The availability of information across Europe about certain economic sectors’ and companies’ demands is a complex, but key area when facing youth unemployment, low employability or mismatches between supply and demand. The European Commission has presented a package of concrete measures to promote the recovery of employment in Europe including a number of recommendations for member states to mobilize all available resources to emphasize job creation by strengthening the link between education and work. In response to this there is clearly a key role for labour market observatories throughout Europe to better coordinate strategies between employment and training policies and economic and territorial development strategies, and further there is a need to understand how more resources and tools could be made available for them. SIMOVET was conceived to tackle the mismatches in the supply and demand of qualified people by supporting the decision making process in order to better adapt the vocational training offer. This has been achieved by improving the current information systems responding to companies’ and economic sectors’ quantitative and qualitative demands. Established as a strategic partnership of 5 expert institutions in the field of labour market monitoring and the provision of support to the formation of training and employment policies, SIMOVET is grounded in the exchange of know-how and the implementation of pilot projects intended to improve the current labour market information models. The project’s target audiences are the policy makers involved in the decision-making processes in the area of local, regional, national and European VET systems, as well as training providers, job seekers, workers, youngsters needing career advice, and so on. As shown on its website, among other results of the project, the “Database of best practices” and its “Evaluation report”, include 26 useful information tools for labour market analysts to use due to their practical approach, focused in future implementations by the participants themselves or other organisations. Combined with the “Lessons Learned” report, they are key assets for VET policy makers.SIMOVET has developed 5 “Pilot Projects”, which implement new information methods based on the good practices gathered beforehand and adapted at a regional level. The “Case Studies” showcase the projects and explain the main results and impacts. The projects are the start of a new working method in each region and its impact can be appreciated in the application of this information in the decision making process in the area of vocational training.The project has also shown the benefits of involving key agents to promote essential changes, since “Regional Working Groups” have been created in each region involving labour market experts, training/educational experts and policy makers. The workshops have demonstrated the opportunities of the information tools and the growing need of establishing long term links between the vocational training system and the labour market. At the same time, these links have been strengthened by the final events which have taken place in each of the beneficiaries’ regions and where other relevant economic agents have participated.Moreover, SIMOVET has developed 4 “Career guidelines” which include everything from the explanation of how regional labour market information systems work to sectorial information related to the description of skills and occupations. It is estimated that this product will reach tenths of thousands of users, in the form of training providers, career advisors, job seekers, workers, young people, and so on.Since all partners are active members of the European Network of Regional Labour Market Monitoring (ENRLMM), this cooperation has enabled the transfer of knowledge to around 28 countries, nearly 600 institutions, as well as European organisations active in VET policies: European Parliament, DG Employment, DG Education and Culture, CEDEFOP, etc. This transfer of knowledge to other European regions will have a direct impact in the applicability of these practices, and other observatories and organisations will be able to put into practice these improvements in their own labour market information models. At the same time, it will help to improve the employability of youngsters and to build more competent and skilled workers across Europe achieving a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy delivering high levels of employment, productivity, competitiveness and social cohesion, in accordance with Europe 2020 Strategy.

