A European Network of Reference Structures for Vocational Qualifications - NATNET (1996-1998)
Type of project/activity:
NATNET was a 'surveys and analysis' project about transparency of qualifications,
implemented under the LEONARDO DA VINCI programme, which examined the feasibility
of a European Network of Reference Structures for Vocational Qualifications.
The results of the study were piloted by the linked project NETREF (and then
by the multiplier project EURO-NETREF), both managed from the Netherlands
by COLO.
Objectives:
The objectives were to establish the basis and working framework for a pilot
network of reference structures among the European countries with the intention
of removing obstacles to the transparency of vocational qualifications. Within
such a network, the aim was to develop and give information on vocational
qualifications transnationally by establishing a simple methodology to enable
data exchange, a human interface and the use of available information and
to develop the network in such a way that other countries may be easily integrated.
Background:
The background to transparency is the need for mobility and movement, despite
currently small figures for the European Union, for the purposes of work within
an enlarged labour market. This Leonardo project was the extension to all
the Member States, plus Norway, of a feasibility study on reference structures
funded by the Dutch Ministry of Education (1993 to 1994), which included investigations
in 6 EU Member Sates. In the initial study the question was asked as to whether
we were dealing with political and organisational issues with technical solutions
or technical and organisational issues with political solutions. The recommendation
was to move towards technical solutions assuming the political will and organisational
capacity to create a form of reference structure network.
Partners:
There were two national partners: the Ministry of Education in Norway and
the Ministry of Labour in Austria, who provided exemplar cases. COLO (NL)
co-operated on the feasibility and fed on-going results into the experiments
developed by NETREF/EURO-NETREF. The City & Guilds of London Institute
(UK) provided the development of conceptual frameworks and CEDEFOP supported
the project, providing conceptual input.
Main activities:
The organising principle was two linked projects: NATNET, co-ordinated by
the EIESP, tested the feasibility of reference structures and NETREF piloted
a network of expert bodies for vocational qualifications, testing the outcomes
and recommendations of NATNET. The approach to data collection by the NATNET
team was based on semi-structured interviews undertaken with a cross-section
of actors involved in certification and qualifications in each country, that
is: ministries, social partners and intermediate bodies. The two national
partners provided in-depth national analysis discussed at national workshops
bringing together the full range of relevant socio-economic actors. The conclusions
and recommendations were drafted in the form of a handbook: Using Qualifications
Trans-Nationally, Manual for Users, setting out the procedures, constraints
and issues involved in the establishment of Reference Structures/Points. It
was then tested by EURO-NETREF with the aim of expert bodies being able to
set up and organise reference structures, able to respond to questions on
vocational qualifications for partners within the network; request information
and interpret information received. There has been substantial dissemination
of outcomes, project publications and conference reports.
Name of programme:
The LEONARDO DA VINCI programme of the Directorate General Education and Culture
of the European Commission.
Outcomes, reports/documents:
The principal outcome of the project was a decentralised approach towards
the transparency of vocational qualifications accompanied by a methodology
for information exchange among partners of the European network.
NATNET produced a Manual setting out the procedures, constraints and issues
involved in the establishment of Reference Structures/Points: Using Qualifications
Trans-Nationally,
The Manual was distributed to the members of the Extended Working Group which prepared the European Forum for the Transparency of Qualifications as part of their working materials as a tested solution to the technical. One of the three policy objectives agreed by the Forum is the establishment of Reference Points in all Member States
The project also produced case-studies on Norway and Austria. The research and outcomes of NATNET were used to inform discussion on transparency in the Central and Eastern European countries, for example for a seminar organised by the European Training Foundation, Transparency and recognition of qualifications: challenges and perspectives for the associated countries of Central and Eastern Europe, in 1998.
Articles on the project were published in the European Journal of Education (Vol.34, No.2, 1999), the Revue Internationale d'Education (Paris 1997) and Organización y Gestión Educativa (No.3, Madrid 1999) and chapters in books on VET and transparency, such as What about the Transparency of Qualifications? David Parkes in Building a Co-operative European Research Tradition (ed. By Agnes Dietzen & Michael Kuhn} BIBB/LEONARDO 1998 and in The International Perspective, David Parkes, in Stanton & Richardson, Qualifications for the Future: a study of tripartite and other divisions in post-16 education and training. FEDA, London (1998}.
For more information, please contact Jean Gordon gordon@dauphine.fr
