European working group publishes final report
The EU working group on initial and continuing vocational education and training has published their final report “Teachers and Trainers Matter. How to support them in high-performance apprenticeships and work-based learning. 12 policy pointers”.
In the context of the strategic framework for European collaboration in the area of general and vocational education and training (“ET 2020”), education ministers of the EU member states have agreed on a range of priorities and objectives. In order to implement the strategic framework, six working groups were formed by the European Commission for the period from 2016 to 2018. The experts appointed addressed the relevant thematic priorities in the working groups and discussed developments in the member states in order, by means of reciprocal learning, to generate impetus for reforms at national and EU level.
The Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), represented by Head of Division Isabelle Le Mouillour, was involved in the working group on initial and continuing vocational education and training. The focal point of the group was the role of teachers and trainers. This work specifically focussed on formulating recommended courses of action for policy makers to support teachers and trainers in providing high-performance apprenticeships and work-based learning. The outcome was the development of 12 recommendations (policy-pointers) intended to help decision makers in policy making and practice in the following areas
- Specifying roles and responsibilities for teachers and trainers
- Strengthening the ongoing professional development of training personnel
- Equipping teachers and trainers for the challenges of the digital age
- Fostering exchange and collaboration between training personnel schools and companies
The results can be found in the brochure “Teachers and Trainers Matter. How to support them in high-performance apprenticeships and work-based learning. 12 policy pointers”.
The next phase of the project in the working group on initial and continuing vocational education and training has been under way since 1 September 2018, and BIBB continues to be involved in this. The thematic priorities for the next two years are innovation and digitalisation in vocational education and training.
In addition to participating in the working group, BIBB organised a two-day international workshop in September 2017 on the continuing pedagogy training of company-based training personnel. The results of pilot projects conceived and implemented by BIBB in Portugal, Italy and Greece were discussed at the workshop.