Framework (SQF) Act came into force, serving as the legal basis for SQF implementation and full operationalisation. The SQF register describes qualifications in accordance with SQF and EQF levels and contains 1 684 qualifications (1 358 educational qualifications, 312 national vocational qualifications and 13 supplementary qualifications). The adoption of the SQF Act in 2016 opened up the system to supplementary qualifications awarded on the labour...

Despite the lack of systemic approach, developments in guidance and counselling are continuing through ESF projects coordinated by the national coordination point for lifelong career guidance within the Public Employment Service of Slovenia (ZRSZ) and its branches:

1. the 2015-22 project 'Strengthening counselling work with young people' at the employment service of Slovenia (Krepitev svetovalnega dela z mladimi na Zavodu RS za zaposlovanje) aims at finding new ways to increase accessibility of...

Since 2016, Lifelong career guidance centres have been continuously signing cooperation agreements with local-level partners so as to identify the needs of specific groups and offer tailored career guidance services. Local partners involve schools, colleges and universities, volunteer centres, Roma associations, public health and social welfare centres, youth associations, local stakeholders in trades, crafts and the economy, as well as development agencies. By the end of 2018, 337...

The strategy was adopted in 2015. It was developed by the Lifelong Career Guidance Forum (LLCG forum), a national body for stakeholder cooperation, with the aim to establish a systemic approach to lifelong career guidance and career development and its integration in education and training. The approach is that of a coherent institutional system based on a multidisciplinary partnership that supports employability and inclusion. It is seen as a framework gathering all key stakeholders for the...

A new training agreement approach was set up in 2018. It foresees that practical training is included in all VET qualifications. Training at workplaces on practical work tasks can be apprenticeship training or training based on a training agreement. When applying for a training agreement, learners are not in an employment relationship (their status is that of a learner). Learners receive no salary and employers receive no training compensation. The details of the training agreement are...

Slovakia participates in Cedefop’s country reviews on Governance of EU skills anticipation and matching systems. The aim of the project is to improve the management and coordination of skills anticipation efforts, making existing skills anticipation initiatives more useful for policy, and better linking skills intelligence to education and training. Within this cooperation, an initial country report was commissioned and offered for comment to the education ministry in February 2018; it was...

A Regulation establishing a systemic approach to vocational/career guidance in schools was adopted in September 2018. The regulation defines the goals as well as the terms and manner of implementing and organising vocational guidance, including detailed programme content. According to the regulation, the basic goal of vocational/career guidance is to support students in making independent and responsible decisions concerning their educational and professional life, based on learning about...

The new act:

1. makes it mandatory for VET learners to take a State vocational examination or a journeyman's examination as a condition of school graduation; it also changes the form of exams, the process of preparing examination tasks and the requirements set for examiners;
2. introduces, in cooperation with employers, apprenticeship as a new form of vocational learning for learners in upper secondary VET and first stage sectoral programmes, who are not juvenile workers;
3. introduces new options...

Changes to VET examinations were introduced in November 2018 as part of the broader changes to Poland’s VET system. According to the Law of 22 November 2018, all students are required to take a State vocational examination or a journeyman's examination as a condition of school graduation (until now this has been optional). Changes were also introduced to the form of exams (e.g. theoretical part in an online form), the process of preparing examination tasks (e.g. possible participation of...

In January 2018, the Ministry of National Education established a vocational school heads council and regional coordinators for VET.

42 head teachers from vocational schools from all regions of the country, representing different sectors, were appointed to the council. The council is a consultative body supporting the ministry in the development of new initiatives and policies in VET (initiation of changes, consultations, participation in the development of regulations).

In each region, School...

In 2016, the education ministry commissioned the Educational Research Institute to implement an ESF co-financed project aimed at developing a system to trace the educational and professional trajectories of VET graduates. Three rounds of qualitative and quantitative surveys are planned until 2022, collecting data unavailable in public registers about, for example, learner needs and expectations, as well as information on the determinants of graduates’ decisions.

In 2016/17, interviews were...

