Technical and vocational training
The journal "Vocational Training" is published twice a year in nine languages by the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP). Introducing the latest (75-page) issue, the editors note that the broad spectrum covered by this title makes it necessary to specify the field covered by the various authors' contributions. Starting from the idea that the issues in technical and vocational training differ greatly depending on whether they relate to secondary or higher education, the focus is on the various forms which this type of secondary education takes in the different EEC Member States. Looking at the use of different types of training, it is evident that training routes of the "school" type are the most widespread in some Member States, while others place more emphasis on routes involving alternance training. These differences determine the characteristics of new jobseekers which have to relate to labour markets. The question of the interface between technical and vocational education and the labour market is becoming crucial at a time when the construction of Europe is making it necessary to reorganize labour markets and their European dimension. It is thus very important to provide decision-makers with information which takes account of a number of points of view and places systems in their social context, highlighting the contradictions which they may contain. Contributions to the journal include: Discussion of the future for skilled workers; contradictions in technical and vocational training courses; current challenges to basic training; a comparison of education, training and employment in Germany, Japan and the USA; initial vocational training in France; secondary training in Portugal; current developments in initial vocational training in the Netherlands; technical education and skill forming in Britain; analysis of types of vocational training in Portugal; reform of training in Denmark; school in touch with its environment (Catalonia); management training for head teachers based on business schools; recognition and validation of vocational skills in France.