Background Many European businesses & industries face great challenges in order to remain competitive players in the global arena. The EUCVET (European class in vocational education & training) project was designed to meet some of the challenges: Many companies still can't fill their vacancies In a study from Cedefop on European skill needs it is forecasted a net employment increase of almost 9.5 million jobs at the medium educational level (ISCED level 3 & 4) between 2006 & 2015. At the same time there are a large number of young, educated people available for work. In a recent survey from McKinsey & Company (Education to employment: Designing a system that works, 2012), 43% of the employers stated that candidates don't possess the skills they need. Yet 72% of educators believe new graduates are qualified to land jobs in the real world. In conclusion, educators don’t seem to be aware of what employers are looking for & students may have skills, but not the right ones. For instance, international experience is highly appreciated by the employers. Still few students are provided a transnational learning opportunity as part of their education. Many schools have limited cooperation with the world of work The leap from school to the workplace is more fraught with fantasy than ever because schools continue to train students for skills not in line with the skills needs of the labour market. In the EU alone there are major flaws in the education system that go unfixed because institutions refuse to work together. The world is constantly changing – but the education system continues to drag its heels. Vocational training (VET) less valued by young people In the above mentioned survey, McKinsey & Company found that nearly 2/3 of the young people who participated in the study agreed that vocational training was less valued by society. Fewer than 40% of those who said they preferred vocational work actually sought out this type of training. In Sweden alone, only 28% of young people apply for vocational education. At the same time, youth unemployment in Sweden is 25%. ECVET – still a well-kept secret Few VET providers in Europe have discovered ECVET (European credit system for vocational education & training) as a mean to quality assure learning opportunities abroad & for VET development. Too few projects utilizing ECVET in practice have been conducted making it difficult to communicate the ‘real’ added value of ECVET. ECVET also needs further investigation, eg is still a challenge for VET teachers to describe & assess learning outcomes. EUCVET - Aim & objectives The aim of the EUCVET project was to continue to elaborate on ECVET & the European class concept, & to transfer it to new VET sectors. The project was expected to reach the following objectives: - New units of learning outcomes in welding, trucks maintenance, & automation - An assessment scheme for assessing the learning outcomes, i.e knowledge AND skills and competences - An ECVET Introduction for beginners - New European classes in welding, automation, & trucks maintenance Partnership VET schools in France, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, Spain, & Turkey. Lead partner & project coordinator – Kungsbacka municipality, Sweden. - VET teachers from the involved sectors (tot 14) - VET students from the involved VET schools (tot 18) - Representatives from VET providers (tot 3) - Representatives from public body (tot 2) Project activities & multiplier events - Project meetings (tot 6) - Multiplier events (tot 1) - Project coordination - Dissemination Intellectual outputs & learner mobilities In Automotive - 5 units of learning outcomes In Industrial automation – 3 units of learning outcomes In Welding – 1 unit of learning outcomes There is a suggestions for assessment scheme for each unit to assess the learning outcomes. Two of the assessment schemes provide the students an opportunity to achieve a European/international vocational certification. A board game – the EUCVET Game – has been developed to introduce ECVET to beginners in a fun and innovative way. 3 different European Classes have been carried out with students & accompanying teachers to verify the units of learning outcomes & assessment schemes (automotive in Sweden, industrial automation in Turkey, & welding in Finland). Impact & long-term benefits - Increased attractiveness of involved VET - Increased cooperation with the world of work - Increased number of transnational mobility opportunities for VET students - Increased teacher readiness for international cooperation in the involved VET programs - Increased knowledge of how to utilize ECVET to organize transparent & transferable transnational learning opportunities - Improved student results & higher motivation - Decreased mismatch of skills needs & VET output - Decreased youth unemployment & increased EU labor mobility (See below for more details!)