Transparency of Vocational Qualifications: The Leonardo da Vinci Approach. CEDEFOP Panorama Series

This report gives an overview of the situation of transparency of vocational qualifications by presenting measures introduced at the European Community level and by drawing attention to projects within the Leonardo da Vinci Program dealing with the issue. A 16-page executive summary appears first. Chapter 1 provides general background and aims. Chapter 2 outlines a current overview on legal and political measures at European Community level. Chapter 3 gives a general introduction to the Leonardo da Vinci program. Chapters 4-6 provide profiles of the transparency-relevant projects of 1995, 1996, and 1997. Focus is on their aims and objectives. Each chapter categorizes the projects into these two groups: those with a general focus on transparency and those with a sector focus on transparency. Chapter 7 is a summary of Chapters 4-6. Chapter 8, on projects' results and impacts, identifies these elements as typical main features of project development: changing of ambitions; strengthening of management; prolongation of projects; and discontinuation of work. These frame factors are cited as influencing the work process: specificity of the research questions; balancing of different interests; regulation complex; and random and accidental factors. Chapter 9 discusses the European forum on transparency of vocational qualifications as a tool for dissemination and implementation of results. Chapter 10 makes conclusions. (Contains an 18-item bibliography.) (YLB)