QUAVETS in San Sebastian 20.- 21. October

Present:

QueavetsSanSebastian Maria José Irastorza    (Spain)
Peter Skinner              (UK)
João-Victor Santos    (Portugal)
Maria João Marçalo       (Portugal)
Helena Grilo                (Portugal)
Leila Rafael                  (Portugal)
Rasa Zyygmantaitè       (Lithuania)
Olafur      Jonsson       (Iceland)
Jarl Ove Glein              (Norway)
Geoff Scaplehorn           (UK)
Marian de Villanueva (Spain)

Why Quavets?
To lead the way to diminish or scale down the gap between providers of education in workplace learning and school-based learning. To improve the quality indicators for both work-based learning and school-based learning.

Analysis of questionnaires
Olafur presented initial analysis of the questionnaires, thus far received. This showed several differences between the views of the four categories of respondents. Of course it was not a strict scientific survey, but nonetheless demonstrated authentic perceptions and attitudes and underlined the discrepancies between the views of those in school-based learning and workplace learning. This work would continue and all results would be presented in a recognisable format – graph, pie chart etc – before the following meeting in Trondheim in January. Experts from the healthcare and hospitality sectors – Chefs and Care Assistants – will then consider and discuss the results – perhaps comparing the top five competences and how they are rated in each country and by each group of respondents and attempt to formulate a common list of important competences.

Norway
Jarl described how he identified the institutions and employers to be surveyed. He targeted those involved in the third year of a relevant course, both before and after work placements. He also distributed questionnaires to city institutions, serving larger populations and smaller institutions situated in rural areas.He outlined the situation in Norway over completion and drop-out rates. He felt that the Quavets project could result in a lowering of drop-out in the selected areas of the curriculum.

Spain and Portugal
Students were questioned before work placements. It was again possible that attitudes and responses would change once students and trainees had been placed with employers. More results would follow.

Lithuania
A full survey had been conducted and results forwarded to Olafur as included in the analysis

Iceland
Again a full survey had been undertaken and the results included in the initial analysis.

UK
The two UK partners had distributed questionnaires to all four sectors and responses were still coming in. There was sufficient evidence to contribute to the general analysis

EQARF Quality Indicator Criteria
Members were reminded of the common indicators as devised by the EQARF and how Quavets would play its part in implementing these and influencing ECVET.
      - Relevance of quality assurance systems for VET Providers
      - Investment in Training of Teachers and Trainers
     -  Participation rate in VET Programmes
      - Completion rate in VET Programmes
      - Placement rate in VET Programmes
      - Utilisation of Acquired Skills at the Workplace
      - Unemployment rate
      - Prevalence of Vulnerable Groups
      - Mechanisms to identify Training Needs in the Labour Market
      - Schemes used to promote better access to VET

Questions to be discussed in Trondheim
With experts present in Trondheim, there would be the opportunity to address a number of issues, including:

   ·         Which route prepares employees best for working in the sector? (General Education/Work-based
             learning?)
   ·         How are competences developed from the qualifications?
   ·         Are employers involved in the development of qualifications?
   ·         Are there good links between employers and teachers
   ·         How did you choose your respondents to the questionnaires?
   ·         Did you have specific criteria for choosing the respondents?
   ·         Which replies did you expect before the distribution of the questionnaires?
   ·         Which replies surprised you most?
   ·         How do the results from your country compare with those from other countries?
   ·         What will you do with the results?

Future Cooperation

·         Transfer of Innovation Project – Application of the agreed defined competences to the ECVET
           process in the four disciplines so far analysed.
·         Extension of the methodology to other professions within the Construction, Health and Social Care,
          Travel and Tourism and Hospitality disciplines.
·         Application of the methodology to courses in other areas.
·         Application of quality indicators to VET courses
·         Cooperation with policy makers and national qualification agencies

Date of Next Project Meeting in Trondheim, Norway  is January 18. and 19. 2010.

Here we come - the Quavets – group

We really hope to see the sun,
discuss the project and have some fun,
so we go to Spain and Basque Region
to meet the Questionnaire`s legion
and feel San Sebastian`s culture, so RUN.

Jarl Ove

Thanks to San Sebastian

On behalf of the Quavets - group,
thanks to the lovely Basque troop
for well done one - day meeting
in nice city and for project – focus holding.
Cooperation San Sebastian and Bilbao was a scoop!

Jarl Ove