Progress reporting

Reporting on VET policy developments

ReferNet's regular reports on national developments in VET policy are the central source for European monitoring by Cedefop and the EU Commission. The basis of the monitoring is currently the Osnabrück Declaration and the Recommendation of the Council of the European Union on Vocational Education and Training of November 2020 (see European process). Progress reporting is published in the online database Timeline of VET policies in Europe as well as in country policy briefs and briefing notes.

The ReferNet network partners provide detailed information on developments and trends from the respective national VET systems.

ReferNet Germany conducts extensive source and data research for its contributions to the Timeline of VET policies in Germany and its policy brief. The source documents include the annual VET report of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the annual data report of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), data from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), recommendations of the BIBB Board and the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder (KMK).

Mobility Scoreboard

The Mobility Scoreboard for initial vocational training (IVET) is a tool for monitoring policy developments. It assists policy making on international mobility in IVET and the implementation of the Recommendation of the Youth on the Move (2011) Council in the European countries. Cedefop, in collaboration with the ReferNet partners, has compiled extensive country information on the current situation, opportunities and obstacles. The Scoreboard also provides member states with suggestions on how to improve their framework conditions in order to further facilitate mobility.

It is intended for policy makers; “mobility users”, i.e. IVET learners’ organisations and mobility organisers (VET institutions, mobility agencies, companies involved in mobility, guidance institutions, and staff involved in organising mobility activities); experts, researchers, and the wide public.

The database (as of 2023) addresses ten areas of action in VET mobility:

1. Information and guidance
2. Administrative and institutional issues
3. Recognition of learning outcomes
4. Partnerships and funding
5. Motivating for mobility
6. Long-term preparation for mobility
7. Quality of mobility
8. Portability of grants and loans
9. Specific support to disadvantaged learners
10. Involving multipliers