1. MULTILEVEL GOVERNANCE IN EDUCATION AND TRAINING:
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES.
BRUSSELS, 31 MAY – 1 JUNE 2012
International policy conference on the impact of governance models on quality
and relevance of education and training policies and their performance
The European Training Foundation (ETF) is an EU agency based in Turin, Italy, that helps transition
and developing countries to harness the potential of their human capital through the reform of
education, training and labour market systems in the context of the EU’s external relations policy.
Its core functions include supporting the EU’s external assistance policies, providing policy support
through evidence-based analysis, enhancing partner country capacity building in human capital, and
disseminating and exchanging information and experience.
In 2010 the first round of the Torino Process took place. This process is a participative and evidence-
based assessment of vocational education and training (VET) systems and policy progress in partner
countries. As a result of this round, governance emerged as a key area for further work. This was also
highlighted in the Torino Process declaration adopted at the end of the international conference that
took place in Turin in May 2011. A total of 29 countries participated and indicated multi-level
governance as one of the priorities to shape future work and policy discussion on VET policies and
human capital development.
In this context, the ETF in cooperation with the Committee of the Regions, is inviting partner countries,
EU institutions and international organisations to meet to discuss and exchange experiences and
lessons learned on the added value of comprehensive integrated policies and multi-level governance
in enhancing VET systems and shaping human capital development.

2. 1. Background
Increasing the effectiveness of education and training policies for employability, economic
development and social cohesion is a key issue for EU pre-accession and neighbouring countries
given their persistent, high unemployment levels (in particular among young people), emerging skill
mismatches and territorial disparities. Integrated policies are needed to support the comprehensive
development of countries and the welfare of their citizens. In this context, education and training has a
key role to support economic and social development.
Governance has close links with the overall performance of education and training policies,
influencing their strategic formulation and implementation and driving key pillars on which policies are
formulated and implemented.
ETF experience shows that, when looking at governance in education and training, there is need to
map and discuss the effectiveness of VET, develop relevant mechanisms to ensure high-quality
provision and find smart, innovative and efficient financing solutions to support VET policies within a
lifelong learning perspective.
Actions and debates that target the development of good governance and an increased role for sub-
national regions and local actors, social partners and civil society organisations in education and
training are needed. This brings ETF partner countries closer to European efforts to increase the role
of regions and ensure multi-level participation in the policy making cycle. Such vertical and horizontal
interaction can help to ensure greater effectiveness, efficiency, coherence, transparency and
accountability of education and training policy in the overall strategic development of a country.
Moreover, regional policies in many countries have developed targeted strategies to ensure that
relevant skills and competences are developed. Regions are well positioned to identify human capital
needs and potential. Economic growth at regional and local levels could be stimulated if regions
participate more in the management of education and training policies. At the same time this would
ensure that regional labour markets and company needs are better accommodated.
Multilevel governance in education and training can help to open up opportunities to facilitate policy
dialogue and, consequently, improve the decision making process by involving actors with different
functions and roles, including social partners and civil society.
The conference offers the opportunity to discuss the links between governance and the performance
of VET policies and strategies and the lessons learned from multi-level governance in the EU.
Furthermore, it will provide the opportunity to look at what is happening in different countries to ensure
good governance and better VET policies at local, regional and national levels.
2. Objectives
The general aim of the conference is to discuss, share and learn how good multi-level governance
can contribute to policy environments that improve the performance of education and training systems
and strengthen participatory governance and values. Moreover, the conference has three specific
objectives:
To present and discuss conceptual, methodological and empirical approaches related to multi-level
governance in education and training, within an integrated comprehensive policy approach.
To share practices and lessons learnt on key opportunities and challenges on good multi-level
governance in education and training in EU Member States and partner countries.
To develop a common framework for action in the area of governance in education and training.
3. Core themes and issues for discussion
The conference will focus on the principles of good multi-level governance and related topics applied
to education and training policies and systems. The following questions will be addressed:
What is the added value of multi-level governance in supporting more participatory, effective,
coherent, transparent and efficient management of public education and training policies in EU
neighbouring regions?

3. What kind of coordination mechanisms and cooperation arrangements should be put in place to
implement effective and accountable decision making processes in education and training to
support the strategic development of comprehensive, integrated policies?
What capacities and skills do stakeholders involved in multi-level governance need to make
education and training contribute to the development and welfare of countries and their citizens?
4. Format
Day 1 – Thursday 31 May (from 8.45 am to 17.30 pm)
Plenary opening session
During the opening plenary session the framework for debate will be introduced by EU and partner
country authorities. It will be followed by a technical session focussing on good governance in
education and training, which will look at the results of governance analysis and vocational education
and training carried out by the ETF, international organisations, and experts from partner countries.
Thematic workshops
The afternoon discussion will be developed through four thematic workshops focusing on the following
areas:
Education and training strategies as a driver for regional socio-economic development
The focus of this workshop will be on the added value and mechanisms of regional and local
participation in policy making in the area of education and training. Particular emphasis will be given to
(i) the importance of regional education and training strategies for supporting regional socio-economic
development and (ii) the role of regional actors in shaping education and training strategies. Practices
and current activities will be presented and discussed to map the state-of-the art in ETF partner
countries.
Involving and coordinating multiple actors in VET
Multilevel governance is applicable in both centralised and decentralised systems. This workshop
focuses on the roles, functions and interaction of actors in different governance settings. Particular
emphasis will be given to decentralisation processes that have been witnessed by many partner
countries. How can decentralisation and good governance work together? What is the link between
institutional and functional dimensions of performant education and training policies?
Good governance and VET providers.
The role of VET providers has been evolving from implementation to a complex set of functions
including planning, quality assurance, performance assessment, ensuring the effectiveness and
efficiency of VET at the local level. What is the role of VET providers in a multi-level governance
assessment? What conditions allow VET providers to perform as expected, and provide inputs into the
design of policies that support VET performance? What are the roles and functions of VET providers
in the EU and the ETF partner countries? Experiences and lessons will be presented and the
discussion will focus on enabling factors and conditions that allow VET providers to fully contribute to
the policy making cycle.
Conditions and requirements for partnership in VET
VET is an area of shared responsibility of public authorities, social partners and training providers.
Partnership can be built at different levels (national, sectoral, regional or local) and can tackle different
aspects of the VET system ranging from policy making to provision of training at work places.
Successful partnership is a process of organised cooperation between various stakeholders and is
based on the will, openness and technical capacity of partners to cooperate. How can national
governments motivate and enable stakeholders for setting up successful partnerships in VET? How to
create effective platforms of cooperation (like sector councils)?

4. Day 2 – Friday 1 June (from 9.00 am to 14.30 pm)
Plenary session
In the first part of the morning the results of the four thematic areas will be presented. An expert panel
will comment on the key areas identified in the first plenary session.
The conference will conclude with key remarks from EU institutions and partner countries.
5. Participants
The event will bring together policy makers and high level officials from national, regional and local
authorities, social partners, civil society organisations, business representatives, training providers
and researchers in the field of governance and education and training from ETF partner countries, EU
member states, EU institutions and international organisations and will be attended by approximately
150 participants.