In the framework of a research project was carried out in NIVE in 2002, led by the writer of this proposal, a research group examined the role and importance of education and training in the development plans of the seven economic-administrative regions of Hungary. The research was undertaken in the period of the preparation of the National Development Plan of the country. It is essential to have a clear, objective picture on the conditions of the human resources of the county, also to have a look at the regional dimension of the subject in the period of the accession process. According to the main purpose of the research, special attention was given to education and training as the elements of human resource development in the regions. The research topic is of a special relevance, since the regions will be the beneficiaries of the support of the European Social Found after Hungary joined the European Union. The research was based on seven regional case studies. To ensure the comparative analysis of the main characteristics of the regional structures, we used certain respects as guidelines to help preparing the county studies. The county studies were based on the analysis of regional documents, interviews with the key actors in the regions and other relevant research papers. Internet was counted as useful source too, especially on the open social debates on the National Development Plan. The research topic is rather new, without precedence in the country. My conference-proposal is based mostly on the conclusive summary study of the research, which was written by the author of this proposal. In the conclusive study I carried out a summary and an evaluation of the main findings of the research according to the following respects:

1. Regional differences in provision with education and training, the importance and the possibilities of regional equalization
2. Education and training in the documents of the regional development plans
3. Connection between the needs of the economy, education and training
4. Innovation as the key element of the future development concepts of the regions, selection between extensive and intensive development; required conditions of / consequences for education and training
5. Internal and external resources of the regions; education and training as the instrument of the development of labour; the mobility of the high educated, well trained people
6. The regional problems of school-based VET and higher education
7. The regional aspects of labour-market training and lifelong learning

Some of the main lessons derived from the research are the following:

• There are some serious differences between the regions how they are able to harmonize the sector specific (educational) and the regional aspects in the planning and development process
• The new dimension, 'regionalism' related to education and training, means a real challenge for the all society: the socialization process, the social debates, social partnership can increase the effectiveness of this learning process
• According to the result of our research, school based education was emphasized much stronger in the regional development plans than adult education and lifelong learning
• There is an urgent need for reorganizing the regional system of the institutions of vocational education and training to ensure a more efficient level of education and training. Because of the construction of the financial system the problem can be solved only with the involvement of the government
• Further research is needed to find out why school based youth education and training has much stronger dominance in the regional development plans than other forms of education and training. Also further research can provide answers for the questions how to increase the attention of the regions towards the importance of adult education, lifelong learning and company-based training in their future development plans.