Quality assurance of vocational training for adults

Location

Romania

Duration

2004 - 2006

Donor

GTZ (German Agency for Technical Cooperation)

Budget

1.104.053 EURO

Description and Deliverables

The project was implemented within the framework of bilateral cooperation between the Governments of Romania and Germany, initiated in 1990, as a result of an agreement concluded between the Governments of Romania and Germany.
The project was meant to contribute to the quality assurance of the adult vocational education offer through:

The development of framework curricula for a set of qualifications and occupations related to the qualification levels 1, 2 and 3, for the following 4 sectors:
- Electrical engineering, automation, electronics;
- Textile industry, clothing industry, leatherwear, shoe manufacturing;
- Construction;
- Tourism, hotels, restaurants.

The selection of the 4 relevant sectors was based on the following criteria: demand on the labour market, dynamics of the sector on the labour market, degree of interest on behalf of the social partners, as well as on behalf of local enterprises.
The framework curricula have been elaborated by a number of six "pilot centres", vocational education providers selected under consideration of their experience in programme development, as well as their capacity to implement those programmes in the selected sectors. At the same time, the selection procedure took into consideration a regional balance, as well as the wide representation of adult vocational education providers: Romanian-German Foundations, a regional VET centre within the network of the National Agency for Employment, a public as well as a private vocational school.
In order to establish the contents of the framework curricula, a consultation process took place with the participation of companies from within the selected sectors, as future beneficiaries of the training results.

Updating of occupational standards As framework curricula are elaborated on the basis of occupational standards, thus promoting the principle of competence-based training and evaluation, there was a need to update some occupational standards, as a result of technological progress and changes in workplace organisation.
Elaboration of a framework concept for training of trainers in adult vocational education At a first stage, the occupational standard for “trainer” has been revised in order to address both “traditional” trainers, practical coaches from vocational training providers and companies, as well as apprenticeship foremen. A modular framework curriculum has been elaborated on the basis of the revised occupational standard.
Transfer of German know-how in the field of adult vocational training. The expert teams involved in the elaboration of occupational standards consisted of both Romanian and German specialists. One of the project objectives consisted in the formulation of proposals in order to create a legal framework for apprenticeship.

A seminar on “Social Partnership in the Organisation and Financing of Adult Vocational Education in the Construction Sector, at a Decentralised Level” was organised in Timisoara; in the framework of of the seminar, the access to Structural Funds has been discussed with a view to Romania’s accession to the EU.
A study tour to Germany has been organised with participation of representatives of the Ministry of Labour, Social Solidarity and Family, the National Adult Training Board, as well as of the National Employment Agency and the Pilot Centres.

Services:

establishment of a steering committee which includes all relevant stakeholders, development of a inventory of officially accepted measures of vocational education and training for adults
audit of occupational standards with regard to their normative compatibility and relevance for competence and employment, adaptation of selected occupational standards
development and documentation of an appropriate methodological procedure for the design and testing of curricula and examinations based on the occupational standards
establishment, training and guidance of expert groups
testing and revision of curricula and examinations at selected VET institutions
development and agreement of a regulatory framework for the examination and certification system
development and implementation of a marketing concept for the certification system
development, test and documentation of a concept for the preparation of model examinations
setup of an online test item bank for interested educational institutions
monitoring of acceptance and transparency of examinations ands certifications at institutions and recipients
assessment of demand for further education of trainers and instructors in public sector and economy
design of a basic concept for further education of training staff based on European standards and local conditions
development and compilation of model training programs and materials in selected occupational areas, facilitation of exchange of experiences
development and coordination of regulatory framework for qualification of trainers and instructors in VET institutions