Euro-MPs' Leonardo 'wish list'

Citation

(1999), "Euro-MPs' Leonardo 'wish list'", Education + Training, Vol. 41 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/et.1999.00441bab.021

Euro-MPs' Leonardo 'wish list'

Euro-MPs' Leonardo "wish list"

Keywords European Union, Quality, Vocational training

The second phase of the EU Leonardo vocational-training programme, which begins in 2000, should concentrate on improving quality, promoting innovation and supporting the Europe-wide development of national vocational-training programmes, Euro-MPs have recommended.

The European Parliament committee on employment and social affairs has adopted a report by Labour MEP Susan Waddington which suggests that, with the help of the European Social Fund, Leonardo II should also make it easier to implement new training practices.

The report says that the new programme should increase the number of trainees, instructors and personnel officers who can gain work or training experience in a European country other than their own. The report also emphasises the importance of collecting and analysing EU-wide vocational-training statistics.

More details have emerged about Leonardo II, which will come into operation in 2000.

The programme will focus on three objectives, rather than 19 in the current phase. The three are: to improve and strengthen the social and occupational integration of young people, particularly by apprenticeship and work-related training; to broaden and build up access to high-quality continuing training and lifelong skills, particularly so that people remain abreast of technological and organizational changes; and to improve the employment prospects of people with too few or outdated skills.

Leonardo II will include six types of trans-border measure, compared with 23 in the current phase of the programme. The six are: to allow more young trainees to gain experience in a member state other than their own; to promote the use of new information and communication technologies in vocational training; to promote pilot programmes which will boost innovation and quality in vocational training; to create European networks for pooling EU expertise; to promote language skills tailored to the requirements of the world of work; and to introduce a more systematic approach to studies, surveys and analyses.

Leonardo II seeks to increase the integration of education in vocational training. The programme should have simpleradministration than Leonardo I, more decentralization, greater transparency and be more closely integrated with other EU programmes.

The Unice grouping of European employers has voiced some concerns about Leonardo II. Unice says that the programme selects objectives which emphasise the needs of target groups rather than concentrating on policies which can achieve quality and innovation in training, and does not integrate vocational training for adults, and so does too little to advance lifelong learning.

Moreover, Unice fears that decentralization of the management of Leonardo II may dilute its international aspect, which is a precious asset to be developed.