In 2016, the education ministry started an ESF co-funded project to develop new vocational test items with employers’ support. The objective of the project was not just to develop the items but to strengthen the participation of employers in the examination process. In 2017, a call was published for employers/professionals to become developers of the examination tasks. Another call was aimed at the methodical training for the future developers of the examination tasks. The project finished...

Vocational training for employment in the labour scope was last reformed in 2015. The reform aimed at an efficient system for monitoring and prospecting the labour market, based on coordination of all actors (administrations, social agents, experts). It also aimed at:

1. promoting the assessment of the impact of training (on accessing and maintaining employment);
2. enhancing enterprise competitiveness;
3. improving workers' skills;
4. meeting labour market needs;
5. ensuring efficient use of resources.

A...

In June 2015, an inter-ministerial Decree (signed by the education and labour ministries) introduced an operational framework for the recognition of regional qualifications and related skills competences at a national level (National framework of regional qualifications, QNQR). The agreement was endorsed by an inter-ministerial decree signed in June by the education and labour ministries. Mutual recognition of regional qualifications and standard procedures (including the issuing of final...

A national strategy on lifelong learning has been defined, together with the implementation of legislative norms on the identification and validation of competences acquired in different contexts, through which the National system for the certification of competences has been launched. Since 2012, as a consequence of the Recommendation for validation of non-formal and informal learning (2012), a national legal framework on validation of competences has been progressively developed in...

In 2016, the National Commission for Further and Higher Education (NCFHE) published the fourth revised edition of the referencing report that sets the parameters for all qualifications and awards that can be conferred in Malta. It reflects on the range of current reforms representing a move towards a more modular based concept as building blocks for qualifications. Such an approach is intended to allow for and promote lifelong learning for non-traditional learners. It calls for better...

Since 2016 the National Centre for Education (VISC) has been developing sectoral qualifications frameworks as part of vocational education reform supported by a 2016-21 ESF project. The frameworks have been developed in cooperation with sectoral experts and correspond to national qualifications framework levels 2 to 7. The project includes the development of:

1. occupational standards;
2. vocational education content;
3. modular vocational education programmes;
4. teaching/learning aids;
5. assessment...

The education ministry has started an international project (with a budget of EUR 350 000) aimed at elaborating a National skills strategy for the Slovak Republic, in cooperation with the OECD. A launch conference was held on 29 January 2019 and a final OECD report is expected by the end of March 2020.

An umbrella body, the Employer Council for dual VET, was set up in 2016 aiming to strengthen cooperation between respective sectoral assignees involved in dual VET. The Council is partially financed from the State budget. The most important responsibility of the Council is to coordinate processes related to the accreditation of training companies based on their compliance with the requirements set by the State concerning space, training equipment and materials. Involving employers allows...

In September 2017, the education ministry published the Learning Slovakia strategy paper, following a public discussion on a draft version from March 2017. The VET-related chapter of this strategy paper for the first time in the official documents clearly defines and distinguishes between the diverse forms of work-based learning: dual VET, as set in the 2015 Act on VET; work-based learning within VET school-enterprise agreements but without individual learning contracts; short-term...

The 2016-20 ESF project Dual education and increasing attractiveness and quality of VET provides support through its web portals. Eight contact points (officially called Dual points) have also been set up within this project. Their role is to support the implementation of the dual system and make the matching of supply and demand easier. The employer council maintains its own portal. The 2013-15 ESF project Development of secondary VET-related portal focused on matching supply and demand,...

To encourage enterprise involvement in dual VET, the VET Act (61/2015) had introduced corporate tax reliefs for training companies:

1. tax exemption reducing training costs by 21%;
2. tax bonuses of EUR 1 600 for 200 hours of practical training and EUR 3 200 for 400 hours of practical training within a tax period;
3. remuneration for learners’ productive work is exempted from levies.

These incentives did not apply to any other form of work-based learning (e.g. diverse school-company contracts on short...