"Background and objectivesSome countries in the European Union experience high rates of university drop-outs and, at the same time, a shortage of skilled workers in non-academic professions. In the context of a mobile European labour market, increased permeability of European education systems and the goal to create a ""European Area of Skills and Qualifications"", the project ""Pro Networks"" was dedicated to the transnational network building for counselling university drop-outs. The inter-sectoral consortium consisting of France, Spain, Poland, the Czech Republic and Germany pursued two objectives in this regard:1. Guidelines and an online tool have been developed for the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) subject group, which enables university drop-outs to document their learning achievements in their first semesters and compare them with the learning requirements of related vocational training courses.2. In order to sensitize relevant actors, they were invited to participate in multiplier workshops and to engage in international exchange via an online platform developed in the projectParticipating institutions- Germany: The Forschungsinstitut Betriebliche Bildung (f-bb) gemeinnützige GmbH has already gained experience from several Erasmus+ projects. It took the role of the coordinator in the project. As one of the largest non-university research institutes in Germany, it develops innovative concepts for strengthening vocational education and training.- France: The Centre Interinstitutionnel de Bilan de Compétences Bourgogne Sud (CIBC)As a consulting centre, it has a wealth of experience in competence accounting. In the project, it was responsible for developing the content of the guidelines- Spain: Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB)The Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) is one of the leading universities in Spain. The Equip de Desenvolupament (EDO), which is involved in the project, has the central research tasks of analyzing training organizations and the processes of change within vocational education and training. The UAB took over the compilation of the transnational report in the project.- Poland: The Akademia Przedsiębiorczości Sp. z o.o. is a Polish educational institution focusing on lifelong learning, vocational mediation and vocational guidance. It also has extensive experience in the implementation of projects both at home and abroad and took over the project dissemination.- Czech Republic: Narodni vzdelavaci fond, o. p. s. (NVF) is a non-governmental organization of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, which focuses on the development of human resources and supports lifelong learning, employment and social development in the Czech Republic. it carried out the internal evaluation of the project.In addition, all partners were involved in the creation and coordination of the products.Activities carried out:A total of four transnational project-meetings were held. In addition, multiplier events were held in all partner countries where relevant stakeholders were invited to test the online tool and website in advance and provide feedback. At the end of the project, the closing event took place in Berlin at which the finished products were presented to the participants. In addition, the continuous internal development and coordination of the products took place and an internal evaluation was carried out within the project.Results and impactActors entrusted with advising university drop-outs have been provided with the guidelines and the online tool new instruments which, from the point of view of the target group, fulfil a number of purposes:- The guidelines make it possible to comprehend the development of the online tool and show their applicability in a consulting process.- The guidelines and the online tool are intended to make graduates who drop out of their studies aware that they have already successfully completed learning outcomes that can be used in ICT training occupations. - The online tool offers structured documentation of learning outcomes in a transparent format.- The compilation of the guideline in a European and inter-sectoral project consortium enables its applicability in all partner countries.- University drop-outs will be shown concrete options in vocational education and training that are suitable for them.Long-term benefitsThe products developed in the project will continue to be available after the end of the funding period in order to ensure sustainable project implementation. In addition, care has also been taken to adopt an approach that meets ESCO and EQF standards and can be applied to other industries and areas. It was thus possible to contribute to the permeability of the higher education and vocational training systems."

"From a methodological point of view, the „Bilan de Competence (BdC)” is not a clear definable individual process, but it is rather a multimodal approach, in which the personal conversation between the BdC-counsellor and the client is a key element in the phases of the BdC process. In addition a reference to the labour market must always be made. Furthermore psychological tests are part of the standard methods. The BdC is carried out in accredited institutions. The method of the BdC according to the French model is a procedure of the documentation and assessment of competences and is always oriented towards the individual person. So it is on the one site a step towards the international trend of the recognition of informally acquired competences, and on the other site an appropriate instrument for strengthening the responsibility of the participants. A variety of facilities in Europe operate according to the French model of the BdC. These institutions have established an European umbrella organisation - Fédération Européenne des Centres de Bilan et d'Orientation Professionnelle (FECBOP) – and defined an European Quality of the BdC according to the French model with 11 quality criteria. The project partners involved work according to the European quality criteria respectively are certified according to these.Aim of this project was the development, testing and implementation of an Europe-wide uniform education of competence balance Counsellors according the French model of the ""Bilan de Compétence"". Thereby we achieved, that nearly an European-wide uniform quality according to the French model of the BdC is aimed. The following organisations participated at the project: P0 – Bildungsinstitut PSCHERER gGmbH (BIP)P1 – Centre Interinstitutionnel de Bilan de Compétences Bourgogne Sud (CIBC)P2 – Laboratoire d’Ergologie appliquée (LEA)P3 – Universita degli Studi Roma TreP4 – Narodni vzdelavaci