... about Cedefop

Letter of the Director From "documentary information" to "reference and expertise" - more than a change of name? What is meant by the knowledge society?

---

 EUROPE

 Internationalisation of vocational
 education and training

EU - AQUACULTURE: "De-Pêche Toi" EU - Europass gets off to a good start EU - Trade unions, training and research at EU level A - ECO-NET: 93 virtual firms congregate at second international fair A - Springboard for astute apprentices F - 'Sustainable professionalisation': the first two European vocational certificates

---

 Lifelong learning

EU - The social partners define competence development as the major challenge for lifelong learning F - Online training: 'hybrid' solutions are the order of the day ISL - Education for everyone, everywhere NL - Changing life patterns - the element of lifelong learning A - eLearning clusters to bundle knowledge and experience FIN - New proposals for adult education and training S - New agency for flexible learning

---

 POLICY

 Vocational education and training

A - Success of dual qualification vocational education streams S - Advanced vocational education UK - Survey underlines divide between training "haves" and "have-nots"

---

 Initial vocational training

DK - Electronic educational planning FIN - Students demonstrating their skills

---

 Continuing vocational training

DK - Education institutions encouraged to merge or cooperate D - From specialists to professionals IRL - Educational progression for craftspersons

---

 Employment policy

B - Turntable function for VDAB in the electronic job market F - Impact of employment in the non-commercial sector: a mixed review IRL - Forecasting occupational trends

---

 PRACTICE

 New training organisations
 and programmes

UK - New Sector Skills Councils are launched

---

 Quality of VET - Certification systems

D - Consumer watchdog to vet continuing vocational training F - Combating sects - a report denounces sect incursions into certain health-related training programmes IRL - Emerging qualifications framework NL - A new national qualification structure for secondary vocational education NO - Professional bachelor and master degrees introduced FIN - Polytechnic post-graduate degrees S - Improved quality of vocational education and training

---

 Financing of training

B - Training vouchers introduced in Flanders

---

 Special target groups

B - Antwerp creates jobs for lowly qualified D - New support strategies for the disadvantaged E - Forum for the educational support of students living with disabilities P - European training award P - Ministry of Youth aims to teach 60 000 young people to surf the Internet

---

 In brief

A - Expansion of international training pathways A - Girl's Tuesday provides technical orientation

---

   Belgium

   Denmark

   Germany

   Spain

   France

   Ireland

   Iceland

   The Netherlands

   Norway

   Austria

   Portugal

   Finland

   Sweden

   United Kingdom