The Act on VET was amended in March 2015 (61/2015). Its main objectives were to introduce a dual VET scheme and tax incentives for enterprises to provide training. The reform entered into force in September 2015 and made available upper secondary VET delivery in three forms:

1. school-based programmes with practical training (mainly) in school workshops;
2. mixed scheme, with school-based learning along with in-company training within the framework of school-company agreements (contracts) based on...

The 2016-20 ESF-funded project VET promotion, coordinated by the Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for VET (CPI), promoted VET as an attractive education option and supported the young and talented in moving forward in their career. The project promoted vocational and technical education through the active participation of young people between the ages of 18 and 25, teachers, employers and other social partners.

The promotion is done mainly through the national and European skills...

The new Act on Apprenticeship, adopted and published in 2017, is the result of joint work and consultation with all main VET stakeholders: the ministries of education, labour and economy, the Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for VET (CPI), schools and social partners (chambers and trade unions). It defines apprenticeship as a means to accomplish three-year upper secondary VET programmes, equal to school-based programmes. The act strengthens the role of chambers in monitoring the scheme,...

A thematic country review (TCR) on apprenticeship was conducted in close cooperation with Cedefop in 2015-17. The aim was to carry out an in-depth analysis of the situation to support Slovenia on reintroducing apprenticeship. The review involved a broad range of VET stakeholders: directors of VET schools, students, recent graduates who are in employment, providers of in-company training, directors of intercompany training centres, company directors and in-company mentors. Several sectors...

The 2015-16 social pact was adopted by the Economic Social Committee (Ekonomsko socialni svet) where representatives of the government, trade unions and employers take part. This acknowledges the need for apprenticeships and considers their reintroduction, especially in sectors where skills shortages are observed.

The legal basis supporting the Swedish national qualifications framework (SeQF) came into force on 1 October 2015. The SeQF was referenced to the European qualifications framework (EQF) in June 2016 and can be considered to have reached (an early) operational status. It is operated by the National Agency for Higher Vocational Education (MYH) assisted by a council comprising representatives from social partners, national education and employment agencies and student organisations. A register...

At the end of 2015, a National commission (Välja yrke) made proposals to the government to strengthen the involvement of social partners in providing VET. The options discussed included developing regional support structures. As a result a State grant was put in place for the development of regional support structures for WBL placements for social partners and stakeholder organisations. The total sum awarded for 2018 and for 2019 was SEK 10 million (about EUR 950 000). The grants targeted...

The 2015-20 lifelong learning strategy addressed the acquisition and validation of key competences that help early leavers from education to find jobs. The measures included revision of the validation methodology, quality assurance and training of staff in assessment centres of prior learning. The allocated financing allowed 45 000 adults to acquire key competences.

In order to facilitate access to upskilling for low-qualified adults, the labour ministry introduced EQF level 1 qualifications...

Since 2016, the Youth guarantee implementation plan has put emphasis on initiatives that combine employment with training of the workforce, which gives young people the opportunity to improve their skills obtained during initial education and to acquire new skills through participation in apprenticeships and traineeships. The new Youth guarantee implementation plan for 2017-20 continues all the measures of its predecessor.

The Youth guarantee implementation plan for 2017-20 focuses on...

In 2018, the regulatory framework for validation and recognition was revised with a view to introducing QA measures for validation and recognition. Specific criteria for certification of evaluator and external evaluator competences and additional requirements for assessment and certification, organised by the assessment centres, were introduced in legislation. By 2019, there were 37 fully functioning local assessment centres that could validate prior learning of candidates, mainly in...

Since 2017, the labour ministry has taken over the coordination of authorising vocational training providers and started drafting the legislation on quality assurance in adult learning. Relevant stakeholders have been invited to take part in the process: the Romanian Agency of Quality Assurance in Pre-university Education; the National Qualifications Authority; the National Accreditation Centre; the National Centre for TVET Development; and institutions responsible for regulated professions...

In 2013-16, the training standards for IVET (131 initial VET qualifications at EQF level 3 and 69 qualifications at level 4) were revised and, in 2016, were approved by ministerial order.

The professional training standards have been adapted to new technological developments and labour market needs; they include learning outcomes. They were developed/updated for improved articulation between the stages of schooling and to support mobility in education and vocational training from the...

