Vocational Qualifications in Five Countries. Coombe Lodge Report, Volume 19, Number 5.

Overview & Synopsis

This report presents papers on the vocational qualifications systems in Sweden, France, the Netherlands, the Federal Republic of Germany, and England and Wales. An introduction (Russ Russell) looks at common themes. The paper on Sweden (Gun Cardell) addresses vocational education opportunities, curriculum and standards, costs, youth and employment, and proposed reforms. Topics in the paper on France (Alain Herbert) include vocational education opportunities, apprenticeship and cooperation, full-time vocational education, adult training, educational leave, and modularization. The paper on the Netherlands (Leo Blokzijl, Ton Knobbout) discusses vocational educaation opportunities, apprenticeship, middle-level vocational education (MBO) which requires 4 years of full-time study, and apprenticeship and short MBO which requires 2 years of vocational education. The paper on the Federal Republic of Germany (Wilfrid Reisse) looks at the complex legal base, further vocational education, curriculum design for apprenticeships, operation of the apprenticeship system, full-time vocational education, further vocational training, adult training, and modularization. Discussion in the paper on England and Wales (Russ Russell) focuses on the organizational and legal basis, the Industrial Training Boards, the Manpower Services Commission, full-time college-based vocational education, adult education and training, and a new qualification system. A summary and overview (Russ Russell) briefly compares the five countries and also makes comparisons with the United States and Japan. (YLB)