1. Mrs. Rosa García Torres Innovation, Training and Employment Area

2. Spain’s location in Europe

4. 1. Clear difference between Aragon and rest of Spain, with regard to unemployment rates ; Aragon shows 5,6% face to 11,2% (last rates), even lower than the EU average on 8%. Employment grows, but not at the same rhythym. 2.Relevant inequalities ; Alarming ageing degrees and serious depopulation´s problem: Zaragoza, the Capital, agglutinates more than the 50% of Aragonese population. Rural areas´ impoverishment. 3. Unemployment rate keeps twice bigger among women than men (7,65% face to a 4%) but getting better. Social Situation in Aragon

5. 4.Real problem focused on people less 24 up 45 years Not qualified enough Lack of skills Not experience enough Gap between labour market demands and training. Women return to work Recognition of skills….

6. INITIAL O REGULATED 14-16 year 16-18 year Middle degree VT Higher degree VT Social Guarantee ESO Bachelor degree OCCUPATIONAL (Unemployed) LIFELONG T. (employees) BASE VT SPECIFIC VT NOT REGULATED SPANISH VOCATIONAL TRAINING / 3 SUB-SYSTEMS LIFELONG VT

7. VOCATIONAL TRAINING UNEMPLOYED (OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING) It is under Labour Administration´s competence and one of the key active employment policies. Training adressed to unemployees to improve their labour insertion. Free of charge for people from 16 to 65 years. Carried out by the following institution : INAEM (Aragonese Employment Institute). National Training and Labour Insertion Plan (FIP) Regional Aragonese Training and Labour Insertion Plan, also cofunded by the ESF.

8. VOCATIONAL TRAINING EMPLOYEES (LIFELONG TRAINING) Regulated by agreement among Administration and social partners. Training adressed to employees for competences´s improvement or for their requalification. Carried out by the following institutions : FORCEM (Foundation for lifelong training´s development). Borned in 1993 as a signed agreement, at national level, among goverment and social parties ; businesses organizations and trade unions. The Autonomous Goverment of each different Spanish region, (INAEM) also cofunded by the ESF

9. FORCEM (life-long training for employees) Enterprises training plans: promoted for enterprises with 200 or more employees Sectorial training plans: promoted for enterprises associations and/or trade unions which involve 200 or more employees. Intersectorial training plans: courses directed to enterprises with different activities Personalised training plans Complemetary activities: projects for the improvement of lifelong training. Apprenticeship training

10. SOCIAL AGENTS IN ARAGONESE REGION Planning and performance of occupational and lifelong training, regional (Autonomous Goverment) and national (Forcem) funded. NOT REGULATED TRAINING Up to 60.000 employees participate each year on training actions. An average of 4.000 courses on all different forms; presential, semipresential and on-line. Percentage participation is over the state´s average (16% face to a 12%).

11. LONG WAY TO NPCS (National Professional Competence System) PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE CATALOGUE EVALUATION AND ACCREDITATION SYSTEM INFORMATION AND ASSESSMENT ON VT AND EMPLOYMENT EVALUTATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE NPCS QUALITY MILESTONES: Dates from Aragonese VT Council Secretary

12. IN ARAGON…… Educative Administration Labour Administration Social Partners Employer’s Associations Trade Unions ARAGONESE VT COUNCIL Consultant Depart. Of Science and Education Ministry Dates from Aragonese VT Council Secretary

13. ARAGONESE VT COUNCIL: FUNCTIONS  Analysis of VT necessities  Coordination of the VT actions in the Spanish Subsystems  Elaborate an Aragonese VT strategic Plan  Suggest actions referred to VT assessment. Dates from Aragonese VT Council Secretary

14. ARAGONESE VT PLAN ACTIONS: Create a Professional Qualification Agency in Aragon Permanent Info-point Autonomic Map of VT Resources Vocational Orientation Assessment Program Dates from Aragonese VT Council Secretary

15. CONFEDERACIÓN DE EMPRESARIOS DE ARAGÓN (CREA) - Spain GENERAL PROFILE Represents businesses in the Autonomous Community of Aragon, Spain. The Confederation is made up of territorial and intersectorial partners operating in various industries. It is made up of over 200 entities and more than 26.000 companies. It is a strong corporate organization with a significant impact on Aragon and National Society.

16. Background Information INDUSTRIAL SECTOR  Aprox. 82.750 active enterprises (jan 2003)  Up to a 50% have no employees and micro- companies represent almost the 95% of total no. of companies.  Services is the dominant sector (50%) with more aprox. 39.000 companies.  Last unemployment rate in Aragon is 5.60 % (11.20 % national and 8 % EU average)

17. CONFEDERACIÓN DE EMPRESARIOS DE ARAGÓN (CREA) - Spain OBJECTIVES To boost and contribute to steady development in Aragon. To represent and defend the collective interests of Aragon businesses. To counsel and provide services to its members. To support the establishment and implementation of businesses in a free-market economy. To foster the principle of corporate unity and solidarity. To make Aragon a real presence in Spain, Europe and the rest of the world.

18. CONFEDERACIÓN DE EMPRESARIOS DE ARAGÓN (CREA) - Spain Innovation, Training and Labour Insertion Unit  More than 300 short and medium term courses on different Knowledge areas, adressed to all different target groups, from in-class to e-learning delivery  Euro-in programme: 3 post-graduate masters on euro-marketing, euro-quality and health and safety at work & a non-funded one in Human Resources  Labour insertion unit (UIL) and practical training programme. Specific plan for youngs 16-21 years  National and International projects area  Business advice in the following areas : Enviroment, health and Safety at work Business management & innovation ICT

19. CONFEDERACIÓN DE EMPRESARIOS DE ARAGÓN (CREA) - Spain LABOUR INSERTION UNIT (2003) Total requests from enterprises175 Final Labour Insertions 47% Total collected claimants 4500 NO LABOUR PRACTICES PROGRAMME Students inserted on Aragonese enterprises on practical training STUDENTS585 A 15% aprox becomes contracts.

20. CONFEDERACIÓN DE EMPRESARIOS DE ARAGÓN (CREA) - Spain OTHER SERVICES Environmental Advisory Board European Business Information Centre (Euro Info Centre) Economy and Surveys Computing Communications and documentation Labour Relations Board

21. CONFEDERACIÓN DE EMPRESARIOS DE ARAGÓN (CREA) - Spain EUROPEAN PROGRAMMES Leonardo Da Vinci Equal e-learning action plan Pacte Prince Businesses meetings INTERPRISE Al-Invest Safe Midas network E-Gateway Seminar JEV (Joint European Ventures) Business centre in Banja Luka-Bosnia Training centre in Mostar-Bosnia

22. To provide businesses with information on activities, programs and community legislation related to EU funding, commercial policies, development support, public contracting, foreign policy and the latest calls for tender published by the EU. To maintain permanent contact with the European Commision in order to help businesses develop and present projects to European Union Institutions. Enable Aragon businesses to conclude business cooperation agreements with companies through the major international cooperation networks. To publish detailed information on the activities of the European Commision in the magazine “European Information”. To organize conferences, seminars and meetings that provide information on current European Union issues.

23. CREA´s Headquater Address: Avda. de Ranillas 20. PC 50015. Zaragoza Tfn. +34 976 460 066 / fax. +34 976 460 136 www.crea.eswww.crea.es rgarcia@crea.es