In December 2016, tax incentives (deductions) for businesses involved in dual IVET were introduced (government Emergency Ordinance No 84/2016):

1. companies can deduct from taxable income the expenses they incur when carrying out practical training with initial VET students, based on the partnership agreements concluded with schools;
2. companies can recover, by deducting the depreciation, the expenses related to the fixed assets and the investments made for the organisation and development of...

An amendment to the Education Law endorsed in November 2016 (Ordinance No 81/2016) introduced a dual form of initial VET for qualifications at EQF/ROQF (Romanian national qualifications framework) levels 3, 4 and 5.

Implementation of dual IVET programmes started in 2017/18 for qualifications at EQF level 3. Over 2 500 learners from the first generation of students with access to dual VET programmes enrolled in dual IVET. Setting up a methodology for organising and conducting entrance...

In 2014, the Portuguese confederation of tourism (CTP) commissioned the project Competence-based qualifications for the tourism sector. It aimed to develop qualification standards based on a diagnosis of skills needs in the tourism sector.

In 2015, the Commerce and Services Confederation of Portugal (CCP) launched the study Strategic training programme on trade and services 2014-20. This analysed qualifications and skills dynamics and trends in the sector of commerce and services.

In 2018, the...

The PQF can be considered to have reached an operational stage: it was formally adopted by parliament on 22 December 2015 together with the establishment of the Integrated Qualifications System (IQS) and Integrated Qualifications Register (IQR) and came into force in January 2016.

While the Ministry of National Education is responsible for overall coordination, an advisory stakeholder council was set up in September 2016. An update on the referencing report was presented in December 2016. In...

In 2017, the education ministry initiated the development of a national skills strategy (integrated skills strategy – Zintegrowana Strategia Umiejetności – ZSU). The strategy covers the whole area of education and training, i.e. general education, vocational education, higher education and adult learning. It takes into account both demand (for specific competences and qualifications) and supply (availability of qualifications and competences in society). The general part of the strategy...

The National strategy for responsible development (Strategia na Rzecz Odpowiedzialnego Rozwoju – ‘Morawiecki Plan’ – SRD) was adopted by the Council of Ministers in February 2017. It addresses the challenges, which the country will be facing until 2030, in particular in the areas of social and regional development, reduction of poverty and social exclusion, as well as demographic challenges. In education, the following actions were prioritised:

1. promoting dual VET, further linking school...

From October 2016 to September 2018, the Erasmus+ project Apprenticeship helpdesk for small and medium-sized enterprises was established in Poland (and Cyprus) to build the capacity of key intermediary bodies to support SMEs offering training placements for apprentices/trainees. Among the main results of the project were:

1. the setting up of a national apprenticeship and traineeship support service for SMEs, offered by the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development;
2. training was provided to the...

The Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP) implemented an ESF co-financed project to establish and support the functioning of Sector Skills Councils – SSCs (Sektorowe Rady ds. Kompetencji). The SSCs collect information from labour market stakeholders and recommend systemic solutions and changes in the area of education; stimulate cooperation between education providers and employers; and provide support in identifying and anticipating competence needs in a given sector.

The programme...

In November 2016, a National Skills Council (NSC) was set up to establish the institutional framework for the anticipation of skills needs in Malta. The NSC is made up of representatives from:

1. the Ministry for Education and Employment;
2. University of Malta;
3. the Malta College for Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST);
4. Jobsplus (PES);
5. the Institute for Tourism Studies;
6. the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry;
7. Malta Enterprise;
8. lifelong learning entities and the civil society.

One of...

The Latvian qualifications framework (LQF) is a comprehensive eight-level framework covering formal education and training, including VET. It is a framework for developing standards and qualifications, and promoting quality in education and training.

All VET diplomas include a reference to LQF.

The implementation plan adopted in June 2015 provides directions for improving the access to education and preventing early school leaving from general and vocational education, especially for young people subjected to social exclusion. Measures include scholarships in initial vocational education; a Youth guarantee scheme providing opportunity for young people to acquire a professional qualification in a short time (one to one-and-a-half year initial vocational education programmes);...

