Interim report on the implementation of the LEONARDO DA VINCI programme
The European Commission has recently presented an interim report on the implementation of the LEONARDO DA VINCI programme for the development of a vocational training policy at Community level (1995-1999). This document represents the first interim evaluation report of the programme, covering the period 1995-1996. The report consists of two main parts: - A short presentation and analysis of the evolution and trends in systems and provisions regarding vocational training in Member States and participating countries of the LEONARDO DA VINCI programme; - An analysis of the implementation and of the impact of the programme. A cross analysis of the reports of Member States and participating countries allowed a number of common trends and developments to be identified. Although vocational training systems are rather complex and diverse, they all face similar challenges. In general, it is quite clear that the concern for employment and employability is becoming more and more pronounced in vocational training policies. Reforms undertaken over the last few years have aimed mainly at validating vocational training and guaranteeing its quality especially by increasing flexibility and modernization. There is also a clear trend towards the regionalization, decentralization and the individualization of vocational training. One of the main differences between national approaches lies in the will to legislate or not in this field. With regard to the implementation and the impact of the LEONARDO DA VINCI programme, it is noted that all the management structures of the programme, both at Community and national level, are actively contributing to the development of the programme and to the accessibility of target groups. Through its first two calls for proposals, the programme has financed a total of 1,542 pilot projects, placement and exchange projects, surveys and analyses, reaching a wide distribution of beneficiaries. In its first two years of operation the programme has succeeded in becoming the Community programme in vocational training and is now widely accepted. The programme has also begun to function as a "European laboratory of innovation" with a number of linked innovative projects working on new products and on the implementation of a complete training process.