1. 1 “ Social partners: the role in governance and monitoring VET systems in Europe” J.Manuel Galvin Arribas Athens,21 July 2006

2. 2 CONTENTS 1.CEDEFOP mission supporting VET community. 2.Social Dialogue in LLL in Europe: a brief chronological review of Social Partners role. 3.The role social partners governing and monitoring VET: the framework of actions for the lifelong development of competencies and qualifications (2002-2006). 4.The key role of sectoral social dialogue in governance of social partners in VET systems. 5.The current and medium term role of SP governing and monitoring VET: some conclusions and proposals

3. 3 1.CEDEFOP mission: producing, exchanging and disseminating knowledge producing, exchanging and disseminating knowledge Main activities :  Detecting and selecting information sources: dates analysing and wide dissemination to European community on VET.  Promoting and carrying out researching on education and training.  Stimulating approaches and joint conclusions as regards European challenges concerning education and training topics ( stakeholders, researchers, social partners)  Setting up a reference point oriented to exchange and production of new ideas.

4. 4 2.SOCIAL DIALOGUE IN LLL IN EUROPE: A BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL REVIEW OF SOCIAL PARTNERS ROLE (I) KEY MILESTONES IN SOCIAL PARTNERS GOVERNANCE IN VET:THE PERIOD OF JOINT OPINIONS (addressed to EU Commission and Member States,1989):  (1990) Basic education, initial, vocational and adult training.  (1990) Transition from school to adult and professional life.  (1991) The best methods for enabling the broadest effective access to training.  (1992) Vocational Qualifications and their validation.  (1993) Women ant training.  (1994) Future actions of EU in Vet field and role of Social Partners.  (1995) Contribution of VET to fight against unemployment. Broad definition: Mechanism for promoting LLL policies for facing challenges in current global economy and labour markets as regards of improving employability of workers and competitiveness of companies.

5. 5 2.SOCIAL DIALOGUE IN LLL IN EUROPE: A BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL REVIEW OF SOCIAL PARTNERS ROLE (II) KEY MILESTONES IN SOCIAL PARTNERS GOVERNANCE IN VET: CHRONOLOY OF PERFORMANCE OF SOCIAL PARTNERS (PRACTICAL ACTIONS). J (1988) COMET II. J (1989) EUROTECTNET. J (1990) FORCE. J (1991) PETRA (II)--- J (1994) LEONARDO Da VINCI. J (1998) JOINT OPINION ON DRAFT DECISION FOR LEONARDO DA VINCI II PROGRAMME. J (1998) ADAPT--- J (2000). EQUAL

6. 6 2.SOCIAL DIALOGUE IN LLL IN EUROPE: A BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL REVIEW OF SOCIAL PARTNERS ROLE (III) KEY MILESTONES IN SOCIAL PARTNERS GOVERNANCE CONTRIBUTING IN PROGRESSIVE DEVELOPMENT OF EMPLOYMENT & VET POLICIES: J (1995) Essen Employment council. J (1997) Luxembourg process “Jobs summit" (European employment strategy on Treaty of Amsterdam-,1999). J (1998) Employment Pact J (2000) Lisbon strategy. J (2001) Laeken summit. J (2002) Barcelona summit.

7. 7 3.The role social partners governing and monitoring VET: the contribution of the framework of actions for the lifelong development of competencies and qualifications (2002-2006). VET: the contribution of the framework of actions for the lifelong development of competencies and qualifications (2002-2006).

8. 8 Evolution analysis of the practices related to social partners participation on LLL (2002-2005)(I). The first follow up report (2003), four main types of actions:  Dissemination activities of the framework of actions.  Discussion on the framework between SP and its inclusion on collective agreements.  Promotion on the approach through a tripartite concertation.  Follow up of one or several priorities through more focussed actions and projects. The four priorities: A.To identify and anticipate competencies and qualifications needs B.To recognise and validate competencies and qualifications C.To inform, support and provide guidance D.To mobilise resources.

9. 9 Evolution analysis of the practices related to social partners participation on LLL (2002-2005)(II). The main traces of the contents of second follow up report (2004) are:  More implication of social partners in tripartite activities as regards of design of National LLL policies.  Increase of bipartite activities focussed on developing competences at national, sectoral and company levels.  Stronger efforts of social partners in more countries to anticipate and identify key competencies.  Continuity in reinforcing and bring up measures to mobilising resources for individual access to learning.  More number of actions aims to the validation of competences, development of qualifications and strength links between formal and non formal learning.

