ABSTRACT

    In achieving the targets of Lisbon Declaration of the EU, the advancement and effectiveness of CVT in the enterprises is considered as an essential core of LLL and the means to ensure continuous development and adaptation of skills and competencies to the requirements of moving towards a competitive knowledge-based economy.

    In this context and within the framework of “the preparatory phase” for Leonardo Da Vinci project field investigation “CVTS 2 – Revisited: 2004-2007 (http://www.trainingineurope.com/)”, this paper is an overview and analysis of meta-evaluation studies of measures fostering continuing vocational training (CVT) within the enterprises in Europe. This overview is conducted through three basic sections and a conclusion. 

    The first section is mainly concerned with the analysis of funding-related policies, which are either supply or demand-led measures. The traditional supply-led funding measures are usually undertaken and regulated by public authorities (at national or regional levels in collaboration with social and sectoral partners) with the aim of guaranteeing a minimum CVT provision and funding for the enterprises and individuals. However, due to budget constraints, the enterprises’ dissatisfaction with the involuntary character of levy/funding schemes and the raising training costs, there is an increasing shift towards the use of demand-led funding measures to stimulate the enterprises and the individuals’ investment in CVT. They can be either “universal” or targeted demand-led measures. Examples of the “universal” (or non-specifically targeted) schemes are examined with special reference to the case of “leave of self-directed CVT and learning” which is addressed in principle to all individuals as it is the case with the French “CIF” scheme.

    The second category of demand-led funding measures, targeting specific categories of enterprises and groups of individuals is exemplified by three cases of voucher-based funding schemes: The training accounts scheme in Austria, the regional training voucher scheme (“chèque de formation” for SMEs in Wallonia, Belgium) and the “ILA” (individual learning accounts) scheme in the UK. The second section of the paper is an overview of the evaluation studies of measures fostering vocational training from the perspective of three basic stakeholders: enterprises, employees and public authorities (in Europe and outside Europe). 

    The third section is an attempt to put together the basic elements for an “input-outcome” evaluation framework to be further developed and tested in ulterior stages of CVTS2 project. It is a two-level multi-indicator evaluation framework linking “input-measures” fostering CVT to their  “outcomes” through a two-level evaluation process in terms of a set of quantitative and qualitative performance indicators: “primary” (or intermediate) and “end-outcome” performance evaluation indicators. 

    The concluding section highlights some overall trends in CVT performance evaluation results and their implications for policy recommendation and further research development in the domain.

Paper 162

Info - M'Hamed Dif_ECER2005Paper162.pdf - 258.34 Kb

M'Hamed Dif, University Louis Pasteur of Strasbourg

Paper 162 - Presentation

Info - M.Dif-ECER2005Paper162_Presentation.pdf - 87.73 Kb

M'Hamed Dif, University Louis Pasteur of Strasbourg