Social partners (employer and employee organisations) have been actively involved in the design of the implementing regulations of apprenticeship through participation in the sectoral expert councils. The 2017 amendments of the VET law strengthen the role of the councils in their various roles: promote cooperation between companies and schools; evaluate and collect information about the companies involved in apprenticeship; consult companies on issues related to apprenticeship; evaluate the...

In 2015, the Digital Education strategy was developed, including five dimensions broken down into specific projects; the strategy’s major focus is on IT infrastructure and equipment.

In 2015, the National Youth Service and Department for Coordination of Educational and Technological Research and Innovation (SCRIPT) developed the Bee Creative project. This contributes to developing digital literacy and creativity (programming, security, design, communication) and entrepreneurship, by...

The Chamber of Commerce launched several initiatives to promote apprenticeship. In 2016, the Winwin promotion campaign was introduced, aiming to encourage companies to offer more training places for apprenticeship and uses apprentices and training companies as testimonials. In parallel, in 2016, the campaign TalentCheck was launched, and targeted potential apprenticeship candidates. It offered a self-evaluation tool to learners to help them prepare their future professional projects. It can...

The network of VET institutions was reformed, with the number of schools reduced to 67 at the start of 2019. In the same year, the model of governance for VET institutions was changed. From then on, the governance bodies included representatives from municipalities, businesses and VET schools with the aim of ensuring that the views of more stakeholders were taken on board when organising VET initiatives.

Following growth in the involvement of stakeholders at a strategic level in the...

A joint Order of the Minister of Education, Science and Sport and the Minister of Economy and Innovation on the Tasks, Functions, Committee, Formation and Financing Procedures of Sectoral Professional Committees was drafted in 2018. It was approved by the ministers in the middle of that year.

Sectoral professional committees (SPCs) are funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, while their activities are supervised and coordinated by the Qualifications and VET Development Centre...

The Baltic Alliance for Apprenticeships (BAfA) was established on 22 June 2015 in a bid to increase the competitiveness of those in the region’s labour force partaking in VET schemes, with a particular emphasis on work-based learning (WBL). The aim was to raise the status and attractiveness of Baltic VET schemes and encourage regional approaches to their implementation. The ministries of education in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia committed to cooperating in the promotion of apprenticeships...

Amongst the main reforms of the labour market outlined in the Jobs Act, the legislative Decree No 150/2015 provided the management of a unique information system on active policies whose one main branch is represented by the National statistical system for VET (SIU Formazione). It represents the unique informative source of data for monitoring VET funding schemes and programmes which are carried out and managed by the Regions and autonomous provinces. According to the constitutional...

On 13 July 2015, the Italian government adopted a reform of the national education system emphasising alternance between classroom work and periods of workplace training. The main objective is to boost school-to-work transition by increasing employment opportunities and guidance for students. The reform calls for improving the coordination of work-based training in the education system and greater cooperation between schools, local communities and companies.

The two policies work closely...

In 2016, Cedefop provided technical advice to Iceland to improve its ‘governance of skills anticipation and matching’. The aim was to improve the management and coordination of skills anticipation efforts, making existing skills anticipation initiatives more useful for policy, and to improve the linking of skills intelligence to education and training. In 2018, a report on Iceland’s skill foresight needs was published, stating the need for a strategy for skills anticipation and...

The Skills for growth initiative was launched by Enterprise Ireland and the Department of Education and Skills to all regions. The inclusion of other government agencies ensures that a comprehensive and coherent picture of skills needs can be gained at the government level. The initiative guides small and medium enterprise (SME) representatives to think strategically about their current and future skills needs. It also introduces them to tools and questionnaires, which help them identify...

As stipulated in the National skills strategy 2025, a National Skills Council (NSC) was launched in April 2017 and is chaired by the education minister. It oversees and advises on identified skills needs and how to ensure delivery of the corresponding skills. The NSC includes representatives from senior levels in the public and private sector. It is an advisory, non-statutory body under the remit of the Department of Education.

