Innovation in vocational training to receive 86 million euro boost
The EU is to provide 86 million euro to boost innovation in vocational training under the Leonardo da Vinci programme. The funding will be divided between 295 projects in 31 countries. The batch of projects will focus on the following themes: developing new measures and instruments to present and compare qualifications and competences; developing vocational training opportunities; learning supported by information and communications technologies (ICT); developing training and learning materials to improve skills; developing e-learning training tools; and training teachers and trainers from schools, universities and companies. Thus far, Italy has been the most successful in winning funding under the programme, having received a total of over 64 million euro between 2001 and 2005. Italy is followed by Germany and then the UK. The 2006 selection round will be the last in the current phase of the Leonardo da Vinci programme. After 2006, vocational training activities are expected to be funded under a new programme on lifelong learning that has been proposed by the European Commission. 'Since 2000, the Leonardo da Vinci programme has allocated more than 500 million euro to support some 1,700 European cooperation projects,' said Education and Training Commissioner Ján Figel'. 'This major effort contributes to modernising our training systems and practices throughout Europe, and improves the transparency of vocational qualifications on the European employment market. In so doing, the Leonardo da Vinci programme directly helps Europe's citizens improve their skills to get a better job.'