Learning while working : success stories on workplace learning in Europe

Foreword 1 Acknowledgements 3 List of tables and figures 6 Executive summary 7 1. Learning while working 11 1.1. Introduction: workplace learning contributions to the economic recovery 11 1.2. Flexicurity agendas and lifelong learning: rebuilding the social contract between citizens and the state 14 1.3. Skill development and workplace learning: transversal policy priorities 16 1.4. Structure and concepts underlying the report 19 2. To train or not to train? 22 2.1. Introduction 22 2.2. To train or not to train: the company perspective 23 2.3. To be trained or not to be trained: the employee perspective 26 2.3.1. Who participates in formal or non-formal education and training? Facts and figures 26 2.3.2. Is the workplace reinforcing learning participation inequalities? 30 2.4. Learning in the workplace: for what purposes? 32 2.4.1. Informal learning versus more formalised training: how to train? 32 2.4.2. Why do enterprises train? Innovation versus safety requirements? 35 2.5. Conclusions and policy messages 36 3. Broadening access to learning in the workplace 38 3.1. Introduction 38 3.2. Taking on board the interests of employers and employees when designing financial incentives 39 3.3. The foundations for learning: key workplace competences 42 Table of contents Table of contents 5 3.4. Empowering and motivating workers to take on learning 45 3.4.1. Making competences acquired on-the-job more transparent 45 3.4.2. Career guidance for better choices in learning and working 48 3.5. Building consistent policy and enterprise learning strategies 50 3.5.1. Policies to increase older worker participation in learning 50 3.5.2. Working environments that assist learning 51 3.6. Conclusions and recommendations 53 4. Social dialogue for adult learning 55 4.1. Introduction 55 4.2. Widening access to learning through collective bargaining 56 4.3. Motivating employees to pursue workplace learning 58 4.4. Conclusions and policy messages 62 5. Supporting skill development in SMEs 64 5.1. Introduction 64 5.2. Developing training approaches that suit SMEs 66 5.3. Partnership approaches to training in SMEs 68 5.4. Conclusions and policy messages 70 6. Adult learning in socially responsible restructuring 72 6.1. Introduction 72 6.2. Partnership approaches in socially responsible restructuring 74 6.3. Tailoring training and career guidance to needs 75 6.4. Policy challenges of adult learning in socially responsible restructuring 76 6.5. Conclusions and policy messages 78 7. In-company trainers as key drivers of quality 80 7.1. Introduction 80 7.2. Guardians of quality training with low professional status 81 7.3. Expanding roles and changing competences for trainers in companies 83 7.4. Successful practices in training the trainers 85 7.5. Raising the quality of in-company training 87 7.6. Conclusions and policy messages 88 Learning while working 6 Success stories on workplace learning in Europe Conclusions 90 Definitions 98 References 101