Compendium of good practice: Women and training in Europe The European Centre of Enterprises with Public Participation (CEEP), the Union of Industrial and Employers Confederations (UNICE) and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), with the support of DG XXII of the Commission, have just published a compendium of good practice... The European Centre of Enterprises with Public Participation (CEEP), the Union of Industrial and Employers Confederations (UNICE) and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), with the support of DG XXII of the Commission, have just published a compendium of good practice of 50 pilot projects concerned with vocational training for women. Entitled "Women and training in Europe", the compendium provides an introduction to the projects carried out under the new vocational training programme, LEONARDO DA VINCI, which highlights the objective of promoting equal opportunities for men and women with regard to access to, and participation in, vocational training. The wide variety of activities described in the compendium are designed to: - Help women return to work after a long break; - Encourage women to better themselves in their jobs and overcome prejudice in various areas; - Give a second chance to very low-skilled unemployed women; - Obtain official recognition for certain abilities or skills. Although the projects vary widely, there are areas of common ground. Firstly, the compendium points out that the challenge of investing in vocational training for women is well worth the effort and is mutually beneficial. Secondly, vocational training measures have to be mapped out in several stages. It is therefore important to involve women at the earliest planning stage. Suitable teaching methods have to be worked out and support and follow-up measures introduced.