fond, o.p.s. (NVF)P5 – K.A.B.A. SlovenskoP6 – Fédération Européenne des Centres de Bilan et d'Orientation Professionnelle (FECBOP)For target-achievement the following work packages were implemented:WP 0: Project management WP 1: Adaptation of the European Quality criteria FECBOP WP 2: Development of an European education of competence counsellors including a curriculum and the corresponding teaching and learning material WP 3: Testing 1 – Qualification of multipliers (""train the trainer"") based on the developed curriculum WP 4: Adaptation and testing 2 – education of competence counsellors by the multipliers WP 5: Evaluation and classification according the EQF WP 6: Implementation and dissemination of the education by the networks of the partners and the FECBOP Achieved results and impact: -Available are revised European Quality criteria for implementation of the BdC. These were presented and accepted at the general assembly of the FECBOP. Thus they form the working basis for the FECBOP. The document is available in English, French and German. -Available is a curriculum for the education of certified competence counsellors with corresponding teaching and learning material in English, French and German. The documents are published on www.fecbop.eu and also on www.compcert.eu and therefore accessible to everyone. -In the frame of Testing 1, there have been educated 10 multipliers/ teachers for implementation of future educations. They are published on the website of the FECBOP as contact persons. -In the frame of Testing 2, there have been educated 29 competence counsellors in the Czech Republic, in Slovakia and Germany. In the practical part they carried out 87 BdCs. -Available is a study for the classification of the curriculum into the EQF. It is published in English, French and German. -Especially the FECBOP (as well as all project partners) will further promote the use of the education, and push on the recognition procedure by the FECBOP, in order to upgrade the quality assurance while carrying out the BdCs - Throughout the project, a continuous public relations work was carried out in print media, online portals and social networks."

The VET-EDS project has developed a suite of materials, including a new toolkit, targeted primarily at labour market forecasters but also at those policymakers looking to commission and utilise labour market information. The materials are new and will help ensure the alignment of VET policy and economic development strategy, in line with the priorities of the European Commission. The tools have been disseminated through Europe’s primary network of Labour Market Observatories – the European Network on Regional labour Market Monitoring (EN RLMM).In doing this work the project has identified good practices and case studies where labour market intelligence has reinforced the links between education, training with the world of work and this typically has emphasised the importance of a demand-led system and one where differing types of labour market forecasting have successfully informed VET and economic development strategies. Our innovative new toolkit is available both on a Flash Drive (to facilitate dissemination at the EN RLMM Annual Conference) and online via the project website. This major resource will enable the many organizations providing labour market intelligence and forecasting in Europe to ensure their ‘offer’ is both capable of supporting a more aligned system and indeed helps to progress the process of alignment. It contains a large number of tools, the necessity for each of which was identified through the literature reviews and case study analysis that preceded the toolkit production. We believe that better aligning VET policy and economic development strategy will enhance the quality and relevance of Europe’s learning and training offer, particularly when combined with state of the art labour market forecasting – for which we provide examples – including examples of the very latest developments such as web scraping and real-time labour market data.Our project has explored and described a very large number of good practices and a smaller number of more detailed case studies, both at two levels; national and regional/local. This generated a massive amount of information which has been presented both through three major compendia and as a series of summary tools/reports included within the toolkit. The need for the following tools emerged from our work and in particular from our two successful workshops and from our case studies and good practice analysis. They are:Economic Development and VET Policymaker Toolsa.The Strategy Formation Process Tool b.Employer Responsiveness Tool c.Commissioning LMI Tool Labour Market Intelligence Practitioners Toolsd.What 21st century LMOs are currently actively pursuing and how they interact with policye.Supplementary Fundraising Tool f.Measuring Impact Tool g.Harnessing the web for skills and employment data Toolh.Public Engagement Tool i.Local Labour Market Assessments Toolj.Employer Responsiveness Tool (as above) The great many good practices and case studies that are presented thematically should help in establishing new ways of working or new regional LMI models/approaches. These have been set out with thematic summaries bringing these together under the headings of:•Meeting Employer Needs•Forecasting•Sector Specific LMI and Training•Social Integration of Disadvantaged People•Analysis and MonitoringOur project has identified the importance of policymakers in the evidence formation process and has sought to support this role specifically with new tools (see above) and through two targeted reports. The first for local and regional policymakers and the latter for national and European policymakers.To ensure the efficacy of the approach and of the project activities and outputs we have engaged the University of Stirling as a project evaluator and interim and final evaluation reports are available for the project. The partners were chosen as they encompass the very best examples of labour market forecasting organizations/experts from across Europe, including local, regional and national examples. All partners remain key players in the EN RLMM, which is Europe’s network of regional observatories and this network has been and will continue to be used to drive dissemination and to help gather good practices and case studies. The partners encompass Higher Education Institutions, private sector organisations and the public sector. In the longer term we anticipate significant ongoing benefits from the use of the Toolkit by partners and the Network and future publications are planned including an article by Stirling and a Working Paper form the ENRLMM.

