“Crossing Boundaries in Vocational Education and Training: Innovative Concepts for the 21st century”, 2^nd– 4^thSeptember 2015 in Bremen, Germany
Welcoming words from the conference organizers, Mr. Heidemeyer (Chamber of Commerce, Bremen) and Prof Gessler (Institute Technology and Education, University of Bremen), were followed by Mr. Joao Santos (Acting Head of the Unit Vocational Education and Training at the Directorate General Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission), whose opening speech dealt with the European Commission’s new strategic goals concerning ‘Vocational Education and Training in Europe’. During the following three days, the conference participants were invited to attend 16 sessions with 48 cross-national research paper presentations – showing perspectives from more than twenty countries. A wide range of topics were covered such as the transition from school to work, work-based learning, the professionalization of teaching staff, using digital media in VET, the transfer of VET to other countries, quality assurance and training networks. Key notes by Prof Mulder (Netherlands), Prof Pilz (Germany), Prof Lasonen (USA), Dr Malloch (Australia), Prof Moreno (Sweden) and Prof Ramlee (Malaysia) brought the program full circle. An accompanying program gave a chance to deepen insights and to continue the discussions in a lively and personal idea exchange, underpinned by a limitation to 100 conference participants. The conference proceedings, which were given out in a print version during the conference, will be digitally available soon.Conference homepage: http://www.vetnet-conference.eu
(Information by L&W Newsletter, posted by Susanne Kopatz <kopatz@uni-bremen.de>)