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Partnerships between education and training and social partners are not an option but inevitable to prevent skills mismatch and having people not in employment, education or training (NEETs), argued Cedefop Director James Calleja at the Greek EU Presidency’s flagship conference on vocational education and training (VET). The conference, held on 26 March in Athens, gave participating Member States an opportunity to get acquainted with successful VET policies and practices which tackle skills mismatches, focusing on how work-based learning can meet contemporary challenges. More...

To find out more about the skills needed for jobs and how they are used, as well as about skill mismatch, Cedefop has started collecting data for the first European Skills Survey. Around 50,000 adult employees across all the European Union’s 28 Member States will be surveyed precisely to find out the extent of skill mismatch and how it can develop during someone’s career.
Most of the skills you need for your current job you will develop in the first five years of working in it. After that, although you will continue to learn, the pace of learning slows down. This, of course, varies from job to job. More...

This paper has been commissioned by the European social partners ETUC, BUSINESSEUROPE, CEEP and UEAPME, in relation to external expertise on “Skills needs in greening economies”.
It serves to underline the important role played by trade unions, employers’ organisations and individual employers in supporting the Europe 2020 strategy’s goal of turning the EU into a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy capable of delivering high levels of employment, productivity and social cohesion. It explores a selection of different and emerging models of social partner participation and engagement in the transition towards a low-carbon economy. It is based on the four priorities of the 2002 Framework of Actions for the lifelong development of competencies and qualifications:

• identification and anticipation of competencies5 and qualification needs;
• recognition and validation of competencies and qualifications6;
• information, support and guidance; and
• mobilising resources for the lifelong development of competencies.

Links

• Skill needs in greening economies

Les pénuries de compétences ne sont pas une cause de chômage; la main-d’œuvre européenne la plus qualifiée est gaspillée.
La crise économique et financière mondiale a engendré un taux alarmant de chômage et de sous-emploi dans de nombreux pays de l’Union européenne (UE). Et pourtant, les enquêtes montrent encore que plus d’ un employeur sur trois a du mal à pourvoir les emplois vacants. La dernière enquête européenne sur les entreprises, réalisée au printemps 2013, a montré que près de 40 % des entreprises dans l’ensemble de l’Union ont du mal à recruter du personnel ayant les compétences demandées. En 2010, d’après une enquête Eurobaromètre, environ 33 % des employeurs considéraient que la pénurie de candidats ayant les compétences demandées constitue le problème principal du recrutement. En 2013, une enquête réalisée par Manpower faisait aussi apparaître qu'en moyenne, sur un échantillon de 17 États membres, plus de 25 % des employeurs déclarent avoir des difficultés à recruter. Environ 34 % de ces mêmes employeurs évoquent le manque de compétences techniques, 19 % estimant que les candidats ne possèdent pas non plus les compétences liées au lieu de travail. De nombreux employeurs et décideurs politiques considèrent que ces problèmes sont dus à une mauvaise préparation des jeunes diplômés, ainsi que des autres travailleurs. Selon eux, l’inadéquation endémique des compétences dans les économies européennes serait responsable des taux élevés de chômage. Toutefois, on constate que des facteurs autres que les déficits de compétences sont principalement responsables de la hausse du chômage et, en même temps, de la difficulté à pourvoir certains emplois vacants. Télécharger Les pénuries de compétences ne sont pas une cause de chômage; la main-d’œuvre européenne la plus qualifiée est gaspillée.

Skill deficits do not cause unemployment; Europe’s most talented workforce is being wasted, argues Cedefop's latest briefing note.
Unemployment in many European Union countries is alarmingly high. Yet, surveys still find that firms have problems filling vacancies.
Many argue that this is because young graduates and other workers are ill-prepared and the lack of the right skills is responsible for Europe’s high rates of unemployment.
However, there is evidence that factors other than skill deficits are mostly responsible for rising unemployment coexisting with unfilled job vacancies.

Links

• Download the briefing note.

VET-Alert - Just published on Vocational Education and Training - March 2014 issue

Cedefop's "VETAlert" for March 2014 is now available for download:
http://www.cedefop.europa.eu/EN/newsletter/vetalert-newsletter.aspx

VETAlert is a monthly selection of publications on vocational education and training available from Cedefop’s bibliographic database VET-Bib.

IAU has released the 21st issue of the HEEFA Newsletter. Stay better informed about the IAU project on how higher education (HE) can help to reach the United Nations' Education for All (EFA) initiative - the HEEFA project - and related news. The HEEFA Newsletter includes information about the project and EFA but also on how you can advance higher education for EFA through calls of participation and upcoming events. HEEFA subscribers are +1100 and growing.
Subscription is free of charge here.

Have information you want to share? Write to Nadja Kymlicka and it will be published in next HEEFA Newsletter.

Muscat- Campus France and Education Zone will offer students career planning advice at GHEDEX 2014 taking place from 22nd-24th April 2014 at the Oman International Exhibition Centre. Campus France and Education Zone will support GHEDEX 2014 as Silver Sponsors. Oman's leading Global Higher Education Exhibition is organized by OITE Trade Fairs.
"Campus France welcomes prospective students to GHEDEX 2014 and encourages them to explore their options for study in France. Representatives from Espace Campus France Mascate will be on hand at the exhibition to assist students and help them identify suitable programs, comply with visa regulations and other administrative requirements that must be taken care of prior to their arrival in France. We will also enlighten students on the process of securing scholarships from the French Government" says Ms. Sandie Luberne, Espace Campus France Mascate
Campus France Agency is a public institution in charge of promoting higher education and managing the reception and international mobility of students, researchers, experts and guests. Thanks to its global network of 180 Campus France Espaces, the agency informs international students about French higher education, guides them on their choice of training, helps them complete their application form and gain a visa.
"Education Zone (Ezone) consultants are dedicated to counsel students from the UAE & Gulf countries looking to study abroad as well as seeking advice on career planning. We recruit on behalf of many prestigious universities, colleges, schools and educational institutes worldwide. Moreover, Ezone consultants can place young learners in summer camps abroad that specializes in various fun, academic activities e.g. sports, sciences, arts, filmmaking. We also offer various scholarships and new degree programs students" says Mr. Suad Alhalwachi, Managing Director, Education Zone.

Ezone (accredited by Ministry of Higher Education UAE) is recognized throughout the region as one of the most dynamic 'Study Abroad' companies that provides school students and university graduates with the exciting opportunity to study abroad. Ezone primarily deals with New Zealand educational institutions, but also has an extensive partner network within the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Europe and Far East Asia.

Oman's preferred higher education exhibition-GHEDEX, falls under the patronage of the Ministry of Higher Education and will see accredited national, international, local and regional colleges and universities highlight the latest developments in the field of education to students, parents and visitors.  

Colleges, universities and companies wishing to sign up for the event may visit the website at www.ghedex.om/2014/ to carry out application procedures or know more about GHEDEX 2014 or contact Mr. Alawi Almurazza at 00968 99886681/ alawi@oite.com

GHEDEX TRAINEX & JOBEX – Global Higher Education, Training and Job Opportunities Exhibition is a landmark event dedicated to Higher Education, Technology Education & Vocational Training and Omanisation & Job Opportunities.
The most comprehensive event of its kind held annually in the Sultanate of Oman, under the patronage of the Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Manpower, GHEDEX, TRAINEX & JOBEX is an excellent opportunity for students, graduates, job seekers and those seeking education opportunities abroad.