Abstract

The EU new member states are now facing the challenge of reforming and adapting their vocational education and training systems to the requirements of new societal and economic needs. One of the most important tasks to be undertaken by any one of them in this direction is to establish and envelop co-operation and partnership networks between different stakeholders which could foster development of VET. The observed lack of the experience in social partnership and cooperation between the stakeholders requires investigating the transference possibilities of 'good practices' from countries which have rich and successful experiences in regional VET networks development. The project "Modelling of the regional networks of vocational education and training in Lithuania' (LITVETNET: 2007-2009)', financed by the European Commission within the Lifelong Learning Programme 2007-2013 (Leonardo da Vinci), aims at examining the transference feasibility of 'effective practices and experiences' in VET regional networking and cooperation from France, Germany and the Netherlands to Lithuania. The final expected result of the project consists of developing guidelines for the creation and development of the regional VET networks in Lithuania, including the theoretical and methodical model of such network.

Like other post-communist countries, Lithuania inherited specific socio-economical, political and cultural context connected with the historical development conditions for the social partnership and development of the cooperation between the main stakeholders in vocational education and training. Lack of the experience in partnership and cooperation between the VET schools and employers in a decentralised market economy weakens the position and role of stakeholders, especially that of trade unions which are still influenced by the previous centralized character of system of VET and its regional networks in Lithuania. There are many important information gaps connected with the creation and the development of socio-economical, historical and institutional contexts favourable to the development of regional VET networks in Lithuania on the basis of the experiences of other countries (such France, Germany and the Netherlands) which already possess well developed models and practices of such cooperation networks.

In an attempt to fill this information gap about the feasibility of benefiting from the effective practices and experiences of other countries, the following research questions are addressed: What are the most successful experiences of regional VET networks, partnership and co-operation in each of the three countries? What are the most important socio-economic, legal, and cultural factors related to the success of these experiences? Which of these experiences might be transferable to the Lithuanian context without significant changes in the original contents? What are the main changes and adaptations needed for the implementation of the experiences? To what extent are these partnership experiences specific or can be generalized to other contexts? To what extent would the internal characteristics of the cases studied facilitate or hinder their successful implementation in Lithuania? To what extent do the cases studied demonstrate capacity building in regional cooperation in VET between the VET institutions, employers, unions and other stakeholders?

In this context and as an answer to these questions connected with transferability issue, four papers are presented in this symposium: The first paper deals with contextual background to the development of regional VET partnerships in Lithuania (by Vidmantas T tlys). The second one explores the possibilities of the transfer of the effective practices in regional VET networking from France (by M'Hamed Dif). The third paper deals with analogous case of the Netherlands ('Transferability of the effective practices in regional VET networking from the Netherlands', presented by Louis Spaninks). The fourth paper analyses the transferability of the effective practices in regional VET networking from Germany (by Georg Spöttl).

Methods

All the symposium papers make use of resources being developed within the initial phases the project "Modelling of the regional networks of vocational education and training in Lithuania' (LITVETNET: 2007-2009)'.

In this context, the overall adopted research method consist of conducting:

1. First, a desktop research based on existing literature and documents concerning the partnership and cooperation networks in the mentioned countries.
2. Secondly, a qualitative investigation based on interview with experts and representatives from concerned stakeholders (within the partner countries) such the VET schools, chambers of industry commerce and crafts, employers organizations, municipalities, trade unions, etc.

Results

Within the framework the project research questions and methodology, the symposium papers are expected:

1. To investigate and identify the main factors which can facilitate or hinder the transferability of the experiences in the development of regional cooperation networks from France, Germany and the Netherlands to Lithuania.
2. To propose the concrete methodical guidelines and recommendations on how to apply the experiences of foreign countries in the development of the regional VET networks.

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Contribution#1599: Context of the development of regional VET partnerships in Lithuania

Abstract

The paper examines general socio-economical, political and cultural preconditions for the establishment and development of the regional VET networks in Lithuania. The aim is to disclose the main context factors influencing the possibilities and effectiveness of the application of foreign experiences in this field. This paper consists of three main parts:

The first part deals with the development of the VET system of Lithuania with special reference to regional VET partnerships: socio-economic development context (influence of transition from the centralized planned economy and post-totalitarian society to the market economy and Western European democracy); institutional development of the IVT system and continuing vocational training (CVT) (reform of VET in Lithuania and its influence for the VET institutions); development of the legal framework and funding of IVT and CVT in Lithuania; overview chart of the VET system in Lithuania (both IVT and CVT included) including its connection with general education and all the interconnections and roles of interested and active stakeholders (for Lithuania and the partners countries).

