Initial vocational education and training (IVET) in Europe : Review

This review is based on a comparative analysis of country reports written by ReferNet national consortia of 25 European countries on initial vocational education and training (IVET). It provides an overview of the changes, trends and debates, and identifies the principal issues at stake. It summarises how they are being tackled by national IVET policies and provides some common orientations and policy objectives among countries. As far as the IVET structure is concerned the reader is provided with comprehensive information and a more specific outline of lower, upper, and post secondary VET provision. The main conditions determining admittance to training, different initiatives undertaken by countries to promote participation, as well as different curricula development mechanisms and learning outcomes are also described. Even though IVET varies to a large extent both by country and type or mode of provision, this comprehensive review provides important conclusions that summarise the main trends in IVET across Europe