A VET European Network in the field of Trade. The Portuguese Experience within.

Establishing an European Network for Anticipating Skill Needs in the Commerce Sector – Third Regional Conference Panel:International Coordination of Vocational Training A VET European Network in the field of Trade. The Portuguese Experience within.

Objectives To present a concrete case that illustrates: - the importance of international coordination in VET doing it together… - the importance of having social partners involved …with the right organisations involved… - the importance of anticipating skill needs in the trade sector …for the good reasons… - the importance of being in a network (mutual trust; comparability of qualifications and skills; qualifications recognition; learners mobility…) … with the expected results in terms of quality and learning.

Perspective Portuguese Commerce and Services Confederation Employment and Vocational Training Institute Vocational Training Centre for the Trade … from the perspective of a Vocational Training Centre for the Trade Sector

2005: the story began… « International Trade » Organisations from 10 different European countries (BE, ES, FR, ES, IT, NL, PT, RO, SI, CH) involving national social partners (employersorganisations from the trade sector), working together in a coordinated way (within a concrete project) decided to develop “shared” references, anticipating labour market skill needs A “shared” and jointly build job profile A “shared” and jointly build “qualification” reference (units of learning outcomes - KSC)

2005: the story began… National level: Working with national social partners – validation of the job profile Assessing the labour market need regarding those kind of professional and those skills Assessing the need of creating a new qualification Creation of a new qualification EQF level 5 (following national procedures but using the shared references build at international level and respecting EU frameworks) - 2009

From COMINTER to RECOMFOR… • Mobility mostly happens during training… • Need for comparability of qualifications in the different countries • Need for mutual trust between stakeholders involved • Need for recognition of qualifications between countries • Need for tools to insure quality of mobility processes and quality of learning achievements • Need for coordination between stakeholders involved • How can we do it ? • Creating and testing an European network of training centres and companies? • RECOMFOR project

So the story goes on …2008 RECOMFOR PROJECT SETTING UP AN ECVET NETWORK An European mobility network for learners in the field of trade www.recomfor.eu

RECOMFOR : 11 countries involved

RECOMFOR: project objectives Create an ECVET network: for international trade and then for the trade sector Create a mobility network: training centres companies (work placements)

RECOMFOR: network partnership VET competent bodies Professional organisations from the international trade sector Training centres providing training using the International Trade shared references Companies welcoming learners and organising VET mobility periods (work placements)

RECOMFOR: working method Using European VET cooperation instruments (EQF, ECVET, EUROPASS …) to insure qualifications comparability and promote “secure” learners mobility Creating a sustainable network to insure mutual trust, members coordination and job profile and “qualification reference” updating Creating a LABEL: to insure quality of mobility processes and quality of learning achievements within the network, enhancing mutual trust Ensuring transfer and recognition of the learning outcomes achieved during mobility period

Synthesis International coordination = doing it together! Important why?: - not doing it together = spend resources doing it alone - can learn from each other - it gives to the references created a more “worldwide” scope (competitive labour market; INTERNATIONAL TRADE profession) - “shared” references support the principle of subsidiarity of countries regarding VET without losing the sense of “European cooperation” and the possibility of following national standards and processes - Portugal: it helped us to develop a NEW qualification

Synthesis Social partners involved = doing it with the right organisations involved! Important why?: - KNOW the labour market needs - KNOW the profession skills needs - CAN ANTICIPATE future business development scenarios = NEW SKILLS NEEDS - CAN LEAD vet providers in the right direction regarding qualifications and skills - companies are very relevant “VET providers” (ex: work placements) - Portugal: it helped us to develop a NEW qualification, based on a job profile validated by social partners (at the time, this qualification didn’t exist)

Synthesis Anticipating skills need in the sector = doing it for the right reasons! Important why?: - “VET market” must not only ANSWER to the needs of the labour market… but ANTICIPATE the future skills needs - Basic skills: Market Trends / Marketing / New Players - Future skills: Languages / IT / Social / Intercultural - Portugal: it helped us to develop a NEW qualification that answer to a national labour market need (1st training course in December 2010 - already a success …)

Synthesis Being in a network = doing it with the expected results! Important why?: - promote knowledge of each other as organisations = mutual trust - promote knowledge of each other qualifications = comparability of qualifications - insure quality standards regarding training, mobility and learning achievements - allow job profile and “qualification reference” updating - facilitate transfer and recognition of qualifications - promote learners (and workers) mobility - Portugal: it helped us to offer our learners: 1) a qualification recognised in other European countries; 2) the possibility of completing part of their training abroad; 3) the possibility of exchanging with learners from other countries

THANK YOU! Cristina Dimas - CECOA (PT) cristina.dimas@cecoa.pt 19/12/2008

A VET European Network in the field of Trade. The Portuguese Experience within.