The second part deals with the development of co-operation and partnership in VET in Lithuania between employers organizations (branch, regional and national levels), VET institutions, trade unions and other stakeholders: evolution of VET related partnership networks in the transformation of socio-economical systems (historical development); current state of partnerships between VET institutions, employers organizations (branch, regional and national levels), trade unions and other stakeholders: effectiveness, continuity, spread of partnerships.

The concluding part deals with the identification of the main problems and blockage factors to the transferability of the foreign solutions (from the partner countries) into the Lithuanian local context for each of the problem areas.

Contribution#1601: On transferable effective practices in regional VET networking from France

Abstract

This paper integrates within the framework of work-package one in the process of implementing the European project LITVETNET (2007-2009) on 'modelling the regional VET networking in Lithuania. In this context, the paper is an investigation into the transferability possibilities of effective practices from the French VET regional networking to the Lithuanian case through the following three interrelated basic sections.

The first section presents the contextual legal, institutional and socio-economic background developments of the French VET networking between training institutions, social partners and stakeholders on national, regional and secoral levels.

The second section explores the cases of effective practices of regional VET networks through the identification and the analysis of their main characteristics, aims, functioning and performance.

The adopted methodology in this investigation is based on both desk related research literature review and documentation completed with interviews with experts and representatives of different socio-economic and institutional actors and stakeholders involved in the identified regional VET networking of cooperation and partnerships.

The last concluding section examines the transference feasibility of identified cases of effective experiences and practices to other context by means of SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis in order to identify the main facilitating and hindering factors to this transferability and to draw some concluding remarks and suggestions for further research development and policy recommendations in this connection.

Contribution#1602: Transferrable Effective Practices in Regional VET Networking and the Social Dialogue in Germany

Abstract

This paper fits within the framework of the European project LITVETNET (2007 to 2009) on 'modelling the regional VET networking' in Lithuania. The project aims above all at identifying

1. how political decisions in the field of VET are made in Germany,
2. the real impact of these decisions and
3. the role of the Social Dialogue within this process.

After the clarification of these questions a dialectic process will help find out whether and how these findings can be transferred to the context of Lithuania. Relevant legal issues, the institutional interrelationships, the socio-economic context and the implications of the labour market will be taken into consideration. As soon as all relevant findings are available it will be necessary to initiate methodological considerations in order to find out how 'best practices' for the shaping of 'VET systems' can be transferred across all cultural differences. At any case the issue of quality assurance must be taken into consideration.

Contribution#1742: Cooperation of stake holders in the Dutch VET system

Abstract

The Netherlands is often cited as one of the European countries which have most successfully coped with the challenges of globalisation. The Dutch model, with government, social partners and other bodies involved in consensus building, has provided a framework in which the labour market has been made more flexible and, at the same time, has recognised and met the needs of disadvantaged groups. The population's education and training levels are relatively high in international comparisons. However, there is concern about the number of adults with low qualification level.

One of the distinguishing marks of Dutch vocational education and training is that there is a deliberate policy to develop VET as a separate and distinct pathway to high level qualifications. Another feature is a very high level of regionalisation and decentralisation resulting in education and training institutions with relatively much degree of freedom as to human and financial resources.

Full Papers for the contributions

[Word version - paper] - Contribution#1742: Cooperation of stake holders in the Dutch VET system

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Louis Spaninks, Talentis BV, the Netherlands; ECER 2008 - in Symposium #850 - "Transferability of the effective practices in regional VET networking from France, Germany and the Netherlands to the new EU member states: the case of Lithuania"

[Word version - full paper] - Contribution#1599: Context of the development of regional VET partnerships in Lithuania

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Vidmantas Tutlys, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania. ECER 2008 - in Symposium #850 - "Transferability of the effective practices in regional VET networking from France, Germany and the Netherlands to the new EU member states: the case of Lithuania"

[PDF version - contribution from: M’Hamed DIF] - On transferable effective practices in regional VET networking from France

Preview Printable - M_DIF-P1601_LITVETNETSymposium-850_ECER2008_2.pdf 243.79 Kb

M'Hamed Dif Symposium #850 - "Transferability of the effective practices in regional VET networking from France, Germany and the Netherlands to the new EU member states: the case of Lithuania" - ECER 2008 M'Hamed Dif, University Louis Pasteur of Strasbourg, France