To take on board skills needs at regional level, the Department of Education and Skills set up and funded nine regional skills forums in May 2016. The forums are part of the National skills strategy. Their main purpose is to facilitate cooperation and engagement between employers and education and training providers to make sure that the content of programmes is aligned to labour market needs. They also promote digital skills amongst older workers. Each forum is guided by a steering group...

The PLSS is a suite of software applications that are designed to provide an integrated approach to the collection and processing of personal data of users of PLSS and FET programmes funded through SOLAS, and the outputs, outcomes and performance of such programmes.The data are informing the SPAs between the Education and Training Boards (ETBs) and SOLAS.

The PLSS consists of three elements:

1. national programme database (NDP) – a depository of all programmes/courses designed to be run by FET...

At the beginning of 2017, the Croatian government started a joint project with Cedefop for a comprehensive analysis of the national apprenticeship system. The project includes interviews with apprentices and companies involved, as well as several exchange forums. The aim is to help national stakeholders to plan further development of the national apprenticeship scheme. In 2017, two rounds of interviews were held with 90 respondents from 11 education institutions and 24 companies in six...

The HQF was referenced to the EQF in 2015 but self-certification against the qualifications framework for the European higher education area (EHEA) remains a challenge.

In 2017, a ministerial decision on a quality framework for VET curricula was adopted. The content of the decision included the definition of learning outcomes, the connection with occupational profiles and issues regarding the design of VET curricula.

Moreover, as a consequence of Law 4485/2017 (Official Gazette...

The National Committee for VET was set up in 2017. It is responsible for the overall coordination of governance of Greek VET, monitoring the implementation of the 2016 National strategic framework for the upgrade of VET and apprenticeship and evaluating its results. The National Committee is supported in its work by a Technical Committee for VET. Both committees have become operational. In its first meeting (March 2018), the National Committee discussed the mapping of labour market skills...

The key element of the 2016 strategic framework was the design and implementation of the post-secondary apprenticeship year, which is offered by vocational upper secondary schools (EPAL). For the establishment of its regulatory basis, a demanding legislative process was needed (for example, through regulating the EPAL apprenticeship year, setting the quality framework for apprenticeships, introducing pilot apprenticeship programmes). Law 4610/2019 integrated all the amendments related to...

In the reporting period, work to adapt the current five-level structure of the French framework to the eight-level structure of the EQF was carried out. Article 31 of the 2018 Law for the freedom to choose one's professional future introduced a new vocational qualifications framework, which establishes the correspondence between the national five-level structure and the EQF levels. The EQF NCP for France is, as of 1 January 2019, hosted by France Compétences.

The 2018 Law for the freedom to choose one’s professional future provides for:

1. the creation of the agency France Compétences: continuing training in France is a shared responsibility between the State, the regions and the social partners. The new agency, France Compétences, brings together these three stakeholders. It will be in charge of regulating the quality and the price of training supply, and handling funding discrepancies across sectors;
2. reforming funding mechanisms to establish a...

A circular of 2 December 2015 from the Ministry of Education announced 12 measures aimed at developing relationships between businesses and education through career guidance and work-based training for young people. They include work placements and measures to help pupils gain a better understanding of the world of work. School staff will have more opportunities to interact with the business world through courses for head teachers and continuous professional development modules on...

Social partners have been involved in the design of the reform, along with regional authorities, chambers of commerce, and experts. Stakeholder consultation lasted from November 2017 to January 2018. The September 2018 Law for the freedom to choose one’s professional future includes provisions regarding apprenticeship and work-based learning.

1. The opening of new apprentice training centres no longer requires administrative approval (previously issued by the regions). Sectors and businesses...

In 2017, 30 national education and training committees were replaced by nine skills anticipation groups, each representing different vocational fields and together with the steering group formed the National forum for skills anticipation. The members of these groups are representatives of employers, employees and entrepreneurs, as well as VET providers, higher education institutions, teaching staff, researchers and education administrators. The current mandate of the anticipation groups...