10. 10 Evolution analysis of the practices related to social partners participation on LLL (2002-2005)(III). The main traces of the contents of third follow up report (2005) are:  Consolidation of the all strategy: EU 25 has joined the initiative, emerging that nowadays LLL development is consider a key topic for the social partners strategies.  Many activities shows consolidation of social partners participation in coordination, advisory and/or policy making bodies related to LLL strategies. As a result strategies on LLL has been included in NAEP’s.  More involvement of social partners in actions improving conditions for adult learning.  Mobilising resources area is clearly a increasingly measure: improvement of financial regulations on countries and new initiatives co-financing training are the main tools supported and developed by social partners.

11. 11 Evaluation report (March 2006): some remarks about main trends. Some trends showed for developing researching strategies:  Framework results environment: more in Vocational Continuous Training systems than in VET (learning in employment).  Strategies and experiences are linked mostly to NAEP’s: important for further impact evaluation.  Sectoral and companies successful experiences must be spread it between countries and testing feasibility connected to partnership with education and training institutions.  Cluster on social partners involvement: strategy is more developed in those countries with strong collective bargaining culture. Transferring experiences to East (and acceding countries) is a clear challenge.

12. 12 The key role of sectoral social dialogue in governance of social partners in VET systems. 4. The key role of sectoral social dialogue in governance of social partners in VET systems.

13. 13 4.1 The sectoral Social Dialogue: sectoral committees

14. 14 CONCRETE RESULTS AT SECTORAL LEVEL: A.Partnerships between VET providers and sector bodies. B.Sectoral collective agreements. C.Sector funds. D.Sectoral vocational training councils. E.Sector bodies offering training, advise and guidance. F.Sectoral qualifications. 4.2 Brief overview of sectoral approach to LLL in Europe SOME CONSOLIDATED PRACTICES AT SECTORAL LEVEL:  Sector skills councils (UK – 2002)  Network of competencies centers (BE -Wallonia- 1998)  Knowledge Centers (NL – 1954).  Joint sectoral committees (ES - 2001)  Sectoral committees (RO - 2005)

15. 15 5. The current and medium term role of social partners governing and monitoring VET: Some conclusions and proposals

16. 16 5.1 Some conclusions related to the meaning of Framework of actions JThe cross industry European Social partners made until now one of the the most important joint contributions in the context of Lisbon strategy and of Copenhagen-Maastricht process: reinforcing LLL on the agendas at all levels. JAfter many and disperses national, territorial, sectoral and company levels experiences social partners agreed identification of key areas for achievement on LLL: providing coherence and targeting contents of the measures supporting qualification systems. JEssential pillar initiative for setting up Work program of the European social partners 2003-2005 and 2006-2008. JSocial Dialogue on LLL at core of social model in a more dynamic way, reinforcing role of “peer learning” as a tool for transferring experiences between countries. JMade more visible the debate about validation and recognition of qualifications and competencies between social partners. JNowadays, is one of the most consolidated joint actions composed by main social partners of EU 25 countries: it open consensus and can reinforce mutual trust between both sides of the industry for establishing a wider dialogue regarding qualifications and skills strategies and other labour matters at all levels

17. 17  The evaluation of framework of actions for LLL: impact of the action.  The need for moving more than a gear as regards of recognition of qualifications and non formal LLL ( motivating learners to learning).  Follow up of the future role and using of European Qualification Framework (EQF).  Bring up more measures and experiences for risk groups: connecting labour market to social inclusion measures supported bye VET/VCT.  Promoting partnerships between companies and formal educations centres (Universities).  Sectoral approach as a bridge between national and European LLL systems.  The collective bargaining as a tool for universalizing VET in companies.  Innovative measures for establish permanent ways of financing LLL systems: particularly urgent for SME’s.  To raise awareness about benefits of training for European citizenship.  Improving statistical tools following up SP involvement on VET (Regulation 1552/2005 VT enterprise, art 3 –c- ). 5. Some proposals related to key areas for SP actions in VET

18. 18 Thanks for your kind attention! www.cedefop.eu.int www.trainingvillage.eu http://www.trainingvillage.gr/etv/Projects_Networks/SocialP/ jose-manuel.galvin@europa.cedefop.eu