| There
is no specific organisation in Estonia to coordinate the preparation of
researches related to VET/HRD. The Planning Department of the Ministry
of Education and Research collects information on the researches conducted
in Estonia in the field of education (including VET).
The
VET research is connected with the policies/reforms which takes take place
in the field, and the research projects often tend to give a basis for
political changes. In 2005, no separate researches on vocational education
were passed, as the focus was shifted more towards employment and labour
market researches, which were funded from the state budget.
For
example, the research project 'Arrangement of the VET network with respect
to regional aspect of specialization (educational needs)', prepared for
the Ministry of Education and Research by Praxis Center for Policy Studies,
constituted a specific basis for restructuring and merging Estonian vocational
educational institutions with the purpose to optimise the operation of
the vocational education network and to make it more effective.
The
general aim of VET/HRD research in Estonia is to improve the quality of
VET by analysing the weaknesses of the VET system and to find solutions
for eliminating the deficiencies. The research has been centred on a wide
range of issues in 2005. Several research projects on adult education,
employment, labour market and more general subjects were prepared. The
research projects can roughly be divided in 2 categories: CVET and adult
education (surveys about quality factors, financing model) and relations
between VET and economy needs (surveys about educational and occupational
structures, using ICT in education and training etc.).
The
commission of researches in Estonia is based on projects, which leaves
sufficient flexibility for reacting to different needs. However, the separation
of analytical competence in the field between different research institutions
could be seen as a negative aspect, as there is no research institution
that could analyse the situation of VET by using data of critical mass.
At
the moment, two objectives can be stated. One of the objectives is to develop
a system of regular researches to enable thefor assessmenting of the operation
and effectiveness of educational institutions as well as to offer the potential
decision-makersders as much information as possible on the perspectives
on of the labour market. On the other hand, the analysis is needed to decide
on strategic planning and the priorities of the Structural Funds. |