Periodic Thematic Monographs

This report was initiated by Cedefop, the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, and has been prepared by the Human Resource Development Authority of Cyprus, HRDA, the nominated National Coordinator of the European network ReferNet in Cyprus.

ReferNet was set up by Cedefop as the European network of reference and expertise in vocational education and training. It aims to improve the collection and dissemination of information to policy makers, researchers and practitioners in the field of vocational education and training.

The report has been prepared as part of a series of reports on vocational education and training in European Union countries. It is a contribution to Cedefop’s continuing work on VET systems in EU member states, which is changing from being mainly based on hard copy descriptions of each national system to an electronic-based system.

This report aims to provide an overview of three key interrelated topics concerning skills and competences development and innovative pedagogy. The focus is on anticipation of skill needs in the labour market and on the development of new qualifications and job profiles in VET. In addition, this report aims to describe how vocational education and training systems are responding to those developments by introducing innovative pedagogies and modernising and renewing their curricula.

The Cedefop database, eKnowVet[1], offers on-line information on initial and continuing vocational training in partner countries. The standard entry format allows country-specific and multi-country searches covering 11 thematic areas in overview (thematic overviews) and 7 in detail. The database is regularly updated by the European network ReferNet.

ReferNet is made up of national consortiums, each comprising organisations, which are representative of the interests of vocational education and training within each EU Member State, plus Norway and Iceland. The HRDA, as the National Coordinator of ReferNet in Cyprus, wishes to acknowledge the invaluable contribution of the Ministry of Education and Culture in particular as well as that of the other members of the Cyprus consortium in the preparation of this report.

[1] http://www.trainingvillage.gr/etv/Information_Resources/NationalVet/