Cooperation VET school – industry: a win-win for both by Yves Beernaert, Educonsult

1. Cooperation VET school – industry: a win-win for bothby Yves Beernaert, Educonsult Contribution to the meeting of the QTEL. Net project Glasgow, 15-16 November 2007

2. Policy Flemish Ministry of Education, Training and labour • Accent op Talent Report 2001-2002 • All stakeholders involved • Discussion groups • Bottom –up approach mainly • Voortrekkersscholen • Now proeftuinen / learning hothouses • Voortrekkersbedrijven: ESF project • Other policy elements

3. Key elements of cooperation school - industry Parties concerned Why? Objectives and benefits for schools / training centres - providers For companies For ministries Characteristics for quality cooperation Structures for cooperation Where? In which areas? Examples

4. Parties concerned VET schools, training centres & training providers Companies & trade (profit, social-profit, non profit) Authorities & ministries (local, regional, national authorities) European Union: DG Enterprise, DG Education & Culture, DG Social Affairs etc.

5. Objectives for schools & training centres Quality of education and training New qualification standards & upgrading of existing ones Quality of teaching materials & pedag. process Increase 8 key competences of learners: Especially: entrepreneurship Promote key attitudes with learners Professional development of trainers & teachers Improve org. & financ. basis of Ed & Tr providers Increase social impact of Ed & Tr providers Enhance opportunities for disadvantaged groups: e.g. diversity management Better guidance of pupils / learners

6. Objectives for companies Improve image / knowledge about industry Appropriate and updated qualification standards Recruitment better trained people Larger recruitment basis Professional development of company staff Improvement internal training Increased community involvement & commitment: contribution to CSR, SD or SE, Corporate Social Responsibility / corporate citizenship Sustainable Development or Sustainable Entrepreneurship PR exercise

7. Objectives for ministries to enhance cooperation Increase quality of Ed & Tr : better employability Increase innovation capacity of companies & trade Improved functioning of economy & trade Bring about macro-economic cost saving Enhance social cohesion Benefit from enhanced entrepreneurial skills Upgraded Vocational Qualification standards Active citizenship: personal, societal, economic entrepreneurship Achieving EU benchmarks

8. Characteristics of quality cooperation Integration of cooperation in mission and vision of school, training centre & Cy Joint charter of cooperation & code of conduct Regular policy meetings & contacts Training of people involved (e.g. mentors of placements in companies and schools) Win-win situation: clear benefits for both parties Evaluation of activities

9. Structures for cooperation / support in Bnl SERV.: Soc. & Econ. Council Flanders VEV - VOKA: chambers of commerce UNIZO: Union of SME VDAB / FOREM (Employment Service) VIZO (Independent entrepreneurship ) + SYNTRA training centres Federations of professions Trade Unions Ministry of Education, Training and labour (Bnl) HIVA: research body KULeuven Etc.

10. Where to cooperate?Areas of cooperation Quality Assurance in education and training Facilitation transfer from training or school to industry: placements Develop competences & skills of staff Support to schools & training centres Impact on Ed & Tr policy Local & Regional development Promoting entrepreneurship education

11. Where to cooperate?Areas of cooperation: Quality Assurance education & training QAof Training Programmes QA of qualification standards QA of pedagogical process QA of placements QA of equipment & infrastructure QA of professional development teachers / staff

12. Where to cooperate?Areas of cooperation: Facilitate transfer from Education or Training to working life Learners are in contact with work field Support in career & professional counselling Special training courses unemployed and groups at risk Dual learning systems or alternated learning: special role!

13. Where to cooperate?Areas of cooperation: Develop competences of staff Competences of Ed.& Tr. staff: practice teachers or trainers / mentors in charge of placements etc. Competences of staff in companies Better management of schools, training centres and companies: ex. co-coaching NL

14. Where to cooperate?Areas of cooperation: Support to schools & training centres Financial support / sponsoring Support in equipment & infrastructure Involvement in board of governors, special interest groups, information events: jobs days in schools Involvement in equipment audits of schools & training centres

15. Where to cooperate?Areas of cooperation: Impact on policy in Ed & Tr Sessions with Parliamentary commission for education & training Joint working groups to define future Ed. & Tr. Joint development of tools: contract placements, safety regulations for placements, medical regulations etc. Joint management of Regional Technology Centres to improve VET

16. Where to cooperate?Areas of cooperation: Local & regional development Cooperation with regional authorities & groups of schools or training centres Cooperation in Regional Development projects Regional development through School Industry partnerships (Australia) RITON transregional cooperation: B – NL ROC in NL / RTC in Bnl European projects: Interreg and ESF etc. Job fairs at local or regional level

17. Examples of involvement of industry in schools / training Study visit / placements of pupils and teachers to a company Hands on experiences for pupils to practise skills and competences as part of curriculum Paid placements outside the curriculum Organisation of job fairs Information events Job interviews (simulations) Support to curriculum Learners doing project work Learners making their final work or thesis in Cies Organising modules of the curriculum in the Cy or in the school Acting as external examiners on final exams and tests

18. Examples of involvement of industry in schools / training Participation in: Job simulations: virtual (tourist) office, build a house in the school premises, build part of a ‘real’ house Young entrepreneurs activities Science projects: Edison project (University of Antwerp) Eur. School projects: Megatronics, Mobile school Development of tools , instruments and pedagogical materials In-service training of teachers

19. Examples Eur. projects Involvement in LLL project Comenius Erasmus Grundtvig Leonardo: placements & pilot projects ESF projects: Voortrekkersbedrijven involving Cies & Schools (pathway Cies) Interreg: cooperation between regions 7th Framework R & D projects

20. Examples Eur. projects ESF projects VIVES Comito : tools for placements in industry JANUS: development of dual learning in Cies LEGIO: Limburg Learning Region WELP: quality of placements in part-time Ed. & Training LEA: Learning & Assessment (an APEL project) TRACER: dual learning for disadvantaged youngsters

21. Some useful initiatives Co-coaching (NL) Partners in Leadership (UK) Education Business Partnerships UK American Express Foundation : GTTP partnerships (Global Travel & Tourism partnership) Foundation degrees in UK La taxe d’apprentissage in France (VET tax)

22. Publications & websites Effective Education Business links, 2005, Specialist Schools Trust, UK Learning through work experience for the knowledge economy: CEDEFOP, 2004 A guide on good practices in promoting entrepreneurial attitudes and skills through education, 2005, DG Enterprise EU: http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/entrepreneurship/support_measures/training_education/doc/entrepreneurial_culture_en.pdf EBNET UK: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/ebnet/ Altramas programme Ireland Centre for Education & Industry, University of Warwick: http://www.warwick.ac.uk/wie/cei/ Progress inPartnership; Evaluations of EducationBusiness Links andTeacher Placement; University glasgow: http://www.scre.ac.uk/resreport/pdf/073.pdf Types of cooperation education – industry, etc.: http://www.buildbridges.net (access with a password!)