| Abstract: |
This report examines development of core skills training, including entrepreneurial and management skills. Section 1 identifies issues that focus the study: core skill priorities, mapping core skills in the vocational education and training (VET) systems in partner countries, delivery of core skills, and good practice in delivering core skills. Section 2 describes how core skills are defined, specifies categories used for the survey, and summarizes outcomes of recent research defining the different concepts of core skills in European Union countries. Section 3 presents a broad picture of how core skills are regarded by the partner countries and how the different sets of core skills fit into their education and training systems. Responses to a questionnaire completed by 12 delegates in 9 countries indicate that all three skill sets--key, management, and employment--were relevant, and key skills were most important. The responses are presented to questions regarding relative importance of specific core skills, teaching methods, assessment methods, and responsibility for core skills. Section 4 gives examples of developments in core skills training in nine partner states. Section 5 provides suggestions for integrating core skills quickly and effectively. Chapter 6 interprets findings using the four criteria of a framework developed to provide a basis for integrating national debates on key qualifications in Europe. Appendixes include the questionnaire and examples of developments in the United Kingdom and Germany. (YLB) |