Moving Beyond Traditional Vocational Education and Training: Emerging Issues

In this chapter the subject of key qualifications in work and education, as discussed in the various parts of this volume, will be reviewed, with special attention being paid to a) the factors of upheaval mentioned in the European Commission’s White Paper “Training and Learning, Towards the Learning Society” (1996): the impact of scientific and technological knowledge, the impact of the information society, the impact of internationalisation and added to these, factors from other sources (e.g. IRDAC, 1991; Nijhof & Streumer, 1994) the impact of workforce demographics; b) organisational change and profound changes in the nature of the workplace and work as a consequence of the factors mentioned under a. c) the responsiveness of vocational education and training to the factors mentioned under a. and b., leading to major reforms in vocational education and training in terms of new qualification structures, pathways and programmes, and the emphasis on the flexible qualification potential of (future) employees.