The new government, in power since June 2018, reorganised the administration. The change of name in the education administration state, now the Education and Vocational Training ministry (previously Education, Culture and Sports), reflects the new strategy to promote VET. In October 2018, the Government presented the Strategic plan for vocational training under education authorities. In February 2019, the Council of Ministers published the Agenda for change (Agenda del Cambio).

The agenda...

The education ministry has contributed to promote work-based learning by supporting VET skills competitions at national (Spainskills), European (EuroSkills) and international levels (WorldSkills). All regional education authorities are also fostering different kind of events to promote dual VET among students, families and companies.

Trade unions are also contributing to the development of dual VET. In January 2018, General Union of Worker (Unión General de Trabajadores – UGT) published a...

The first digital focus programme was implemented in 2016-18. By 2018, the incorporation of digital culture into education and learning activities was considered complete, but not yet systemised. The activities continued during the second programme period in 2019-22.

The programme is devoted to developing digital skills, digital learning resources and e-assessment through the following activities:

1. incorporating a digital culture into the learning process;
2. supporting digital learning resources...

The EstQF was referenced to the EQF in 2011. Following the VET reform in 2013, the referencing report was revised and updated in 2016 to include developments in the education system.

The standard:

1. describes the requirements for national and school curricula and curriculum groups in line with ISCED levels, their objectives and expected learning outcomes;
2. determines the terms and conditions for recognising prior learning, volume of study and graduation requirements by initial and continuing VET curricula;
3. defines requirements for teachers and trainers;
4. assigns the national qualifications framework levels to VET qualification types.

OSKA analyses the developmental potential and labour requirements of different economic sectors in Estonia. Its surveys of sectoral needs for labour and skills use a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods. Both statistical data and information collected from personal interviews with sectoral experts and from group discussions are used. Five economic sectors are examined per year. Each sector is reanalysed every five to 6 years on average. The results of these analyses...

The following regular surveys are conducted under the Labour market and education cooperation programme:

1. satisfaction surveys;
2. graduate tracking (including employability and income) surveys;
3. analyses on labour requirements of different economic sectors (OSKA reports).

A student, teacher and graduate satisfaction surveys' wave was carried out in 2017-18. The results of the graduate satisfaction survey were published in 2017. Student and teacher survey reports were published in 2019.

A survey on...

The Labour market and education cooperation programme includes measures for raising the attractiveness of VET by providing information about VET opportunities, including apprenticeships, awareness raising activities such as media campaigns and national skills competitions and participation in WorldSkills, regional and local career fairs.

For 2015-18, EUR 2.14 million was allocated from the EU (ESIF) and the State budget to improve the image of VET.

In 2016-17, communication and marketing...

The programme was adopted in 2015. It sets out a roadmap and offers a framework for increasing the qualification levels of the labour force, decreasing the structural labour shortage and enhancing the employability of graduates by responding better to changes in labour demand. A smoother transition from education to employment will be ensured and opportunities to participate in lifelong learning will be expanded.

The programme is implemented through a single measure (linking studies to the...

The Kompas project was launched by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs in 2017, aiming at establishing by 2020 a labour market barometer, a permanent system of labour market forecasting with a strong regional focus. The system will collect the available statistical data as well as qualitative information on future regional and national developments, important changes and technology trends. The outcomes of the system are expected to inform education providers and counsellors (IVET as...

The CyQF was referenced to the EQF in February 2017. A more thorough analysis of the System of Vocational Qualifications (SVQ) and how it is connected with formal education was presented to the EQF advisory group. The CyQF booklet, which provides full information on the CyQF and its social benefits, was prepared and circulated to all stakeholders. The implementation of the CyQF is progressing smoothly. The referencing report will be updated when there are changes in the Cyprus education...

On 18 May 2017, the Council of Ministers approved the establishment of the National Qualifications Authority, with the mandate to:

• further improve quality assurance systems in education and training;
• monitor and integrate in the CyQF the scheme for the validation of non-formal and informal learning after its completion;
• monitor the CyQF/EQF levels on the certificates, diplomas and Europass documents;
• further strengthen the legal aspect of CyQF;
• develop a registry for the CyQF.

