Invitation
IVETA, the International Vocational
Education and Training Association, in cooperation with its Austrian
partners will host its 14th international conference in Vienna, Austria.
The conference title is
Vocational Education and Training - International Development Catalyst
The conference will be held just after the European Union has welcomed
ten new member states on May 1, 2004. Austria as host country, in the
new center of the EU, is a perfect location to discuss current problems,
developments and concepts in Vocational Education and Training, not only
for Europe, but for the world indeed.
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Dr. Heinz Fischer
Austrian Federal President |
Address from the Federal President of Austria Dr. Heinz Fischer
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Hubert Gorbach
Vice-Chancellor of Austria |
As the Federal Minister for Transport, Innovation and Technology,
I welcome all efforts aiming to showcase Austrian Know-How and Austrian technological competence
to a broad audience. Education, in the widest possible sense, must include the acquisition of
technological competence. Lifelong Learning must also be seen in the context of new technologies.
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The presentation of experience, practice and proven concepts of Vocational Education
and Training are general objectives of the Conference organisers. They have to be seen
in the light of Know-How Transfer. Austrian Research Institutes and Technology Centres
display work of high quality which should not be withheld from an international audience
and market. IVETA provides the possibilities for discussions among specialists, for the
exchange of ideas and for the creation and expansion of technical networks. These
networks provide a good opportunity to convey Austrian technological competence.
Vocational Education and Training and the Fight against Poverty; Lifelong Learning
and the Knowledge Society; career counselling and career development; all these terms
found in the Conference themes, cannot be separated from Research and technological
competence. Therefore, I wish the 14th annual IVETA Vocational Education and Training
Conference a lot of success and hope that the Conference title: "Vocational Education
and Training - International Development Catalyst" can, in the best possible way, be
converted into practice.
Hubert Gorbach
Vice-Chancellor and Federal Minister for Transport, Innovation and Technology
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Elisabeth Gehrer
Federal Minister for Education,
Science and Culture |
Greetings message
Solid vocational education and training provides young people with the best
possible basis for a successful life. At the same time, the quality of initial
vocational education and training is also one of the decisive factors of a region's
economic performance. Austria's wide variety of VET pathways, ranging from apprenticeship
training to school-based programmes in the engineering, business, hospitality and services
sectors ensures that a large proportion of the population has completed at least upper secondary
education. It is also due to these VET opportunities that Austria's youth unemployment rate is the
lowest within the European Union.
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Globalisation and increased international cooperation in general require enhanced
cooperation within VET. Facilitating mobility and mutual recognition of acquired qualifications
are among the key issues to be addressed. Exchange of experience and good practice models plays
an important role in these collaborative efforts.
Cooperation in VET often forms the basis for enhanced economic cooperation.
It also contributes to a better understanding of the socioeconomic and cultural
environments in other countries. I am very pleased that the 14th IVETA conference
is taking place in Vienna. It will certainly provide ample opportunity to participants
to make new contacts and to intensify the international exchange of experience.
I would like to extend my best wishes to the organisers and, in particular to
the participants of this conference. I am convinced the conference will be successful
and allow for lively discussions and conclusions that lead to lasting results!
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Elisabeth Gehrer
Federal Minister for Education, Science and Cultur
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Dr. Benita
Ferrero-Waldner
Foreign Minister |
I would like to extend a warm welcome all the participants of
this year's conference of the International Vocational Education and Training Association in Vienna.
In the past five years as Minister for Foreign Affairs I have had responsibility for -
and taken great personal interest in - Development Co-operation. Education has always
been at the core of the international development agenda and has been a major focus of
Austria's Development Co-operation.
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Austria supports the international aim to "achieve universal primary education", as
stipulated by the Millennium Development Goals, but we also contribute significantly to
improved secondary and tertiary education in our partner countries. In this regard we are
convinced that putting emphasis on vocational education and training is key to laying the
foundations of economic development, job creation and hence eradication of poverty. In the
past ten years, for example, my ministry has provided app. EUR 5 m worth of grants to
VET-programs in Southeastern Europe alone.
I am therefore particularly pleased that this year's conference of the IVETA in
Vienna will examine the role of VET as a "catalyst for international development".
I wish you productive and pleasant days in Austria!
Yours sincerely
Benita Ferrero-Waldner
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Dr. Martin Bartenstein
Ferderal Minister of Economics and Labour |
Investing in proper vocational education and training is an
indispensable prerequisite to ensure a lifelong and personally satisfying career that permits
individuals to cope with the manifold changes in production technologies and techniques, new
forms of business organisation, and the constant development and application of new materials and services.
In the same way, vocational and follow-up training provides the foundation on which to build
and expand an industrially developed business location.
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Austrian industry in particular thrives through ongoing efforts to modernise vocational
training and upgrade the qualification system as a fundamental requirement to safeguard and
continue our successful policy of attracting new businesses.