REPLAY-VET was specifically conceived to strengthen key competences in VET curricula and provide more effective opportunities for the low- skilled or low educated people in order for them to acquire or develop those skills through VET. REPLAY-VET responds to Europe’s pressing need to tackle replacement demand caused by new technologies, an ageing workforce and a persistently low level of skilled workers affecting many economic sectors. In Europe, there remains a large volume of population with low skills for whom there will not be employment opportunities. The project used a network of expert labour market analysts to explore what new policy and practices will need to exist if Europe is to tackle replacement demand priority new and in the future. The project focused on groups with low skill/qualification levels, those economically inactive and often outside of the employment (e.g. workers, long-term unemployed, young people, migrants, etc.). The work resulted in a series of workshops and stakeholders’ exchange events (with involvement of Employment and Training and other Social Policy-Makers, Education and Training Providers, Career Guidance Professionals, Employers, Public Authorities and Agencies, Workers and Trade Unions) and written output such as national and sectoral reports, ‘How To’ guides and a toolkit.At the end of 2015, there were 43,802,200 low- skilled people (Eurostat). REPLAY-VET tries to enhance the access, participation and performance of these disadvantaged learners and facilitate their transitions between different levels and types of education and training; from education/training to the world of work; and/or from one employment to another.The outputs of REPLAY-VET contributed to these issues by: - highlighting lessons for across the EU based on the REPLAY project’s findings in different national/regional contexts;-recognising the critical importance of reinforcing links between education, training with the changing world of work, in promoting effective labour market policies, such as the inclusion of low skilled and other people from disadvantaged backgrounds;-presenting recommendations highlighting opportunities and constraints related to professional training and qualification of low-skilled groups in a cross section of employment sectors: construction, early learning and care, home care, logistics, manufacturing, metallurgy. The project delivered innovative policies and practices that all regions can learn from:• The occupational toolkit (www.replayvet.eu) designed to provide VET providers, employment services and policy makers with how-to-guides and best practice examples responding to needs and challenges regarding the employment and training opportunities of the low-skilled people. The kit gives access to inspiring solutions structured by key themes and the users will find the keys for successfully training low-skilled people to prepare them for the job vacancies that are arising as people leave work in an aging society.• The European Strategy highlights lessons and recommendations on improving the current and future labour market participation of low-skilled groups of workers across the EU. These include: reducing barriers to vocational training; improving the attractiveness of jobs, careers and labour conditions associated with the sectors in which low-skilled/low-qualified people work; and advancing professionalisation in these sectors. REPLAY-VET, through its 3 outputs and 2 multiplier events, contributed as well to enhance access to training and qualifications for all through VET, in a life-long learning perspective, notably by increasing the accessibility of C-VET for low- skilled workers and providing efficient and integrated guidance services for low- skilled people.Thanks to REPLAY-VET, a significant step in the right direction has been taken to improve the employability of low skilled and at risk of exclusion to be active agents in the labour market, increase their social cohesion and achieve a society with less inequalities.The partners of the REPLAY-VET project, 8 entities from 6 different countries: Prospektiker (ES), University of Exeter (UK), IWAK (DE), CRISP- University of Milano Bicocca (IT), Narodní Vzdělávací Fond (CZ), University of Stirling (UK), CEREQ (FR) and Lanbide (ES), have promoted through the development of the project, a structured inter-regional and cross-border cooperation enhancing the commitment of local and regional public authorities through the participation of public bodies active in the labour market as well as knowledge organisations active in innovative practices.