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For several years the VETNET network has had a tradition to organise two joint plenary sessions that have a somewhat different character. Recently the Opening Colloquium has been profiled as a more conceptually oriented event (although with a clear relevance for European policies). The VETNET Forum has been developed towards an event that challenges the European VET researchers to consider their role (and possible contribution) to the development of European VET policies.

This year there was an interesting tension between the two sessions. On the one had the Opening Colloquium drew attention to the discussions on the reform of VET in Switzerland (which is not a member of the European Union or of the European Economic Area). On the other hand the VETNET Forum focused on the current phase in the preparation of the European Qualification Framework (EQF) - a European policy process that concerns primarily the European Union and the European Economic Area. In this respect the two sessions could have landed into discussions that would have had very little in common. Yet, after the event it is possible to note that this was not the case.

The Opening Colloquium was based on the keynote lecture of prof.em. Rolf Dubs from the University of St. Gallen. In his lively way he managed to chase away stereotype pictures of Switzerland as a self-sufficient fortress that is happy with its own traditions and sceptical vis-à-vis foreign ideas. Instead he gave a picture of dynamic debates in the need to reform the Swiss system of apprenticeship and on the willingness to consider aternative options. In this context comparative analyses onthe developments in the neighbouring countries (e.g. Germany, France and Austria) and outside Europe have had a role to play. Equally, the presentation provided comparative insights into the performance of school-based VET and dual models of apprentice training in Switzerland. All these analyses gave rise to proposals for revitalising the dual system and into enriching into 'trial system' by introducing bridging learning arrangements between traditional full-time education and traditional workplace-based learning. In this respect the main question for Dubs and for his commentators was 'how to make vocational learning meaningful and perspective-opening both for the learners and for the receiving enterprises'. (We hope to get more material on the web page of the session 4 in the coming days).

This year the VETNET Forum was dedicatd to joint re-examination of the preparation of the European Qualification Framework (EQF) in a policyprocess that was steered by the European Commission. On behalf of the VETNET network I presented the bakground of the EQF and gave the floor for the speakers who provided insights into the current phase. Dr Jörg Markowitsch provided a closer look at the most recent phase of the preparatory process. In the next speech prof. Georg Spöttl drew attention to different - and often mutually contradicting expectatons that have been raised during the preparation of the proposal. (We hope to get the contributions of the two speakers in the coming days; the main points of my introductory input have already been presented in an earlier blog entry).

The subsequent discussion was lively and constructive an it merits a more thorough re-examination than is possible at the moment. Of the many important points that were raised it is worthwhile to mention the following ones:
a) Since the European Commission has finalised its own position on EQF the debate has moved to a new phase. Yet, in the current phase all the unresolved contradictions will appear once again as concrete problems how to relate the national and sectoral frameworks to the EQF.
b) The final phase of the preparation has been characterised by some pragmatic compromses (e.g. disconnecting the EQF and the ECVET from each other). This (together with some tacit agreements on the concepts to be used) will make it more difficult to see what the actual role of EQF will be in the  next phase.
c) The hopes on the usability of a context-neutral European framework were related to the perspective of reaching common agreements on the levels of competences (and on different aspects of competences to be related to these levels).  Yet, in the light of the most recent discussions it appears that the interpretation of the levels is far more context-dependent and culturally specific than has been anticipated by promoters of 'European transparency'.

Yet, already in the open discussion strong points were made that the discussion is heading towards new frameworks and that European VET researchers cannot remain passive. In particular the new member states and the candidate countries consider it necessary that European experts participate in the process with constructive contributions. In this respect my proposal for the VETNET Forum was to start a process of policy motintoring and policy analysis that will be concluded via a specific document ("The VETNET Memorandum") at the ECER'07. This proposal was greeted and subsequently agreed in the VETNET General Assembly. In order to proceed in the work the speakers were requested to submit their contributions to support the further discussion. In the next few days some decisions will have to be taken how to organise the discussion.

Pekka Kämäräinen