I very much welcome that the IVETA Conference 2004 takes place in Vienna and wish it
the best of success in its deliberations on the further development of professional consultancy
and vocational training as the foundations for life-cycle learning.
Dr. Martin Bartenstein
Federal Minister for Economics and Labour
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Dr. Michael Häupl
Mayor of Vienna |
Education - in all its various forms - is, beyond
any doubt, the most important "raw material" of the 21st century. I am thinking
here of the varied classical Viennese school education in particular, such
as the Technical and Vocational Schools; Universities; Adult-Education Centres;
Post-graduate Education; Professional Development in the workplace; and
Life-long Learning Initiatives. |
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The declaration that Education is extremely important in Vienna is not
just lip service. It is proved by the many successful programmes run in
schools and by the encouragement of initiatives towards Further Education.
An example that I am thinking of in the area of school Education is the
dedicated "Cooperative High Schools Model" (Kooperative Mittelschule).
This model is excellent for students as it offers a high degree of flexibility.
A significant step forward in Post-graduate Education in Vienna which
has had a successful outcome, has been the founding of the "Vienna School
of Clinical Research". In the past 3 years, more than a thousand doctors
and scientists from all over the world have come to Vienna. The internationally
assembled teaching staff in the field of clinical research are making
use of and enjoying the modern and high quality training provided.
Another achievement in a completely different sector established by the
City of Vienna is the "Employee Support Fund". The purpose of the Fund
is to guarantee employees and job-seekers better opportunities in the
workplace through Further Education - an important aspect in view of global
competition.
A special concern of the City of Vienna, apart from specific initiatives
in the field of education, is to attract the best "Minds" to its Universities
and Research Centres. This has been achieved in some cases through the
establishment of Guest Professors or Chairs; in other cases through grants
or financial support to Scientific Institutions. The world famous quantum
physicist Anton Zeilinger and his Institute for Quantum Optics and Information
is only one example.
Therefore, it is obvious: for everybody who wants to learn or study,
children, young people or adults, we need the best teachers possible.
The City of Vienna has a duty and a commitment to providing a creative,
stimulating and pleasant surrounding in field of Education.
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Lifelong Learning, Adult Education and Employability
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Dr. Erhard Busek
Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact for South
Eastern Europe
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Southeast Europe has seen tremendous changes in the last years. In all
countries, we have democratic governments and the economies are being transferred
to market economies. Politically speaking, future membership in the EU is
on the horizon. I am happy to note, that after the EU enlargement 1 May
2004, focus is shifting to Southeast Europe as the region for the next EU
enlargement.
This welcome addition of Southeast European nations to the European House
will have far-reaching consequences for the education systems of these countries
on all levels, basic, secondary, university-level as well as vocational
training and adult education. In tune with other European countries, Southeast
Europe will need knowledge-based societies or information societies, as
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Within the Stability Pact (http://www.stabilitypact.org),
we have two major activities, which will contribute to that end.
- SEE Education Reform Implementation Initiative aims to link the national
education reform processes in the SEE region with European trends, as
outlined in the "EU detailed work programme on the follow-up of
objectives of education and training systems". This Initiative
is complementary to the activities of the European Commission in the
field of education.
- SEE Education Reforms in Line with EU Developments. The EU has given
itself the ambitious target to modernize the education systems of its
member states, also to increase competitiveness and enhance employability,
by 2010. These improvements, known as the Lisbon Process, should bear
equally promising fruits in Southeast Europe through the SEE Education
Reform Initiative, launched under the auspices of the Stability Pact.
Its aim is to extend the benefits of common European standards in education
also to SEE and to better integrate countries from South Eastern Europe
into the evolving "European Area of Education". A Memorandum
was signed in the margins of the EU Education Ministers Conference in
June 2003 in Nicosia (Cyprus) by several countries from South Eastern
Europe, demonstrating the regional impact the Initiative will have.
In order to support these steps towards educational modernization of
Southeast Europe, it is paramount to also address the needs of vocational
education and training. At the end of the day, it is the skills of the
workforce and the human capital on all levels (and not only management),
which decides on the successful participation of a country's economy in
the wider (world) markets. I therefore welcome the fact, that IVETA is
holding this important conference in Vienna 25 - 27 August 2004 and I
particularly appreciate the wide participation from Southeast Europe.
I wish you very fruitful and memorable days and wholeheartedly welcome
you to my hometown Vienna!
Yours sincerely
Dr. Erhard Busek
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Dr. Christoph Leitl
PRESIDENT - Austrian Federal Economic Chamber
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Dear IVETA Conference Participants
As President of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, I am delighted
to have the 2004 IVETA Conference here in our building. Our many important
guests know that the importance of Vocational Education and Training is
growing. The Austrian Federal Economic Chamber has always placed an emphasis
on Vocational Education and Training and Further Education in its endeavours
with and for the local enterprises and businesses.