The National...

The 2015-20 strategic plan for technical and vocational education and training aims to set up a national monitoring system of initial vocational education and training (IVET) and continuing vocational education and training (CVET) graduates, to inform the upgrading of the VET system. The Department of Secondary Technical and Vocational Education and Training (DoSTVET) purchased services for the design and development of the platform. The platform is operational as of April 2019. It is called...

Based on the 2015-20 strategic plan for technical and vocational education and training, a proposal for upgrading the apprenticeship system, in cooperation with the apprenticeship board, was approved in August 2015. The reform affects both the preparatory and core programmes;

• at preparatory apprenticeship level: to respond to the needs of students from different academic backgrounds, two different classes (A and B) are offered. Assessment criteria have been developed for students wishing to...

The 2015 Pre-school and School Education Act (PSEA) emphasises the important role of key competences for active citizenship and for successful integration into the labour market. It outlines an integrated approach to key competences in general education and vocational education and training (VET) curricula. The state education standards include vocational units, based on learning outcomes, for communication in a foreign language, ICT and entrepreneurship (integrated in 2017), as well as for...

Since the academic year 2017/18, the EQF/NQF level of the occupation in which the qualification is acquired is stated in the completion documents: the ‛vocational qualifications certificate′ and the ‛vocational training certificate for part of the profession′. This applies both for young and adult learners. Changes to legislation are still needed to support the setting up of the BQF. A working group has to be established to prepare these amendments. The framework is not yet...

In 2016, the Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA) started the project Development of national competences assessment system – MyCompetence. The project is funded by the Operational programme Human resource development 2014-20, with the financial support of the European Social Fund (ESF). For the period from December 2017 to October 2019, BIA committed to extending the capacity and scope of the MyCompetence initiative and the supporting infrastructure. More specifically:

1. the sector...

During 2017-19, Cedefop has provided technical advice to Bulgaria to improve its governance of skills anticipation and matching.

The aim was:

1. to improve the management and coordination of skills anticipation efforts;
2. make existing skills anticipation initiatives more useful for policy;
3. better linking skills intelligence to education and training.

The review is part of Cedefop’s skills governance project, which aims at strengthening skills anticipation and matching in EU Member States.

The VET Directorate of the education ministry developed at the end of 2017 a (pilot) forecast model, in cooperation with the nationally representative employers' organisations, to inform admission plans in line with labour market needs. The model is based on the expected replacement needs within the next five years in each economic sector (according to the national classifier of occupations and professions). It uses anonymised data from the national social security institute, based mainly on...

The VET Act of 1999 was amended in August 2016 (entered into force in August 2017), confirming that apprenticeships should offer the possibility to acquire professional qualifications through practical training, organised in cooperation with enterprises. The amendment also intended to improve the quality of VET by increasing the practical training part offered in VET programmes.

Piloting started in the 2015/16 school year for seven professions in five secondary VET schools in different regions of the country. In 2016/17, 12 professions and 17 schools in total were involved in the experiment. Dual VET(DVET) is supported by the municipalities and the social partners. The piloting phase was planned to continue until 2019. In 2017/18, the total number of learners in dual VET has reached 1 742, and in 2018/19 their number more than doubled, reaching 3 884 learners. The...

An Ordinance that regulates dual vocational education and training (DVET) came into force at the beginning of September 2015. Learning through work (DVET or dual training) applies to two groups of people: learners, aged 16, in class XI and XII, and people aged 16 and over who have entered the labour market. Learning through work for people in the labour market is related to acquisition of a vocational qualification. Learning through work is implemented in a partnership between an educational...

The Francophone qualifications framework for lifelong learning (CFC) was formally adopted in February 2015. A steering and positioning authority has been operational since 2016. This body is tasked with managing the implementation of the CFC, including positioning qualifications. In the first stage of implementation, only qualifications delivered by public providers will be included. The qualifications directory was opened in August 2017, making it possible to position qualifications for a...