Research
projects are particularly suitable for analysing current issues of VET
and HRD in the European countries. A selection of the 'most important projects'
provided by national experts (see Overview,
aspect 3, annex) has been chosen as a sample (208 projects from 22 countries).
The issues addressed in these projects have been analysed by applying thematic
descriptors (25), grouped into major categories (see Descriptors
of VET and HRD research). An earlier study using the same sample showed
details of the thematic patterns across all the countries involved (see
Thematic
patterns derived from a project analysis). The following analysis provides
basic patterns in comparison between the countries. Two types of issues
are distinguished:
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Issues
related to frameworks (socio-economic context) and structures (system level)
of VET/HRD;
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Issues
related to processes (learning etc) and actors (students, trainers etc)
in VET/HRD.
The proportions
between projects of these two types, established for each country, are
presented in the map below (see definition of groups in the legend on the
right).
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DK
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FI
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NO
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SE
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AT
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BE
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CZ
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EE
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DE
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FR
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HU
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LT
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LV
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IE
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UK
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PL
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SI
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SK
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CY
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ES
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IT
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PT
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Thematic
patterns of research projects |
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I
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(A)
Emphasis on frameworks/ structures |
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I
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(B)
Balance between frameworks/ structures and processes/ actors |
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I
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(C)
Emphasis on processes/ actors |
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The
map illustrates certain regional patterns with regard to issues addressed
in research projects: The emphasis on frameworks/ structures (group A)
can be found in individual countries of three regions excluding the Northern
one (CY, EE, IT, LV, PT, UK). A lot of these projects are concerned
with issues such as skills for the labour market and qualification structures.
The emphasis on processes/ actors (group C) is predominant in the Northern
region and also present in the Western one (AT, DK, FI, SE). The favoured
themes in this group focus on work related learning. There is, however,
common ground in the distribution of projects which are characterised by
a balance between frameworks/ structures and processes/ actors (group B):
these are represented in all the European regions (BE, CZ, DE, ES, FR,
HU, IE, LT, NO, PL, SI, SK).
NOTE:
The Profile of national research is based on a comparative analysis of
selected activities in 25 European countries (see Overview).
This data has been compiled from the national reports prepared by the Cedefop
ReferNet in 2006 and subsequently published by Cedefop (see Introduction
and Reference). |