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At WIFI Austria, we have broken new ground to establish a department
for International Know-How Transfer (IKT). This department provides quality,
high standard courses for enterprises and businesses in Central and Eastern
European countries (CEEC); the CIS States; China; Mongolia; and the Arabic
countries as well. The aim of these courses is to strengthen the economy
of the country and to build future economic relationships.
The Austrian Federal Economic Chamber fully supports the "Lifelong
Learning" concept and the aim for business from the Lisbon Commitments
- that Europe shall become the most competitive business field. For this,
we need to invest more in education and training as well as in "Human
Capital". In this case, it is not only the enterprises and businesses,
but also the individual and the State which play an important role. Only
together is this ambitious goal achievable. The Lisbon Commitments demand
an economic show of strength which can only be achieved with dynamic enterprises
and businesses. For this to be possible, we need to support and encourage
the education system, entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial spirit and help
new enterprises and businesses to start off.
Therefore, I welcome the intensive exchange of ideas about the different
Vocational Education and Training systems and trends which this IVETA
Conference has provided a forum for. I wish all the Participants success
and hope that you enjoy forming new contacts; and to the pursuit of "Lifelong
Learning" through constructive outcomes and new Vocational Education
perspectives.
Dr. Christoph Leitl
PRESIDENT - Austrian Federal Economic Chamber
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Organisation of the 2004 IVETA Vienna conference is going "full steam
ahead" and I would like to encourage all our members and world-wide friends
to participate in what I am confident will be a stimulating and richly rewarding
three days. The conference will not only provide delegates with a forum
to share experiences and to debate and find solutions to the many global
challenges facing TVET, it will also present a new opportunity for VET practitioners
to absorb new and exciting ideas to implement in their own situations. |
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The 2004 conference will therefore contribute most effectively to IVETA's
main purposes, to -
- foster and promote professional linkages among international vocational
educators and trainers
- serve as a forum for sharing vocational education and trining problems
and solutions worldwide
- assist in the further development of vocational education and training
as an international enterprise
- facilitate the worldwide dissemination of vocational education and
training information
The Call for Papers invites contributions from participants to give perspectives
worldwide.
And it will not be all about presentations and discussions - educational
tours will be arranged and we hope that delegates will also find time
to enjoy the wonderful city of Vienna!
We look forward to your enthusiastic support and to seeing you in Vienna.
Yours sincerely
P C J LOOTS
PRESIDENT
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Mag. Ingrid Trenner
Managing Director K.I.S.T. Consulting GesmbH |
Chair - Conference Organising Committee
As an Austrian and as Director of KIST Consulting, the organisers of IVETA
Vienna 2004 I am extremely pleased to bring the 14th annual IVETA TVET Conference
to Vienna. I warmly welcome all the delegates and participants from over 40 nations
to the IVETA - Vienna 2004 Conference in the heart of Europe. This Conference has
been possible in collaboration between IVETA and the 18 Austrian cooperating partners.
Under the title "Vocational Education and Training- International Development Catalyst"
the 3-day Conference will be accompanied by an exhibition for Vocational Education materials.
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Personally, my wish is that this Conference highlights to all of you the
importance of a joint effort for Vocational Education and Training programmes
involving educators, government and businesses. Recently, there has been a
demand for a more hands-on approach to VET. In this way, we need to develop
new programmes which incorporate a 'holistic' approach to learning or in other
words, 'learning by doing' across VET. I believe that for many people, a good
Vocational Education and Training is the key to a successful future, and in this
respect we must do all that is possible to support the development and extension
of VET in all countries worldwide. Moreover, to achieve this, it is vital to build
appropriate networks - an international Know-How Transfer network - with an
understanding for inter-cultural differences; to have an exchange of new ideas
and concepts; and most of all to respect and cater for individual learning needs.
The Austrian model of Vocational Education is an internationally well recognised
system. The Vocational Education Schools, especially the "Dual Education System",
demonstrate a special appreciation for the importance of hands-on-training as well
as the theoretical knowledge. The "Dual Education System" reflects how the economy
and school education work as partners. Hence, competent economic training on all
levels is the solid basis for good working economies. Given this fact, the Conference
promises to be a unique and dynamic event. As it is accompanied by an exhibition,
it provides an international platform for specialists of Vocational Education to
network with others from around the world and make contacts for the international
know-how transfer and exchange.
I believe that all delegates and participants will find the Keynote Speakers;
Presentations; and Round-table Discussions stimulating, informative and interesting.
I extend a special thank you to the Keynote Speakers and to all our speakers.
Educational Visits have been organised to visit Austrian companies actively involved in Vocational
Education and Training. The Conference Dinner and the Welcome Reception at the Vienna Town Hall,
allow delegates to relax, socialise and to enjoy the famous Austrian hospitality.
In closing, I would like to thank everybody who supported this Conference:
IVETA, the 18 Austrian cooperating partners; and my KIST Consulting Team.
Welcome to Vienna, Austria and may this Conference be an educational and memorable one!
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Mag. Ingrid Trenner
Managing Director K.I.S.T.- Consulting-GesmbH
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