Accreditation is of obvious importance for qualifications policy. Yet in all Member States it is less widespread in vocational education and training than in general or higher education. Moreover, it is not sufficiently covered by the current European-level work on quality. This publication attempts to examine some of the issues related to accreditation in VET.

The study “Accreditation and quality assurance in vocational education and training: selected European approaches” analyses several national approaches to accreditation and draws comparisons between them. Some sectoral examples are also included. The publication paves the way for a more substantial comparative study in 2010, which will mark the tenth anniversary of Cedefop’s work on quality issues in vocational education and training in cooperation with the European Commission, the Member States and social partners.

You can find the document on cedefop.europa.eu/etv/…pub_id=568

Source: CEDEFOP – www.cedefop.europa.eu

The article published in the Bath local press, following the last project meeting in Bath.

People all over the UK, who are keen to work in international development, will benefit from a new project being researched at Norton Radstock College.

The International Development Officer Learning project – known also as IDOL – aims to identify the knowledge and skills required for this kind of work.

The project’s UK co-ordinator, Rosaleen Courtney, who is based at Norton Radstock College, said: “At present, our focus is on the education sector, because education plays a key role in international development activities, but the skills required are transferable to other sectors such as international business.”

The project involves 10 partners in eight European countries – Romania, Finland, Germany, France, Greece, Belgium, Italy and the UK. It is being funded by the European Union’s Leonardo da Vinci programme.

Rosaleen Courtney said: “We have sent questionnaires to, and conducted interviews with people in the UK who are already working in the field of international development. This is helping us to identify what it takes to work effectively on international activities.

“The responses so far show that networking, cultural awareness, project management, IT skills, interpersonal skills and an ability to speak other languages are seen to be important.

“With our European partners, we are now developing a training package and looking at ways of recognising these skills, which are often acquired through experience and in an informal way. Such a qualification could be very useful to those already working in the international arena, and helpful to those wishing to work for a limited period or permanently in international development.”

A pilot training project is being designed, and this will be tried out on a test group of about 60 people in the project’s education target group. The project partners are hoping their work will bring greater competence to the international development programmes being carried out by EU citizens.

Source: The Midsomer Norton, Radstock & District Journal

2009 marks the European Year of Creativity and Education – unlike most European Year programmes – this theme reflects a key policy priority for the European Union over the next 10 years. The concepts of Creativity and Innovation will form a major platform across all aspects of European development. They will permeate policy decisions aimed at building the knowledge society, tackling both economic and social cohesion and active citizenship.

Creativity and innovation manifest themselves in many aspects of learning. There is a need to promote awareness of their importance alongside entrepreneurship for personal development, creative self expression, acquisition of key competences conducive to innovation, transferable skills to address new skills for jobs and equity and diversity. These are some of the challenges facing education and training managers and practitioners.

What do we understand by creativity and innovation in VET and Lifelong Learning?
How do education and training systems encourage creativity and innovation?
How creative and innovative are we?
How might we harness these concepts as a means of improving Vocational Education and Training and Lifelong Learning?
Conference will explore these issues in depth, through keynote presentations and workshops.

Roundtables – for project dissemination:

Conference offers European project partners the opportunity to disseminate progress, results and products of their Transnational Transfer of Innovation; Development of Innovation and other European initiatives – a key to successful valorisation of project outcomes and sustainability.

To book a Roundtable to present your projects – please complete the separate booking form for roundtables. Please ensure you provide an outline of the project and details of your partnership when you book.

Mobility Marketplace

Following the successful introduction of the marketplace at last years conference it is intended to continue this to stimulate and bring potential partners together to plan and develop new mobility links – either through Leonardo mobility or Erasmus programmes. This year it is envisaged that ‘mobility groups’ will be formed along occupational / skill sector lines (eg: those delegates interested in mobility links in the field of Engineering/automotive; those in the field of Health and Social Care; Business Administration and Informatics).

Source: EfVET – European Forum of Technical and Vocational Education and Training, http://www.efvet.org

How will science and research change our lives in the next one and a half decades? The Science Express aims to provide some of the answers. In the Year of Science 2009 it will be visiting 62 Germany towns and cities between now and November.

In the twelve converted rail cars which make up the 300m long train, visitors can immerse themselves in various fields – from cosmology to particle physics, and from nanotechnology to applied and industrial research.

The exhibition includes examples of current top-level research work and shows the opportunities offered by the German research sector. It focuses particularly on interdisciplinary work.

Visitors are to have the opportunity to put their own points of view as to how we should deal with new technologies in future. How should we respond to global warming and increasing scarcity of energy? There is, however, still space for more classical questions that have preoccupied humankind since time immemorial. Where do we come from? And where are we heading?

The train is just one of the many attractions that will be on offer during the Year of Science. This year the motto is ‘Research Expedition in Germany’. Numerous special events will be held to encourage people to embark on a voyage of discovery. It addresses young people in particular. The children of today are the scientists of tomorrow. Events in this year are designed to fan their enthusiasm for science and make them aware of how attractive training courses and professions in the field can be.

Source: German Press and Information Office – http://www.kooperation-international.de

Over recent years, there has been a significant shift towards the value placed on teaching and learning in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector. There is now a growing recognition that teaching and learning issues need to be placed higher on national and state policy and planning agendas. The VET Teaching Conference 2009 takes this recognition another step forward by celebrating everything that’s great about VET teaching and learning.

This Conference aims to be both an inspirational and enjoyable event that pays tribute to VET teachers and trainers. We hope participants will leave energised, reinvigorated and enthusiastic about their role and the overall importance of teaching in VET.

“Building on the successful 2008 Conference, the 2009 Conference will focus on good practice in teaching and learning and provide opportunities for practitioners to actively participate and share ideas about quality teaching and training” stated Mr. Peter Skippington, Strategy and Research director, Department of Education and Training.

The Conference will be held at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre on 26-27 May 2009.

Source: Department of Education and Training, Australian Council for Private Education and Training, http://vetteaching.com.au