Guides and toolkits

The publication is based on a conference on the same topic held by the ETF in the framework of its activities on gender equality and education. The ETF conference on 6 and 7 March 2006 gathered 70 young women and men from 24 countries, including the Nobel Peace Prize Winner S003, Shirin Ebadi, and Anna Záborská from the European Parliament. The conference focussed on the importance of gender equality in education and employment and the role of vocational education and training in advancing the status of women in society and in strengthening their position in the labour market and business. A wealth of new ideas were generated during the conference and the publication highlights the main recommendations and conclusions.

In preparing its 2006 Work Programme, the ETF has sought to improve the strategic presentation and focus of its services. The Work Programme makes the ETF's work to support and build capacity in partner countries more visible, and shows how EU support can complement national reform efforts in partner countries. A second improvement in the Work Programme has been to clarify the focus of the ETF's investment in innovation and learning as a tool to develop new approaches to reform which can benefit partner countries and the EU, as well as expertise development for the ETF.

In this issue: - Cover story: 50 young men and women from 24 different countries met in Turin on 6–7 March 2006 to attend the first ETF conference entirely devoted to gender issues. - In focus: Advisory Forum 2006: Skills for Progress - the key messages; ETF launches new website. - Features: Norway: never too early to start entrepreneurship learning; Ethnic minorities in the Western Balkans; MEDA-ETE: Promoting regional cooperation among equals; University–enterprise cooperation; Developing key competences for Lifelong Learning.

The report analyses overall trends in gender mainstreaming policies in education and employment in the EU Member States and provides a general overview of the situation in Turkey, Jordan and Morocco.

Assessment and analysis of the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the groups affected...

A comprehensive analysis of employment and training reform in Slovenia conducted by ETF in order to assist in monitoring the Joint Assessment Papers (JAPs) on employment and training policies.

A comprehensive analysis of employment and training reform in Malta conducted by ETF in order to assist in monitoring the Joint Assessment Papers (JAPs) on employment and training policies.

A comprehensive analysis of employment and training reform in Lithuania conducted by ETF in order to assist in monitoring the Joint Assessment Papers (JAPs) on employment and training policies.

A comprehensive analysis of employment and training reform in Hungary conducted by ETF in order to assist in monitoring the Joint Assessment Papers (JAPs) on employment and training policies.

A comprehensive analysis of employment and training reform in the Czech Republic conducted by ETF in order to assist in monitoring the Joint Assessment Papers (JAPs) on employment and training policies.

A comprehensive analysis of employment and training reform in Cyprus conducted by ETF in order to assist in monitoring the Joint Assessment Papers (JAPs) on employment and training policies.

Aimed at supporting cooperation with ETF partner countries in the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy and EU development policy, this glossary presents the Russian version of key terms used in European vocational education and training (VET) policy. It does not represent an exhaustive inventory of the terminology used by VET specialists; rather it presents terms that are essential for an understanding of current VET policy in Europe. Based on the publication "Terminology of vocational training policy: A multilingual glossary for an enlarged Europe" published in 2004 by the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) in collaboration with the ETF, it is intended for researchers and practitioners and more generally for all those involved in VET policy.